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General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: JayDee24ca on December 19, 2019, 07:45:42 PM

Title: G5 steering bearing removal
Post by: JayDee24ca on December 19, 2019, 07:45:42 PM
This G5 I am working on had fairly badly brinelled steering bearings, so I want to replace them. I am having a heck of a time getting the lower inner race off the steering stem, short of cutting it off. Do I need to use a bearing splitter to get it off, or is there a better way (I don't own a splitter). I tried heating it up and turning it off, but that sucker won't budge.
JD
Title: Re: G5 steering bearing removal
Post by: Antietam Classic Cycle on December 19, 2019, 08:30:16 PM
I use a bearing separator similar to this one: https://www.harborfreight.com/bearing-separator-63662.html

If you position it carefully, you won't mess up the rubber seal or it's washer.
Title: Re: G5 steering bearing removal
Post by: moto-uno on December 19, 2019, 08:32:58 PM
  What ever you do , Do Not heat the entire bearing . Chances are you've already removed the cage and rollers from the bearing assembly, if not
then I'd suggest doing it . Cool the stem assembly ( freezer ) and after removing it from the freezer, heat only one small area with an acetylene torch tip
until it's Hot , then try slamming the stem (while holding the aluminum fork tree) . If no success , use a chisel or flat bladed screw driver and strike
between the bottom of the bearing race and the tree, this should wedge it down . Good luck
I'm not sure a propane torch is adequate , it would be too slow at getting the race up to temp without heating the steering stem also .
Title: Re: G5 steering bearing removal
Post by: JayDee24ca on December 19, 2019, 08:42:23 PM
I did this on my Eldorado about 12 years ago, but didn't make any notes how I did it. I think I'll pop for a bearing splitter down at Lordco (local FLAPS), as that sounds like the best way.
 One trick I have used in situations like this before, where there is difficulty in keeping the inner part cool while heating the outer, is, after heating the one part, spray the heck out of the inner part with aerosol  freeze spray designed for electronic components.   It has worked for me in the past, but not on this project unfortunately.
JD
Title: Re: G5 steering bearing removal
Post by: Kiwi_Roy on December 19, 2019, 08:44:37 PM
Since you are going to replace it anyway just cut it off with a grinder in a Dremel
Title: Re: G5 steering bearing removal
Post by: Antietam Classic Cycle on December 19, 2019, 08:48:47 PM
It's really not on there that tight, I've never found it necessary to heat or cool anything.
Title: Re: G5 steering bearing removal
Post by: GRGuzzi on December 20, 2019, 01:00:41 AM
Kiwi_Roy method on Hayabusa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qj30QIJVc00
Title: Re: G5 steering bearing removal
Post by: Kiwi_Roy on December 20, 2019, 03:22:01 AM
Kiwi_Roy method on Hayabusa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qj30QIJVc00
What a great Video :thumb:
I like the detailed information he gives.
Title: Re: G5 steering bearing removal
Post by: Antietam Classic Cycle on December 20, 2019, 08:47:52 AM
Different type of bearing. The bearings on a G5 are tapered rollers, so you'd need to cut away the cage, remove the rollers and then cut the inner race.
Title: Re: G5 steering bearing removal
Post by: Groover on December 20, 2019, 09:22:51 AM
My triple tube was also very tight on the inner races. I didn't use a bearing remover Charlie is suggesting to get to that lower one as I couldn't find one locally that wasn't huge, so I carefully cut a vertical slit about half way deep with a dremmel cutting disk, then I hit the slit with a flat-blade screwdriver and hammer; the lower race cracked open surprisingly easily at that stage (fragile type metal treatment). Next time I'd get/use the correct puller.
Title: Re: G5 steering bearing removal
Post by: Cdn850T5NT on December 20, 2019, 09:50:35 AM
Maybe rust affects matters. Groover's solution seems like a good one if you don't have the correct size of bearing splitter...
Title: Re: G5 steering bearing removal
Post by: rjamesohio on December 20, 2019, 02:40:31 PM
Guys, if you are talking about the RACE and not the bearing, the race is in the neck of the frame and not on the lower fork clamp.

Assuming that - I usually take a mig welder and run a bead around the old race. The heat shrinks the race and it will fall right out.
Title: Re: G5 steering bearing removal
Post by: Furbo on December 20, 2019, 03:11:10 PM
Guess I'm an ogre. Have always tapped it out with a drift of some sort...
Title: Re: G5 steering bearing removal
Post by: Cdn850T5NT on December 20, 2019, 03:42:09 PM
Guess I'm an ogre. Have always tapped it out with a drift of some sort...
Seems to me you don't want to broach the surface of the shafting comprising the "axle" of the triple clamp... so cutting to 3/4's or 7/8th  thru and shattering ot with an appropriately tapered chisel will minimize this effect.
Title: Re: G5 steering bearing removal
Post by: moto-uno on December 20, 2019, 04:07:44 PM
 ^I believe he's referring to the outer race in the frame , not the inner race on the fork stem .
But we haven't heard back from JayDee24ca concerning this issue .  Peter
Title: Re: G5 steering bearing removal
Post by: Antietam Classic Cycle on December 20, 2019, 04:15:45 PM
^I believe he's referring to the outer race in the frame , not the inner race on the fork stem .
But we haven't heard back from JayDee24ca concerning this issue .  Peter

Quote
I am having a heck of a time getting the lower inner race off the steering stem, short of cutting it off.
Title: Re: G5 steering bearing removal
Post by: rjamesohio on December 20, 2019, 04:26:29 PM
Yes he did say INNER race so I think Charlie’s idea on the bearing splitter seems reasonable. Sorry I injected a left turn!
Title: Re: G5 steering bearing removal
Post by: JayDee24ca on December 20, 2019, 05:14:20 PM
I went to Lordco this morning with the intention of buying an el-cheapo splitter, but all they had was one for a hundred bucks. So I zipped the race off with a dremel in about 5 minutes. Made a slit, and used a small cold chisel to whack the slit open, hey presto. I had removed the outer cage and the rollers yesterday with a set of sidecutters, so all that was left was the inner race, sitting flush to the spacer at the bottom of the steering neck, against the lower triple clamp.
I think this must be what I did a few years back on the Eldo, wish I could remember.
Thanks all.
JD
Title: Re: G5 steering bearing removal
Post by: Kiwi_Roy on December 21, 2019, 02:59:17 AM
In the video GRGuzzi posted the mechanic makes a convincing argument for not using heat and cold for installing the new bearings, he upgraded the bike from ball race to tapered rollers.
Title: Re: G5 steering bearing removal
Post by: moto-uno on December 21, 2019, 11:54:23 AM
Guys, if you are talking about the RACE and not the bearing, the race is in the neck of the frame and not on the lower fork clamp.

Assuming that - I usually take a mig welder and run a bead around the old race. The heat shrinks the race and it will fall right out.
Seems to me you don't want to broach the surface of the shafting comprising the "axle" of the triple clamp... so cutting to 3/4's or 7/8th  thru and shattering ot with an appropriately tapered chisel will minimize this effect.
  I'm aware that the original poster was making reference to the bearing on the steering stem ( as my earlier post described ).
The reference I was making was bringing it to the attention of "cdn850t5nt". He was speaking of "furbo's " remark about driving
a bearing "out "with a drift . It's all done now , just wanted to make sure  that I knew of what the original poster was speaking of .
regards Peter