Fork/neck bearings

I was wondering if anyone knew of a good guide or a good way to take out the headset/fork/neck bearings(whatever they are called). I have one of the repair books and it is a huge process in there. I heard it would be a 2 hour job. But the book has you totally taking the whole front end off.

 

Ok update.. went ahead and pulled it all apart....odd thing is..ITS ALL NEW!!??? The grease is fresh, bearings look new...whats going on? Havnt seen the bottom bearings though. Is it possible the previous owner only redid the top and the bottom is shot and thats why its clicking? (note i just bought this bike and have no prior knowledge of work done to it)

 

ok ok...i get ahead of myself...got eager and just took the whole bad boy apart... looks to me like the previous owner of my bike was , to put it nicely, a bonehead. The top bottom was short a bearing. and the tops seemed to be maybe a little to small.. so ive been driving hardously becuase this guy felt it was ok to do a half@$$ job and leave a bearing out. (prolly why i got a decent price on it) well anyways sense i got it all apart im gona try to get the rollers for it. By anychance anyone out there with a 82 xj650j maxim know the right sizes?

 

Glad you found your problem. Sounds like your going to get it fixed right.
Bearing sizes? Hummmm....Dont' know that one off the top of my head. Steering bolt torque is 39 ft/lbs, pinch bolt is 14.5 ft/lbs.