HOW-TO Request: Steering Head Bearings

Hello again,

I got news back from my safety today. I need to rebuild and clean the caliper as it's dragging. I should be able to figure this one out.

The bigger issue (I think) is that I need new steering head bearings. I haven't seen much about them here at XJBikes, and a search didn't turn up much.

My mechanic (only used for the safety which I can't legally do!) is ordering the bearings for me. I'd go through chacal but it takes a long time since I have mail him a money order... I digress...

I would appreciate it if one of you gurus could provide a nice walk-through or instructions on how to do this? Is it hard? I've done a ton to my bike but haven't ventured this far. For some reason, bearings just sound like bad news.

Any tips from those in the know or anecdotes would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

Here's a sketch:
Get ..A..WorkShop..Manual!!!

Support the Bike
Remove wheel, Fork Tubes and Lines attached to Triple Tree.
Remove Handlebars
Remove Steering Plate
Undo Locking Nuts
Remove Upper Bearing Cap ... Collect Balls (19)
Remove Triple Tree Spindle ... Collect Lower Balls (19)
Knock-out Bearing Races
Clean Headset
Install New Bearing Races
Pack New Bearings with Grease ---> Use Rollers NOT Balls
Remove Bearing Cap from Spindle
Install Seals
Install Roller Bearings
Fit back into Steering Head
Install New Roller Bearings Grease Packed ,,,

That's for starters.
You'll need the Book.
And a 9-Inch "Line-up Tool" to knock-out the old races.

 

Remove the fuel tank.
Detach brake caliper and tie up to frame.
Disconnect speedometer cable.
Loosen fork clamp bolts on upper triple tree.
Remove the steering stem nuts.

Now you should be able to lift the bars, upper tree, gauges, light etc. up and set back on the frame where the tank was. Strap it down. Way easier than disassembling the whole front end.

Pay close attention as I may have forgot some of the disconnects.

Ricks instructions are spot on, although he should have capitalized "collect 19 balls". Helps to have rags under the motorcycle so they can't bounce and roll.

 

Jeez louise this sounds like fun. I do have the Clymer unfortunately.

 

If you're real clever ... you can make an improvised Safety Stand out of a Heavy-duty Plastic Milk Crate.

Have someone push-down on the Rear Seat.
Measure the distance from the floor to the bottom of the Bike.

Cut the Milk Crate to slide tightly under the Bike.
Saw the Crate's open end ... leaving the Crate's bottom to support the Exhaust system.

Fine tune the cutting of the Crate's fit beneath the Bike so that you can add a piece of Carpet Remnant ... and you have a homemade Lift to enable you to do Front End work with the Front Tire raised of the floor.

 

Rick, are you being cute?

 

no, he's serious.

However, the easiest thing to do on the 550 is to simply slip a jackstand under the front frame crossbar between #2 and #3 head pipes.

Back to the original post: I will be happy to do one, but it's going to have to wait until I actually get around to upgrading the '83 as both my operational XJs are fine.

It's very similar to changing a front wheel bearing on a rear-wheel drive car.

 

No way.
I have a Milk Crate stand.
I even sanded the open ends to make it slide.

I have a Platform that fits my Floor Jack thats padded.
i had Crutch-end Hard Rubbers on my Safety Stands until I let some guys borrow them for working on their car's muffler.