Do I replace the headstem bearing?

[blackcat]

I was lucky on the recent LeMans project, just gave the stem with nut a reasonably hard hit with a BFH and it popped right out.

[Bazil]

Wow - so many ways to crack a walnut !

I've used Charlie's method before too - worked fine but the amount of brute force needed was a bit of a worry, for me at least. I'm attracted to the BBQ gas chilling method - something about the slim possibility of going up in a ball of flames appeals to my daredevil side

In response to Roy - the bottom race is in better nick than the top race; what little grease existed was a bit more mobile and there didn't appear to be any surface corrosion or chafing on the race. The bike had been sitting outside under cover and the top race must have been a bit more weather exposed. The chrome trim ring on top of the bearing has some surface corrosion too.

I'm tempted to just replace the ( much easier) top race, as I haven't got around to ordering parts yet.

thanks everyone

[wirespokes]

I'm also curious about the Warrington Effect. I'm guessing it's the liklihood of the replacements or the act of replacing causing trouble when there was none before. There have been discussions about shifter springs (at least on airheads) being more likely to break if replaced - the new ones aren't as good. And then there's the thing about condensers - that's a long standing recommendation - if it's working best not change it even though it's part of a tuneup.

In this case, what's the worst that can happen if the bearings fail? Until the bearings were inspected, there was no issue with the steering.

[John A]

In this case, what's the worst that can happen if the bearings fail? Until the bearings were inspected, there was no issue with the steering.
[/quote]



OK, picture this.  1500 miles from home,After a eight hundred mile day, it starts to rain. You are only forty miles out of East Jesus, North Dakota. Coming out of the Bad Lands, third gear sure feels good as you blast past some lumbering motor homes. You glance at the tach, 72K rpms. Better not run that fast as you ease around some low foot hills. Hmm do I have a flat tire, I ask myself. Got kind of a head shake too . Then I remember, I only did a half assed job on the steering head.  Truthfully if the lower one looks good, I would not have a problem with a cleaning and packing the lower bearing. Get them at a bearing supply , the number is in Guzziology. If nobody else posts it, when I get to the shop, I’ll look it up. 8 inches of snow here today.

[Moparnut72]

^^ I just tried to google your "Warrington Effect " . Possibly you could supply a link . Everything that I found
 seems kinda irrelevant .  Peter

Sorry, I should have proofread my post. It was supposed to be the Waddington Effect.
kk

[moto-uno]

^  Perfect  , something to do with the belief that only new is good enough .
42 years in the trade and I've never seen a neck bearing suddenly fail , get old , yeah so
did I , but holy crap , everything we ride is used , no ?  Peter