Re: Front end bearing replacement! Thoughts welcome.

Highly Highly interested in what comes of this... its an area that i've never really experimented with but am very keen to know ... I'm guessing vaguely that there could possibly be improvements on Pulsars and ZMRs ...

Do update on the thread if you experiment with it VJ...

Cheers...

Re: Front end bearing replacement! Thoughts welcome.

I guess you are talking about the steering stem bearings, I don't know what bike do you ride but if yours comes with ball bearings you may opt for aftermarket tapered roller bearings, they increase the contact surface of the bearings compared to the balls and almost eliminates sidewise play. They are also easier to install and maintain, also I have noticed one thing, I often do bearing overhauls on my bicycle and I use BBs made by SKF, every time I take off the hub to grease the balls, I would see a shiny metallic paste being formed there. At first, I could not make out what it was but later found out that the nickel coating of the balls peel off no matter how much grease I apply and that peeled off coating forms a metallic paste combined with the grease. I have noticed the same on steering stems I overhauled too, but did not think much of that at that time, this problem should not arise with tapered roller bearings, just make sure the mechanic does not use a hammer to tighten the locknut and replaces seals or water will seep inside the bearings during water wash or heavy monsoon causing rust to form, using seals is a must with tapered roller bearings.

Re: Front end bearing replacement! Thoughts welcome.

Absolutely spot on. SKF bearings, yes I've seen quite a lot of old school force pressed type being replaced to tapered ones, and it seems they are almost a perfect replacement for balls/racer combo. Considering mine is the Pulsar 220 mine isn't the tapered roller bearing type, instead force pressed, ball type, pretty old school. But I am considering a replacement, for tapered roller types, any idea on FAG? I understand SKF sells the balls, haven't seen FAG, but would love to get some insights on them too.

Now the dilemma is what size of the tapered roller bearing to use, need to do a little homework or if the stem itself is forward compatible without any modifications.

Cheers!
VJ

Re: Front end bearing replacement! Thoughts welcome.

SKF does make tapered roller bearings but they do not market them as steering stem bearings, most of their clients who purchase tapered roller bearings use them for industrial purposes. I have not tried FAG bearings yet as they do not have any authorized retailer in my city unlike SKF, but being German, their quality should be excellent.

The steering stem should be compatible as this just a T shaped pieces holding the things together, nothing more. What you have to do is, find out the outside diameter of the steering stem pipe and the bearing race. The OD of the steering stem would be the ID of the tapered roller and the OD of the race would be the OD of the bearing, match the values you find out in this chart http://www.ntn.co.jp/english/product...arge-05_en.pdf , that should give you the idea on what bearings to use. Or if you want bearings that are especially made for steering stems, you can order from All Balls Racing, they have a chart too, in order to help you with identifying which bearing to use, here is the link to the aforementioned chart http://www.allballsracing.com/media/...ze%20Chart.pdf

On a side note, I have heard FAG bearings are limp wristed, so watch out

Re: Front end bearing replacement! Thoughts welcome.

The problem is not just the outer diameter w.r.t to the stem, but the races themselves. I suspect that the guys at PBK and elsewhere wouldn't even care to take the due diligence to install them, as they take quite a lot of patience and the right tools. But it's just a prelim plan, but if I have to do them, then I need to make my presence felt the entire time and oversee the installation. But let's see how it unfolds.

Cheers!
VJ

Re: Front end bearing replacement! Thoughts welcome.

Actually TRBs are easier to install than ball ones, you just clamp the stem in a vise and pry the bottom inner race out with a Flathead screwdriver, insert the bearing and with a pieces of pipe having the ID slightly larger than the OD of the stem, you whack the bearing in with a hammer. TRBs do not require inner races.

Well, I agree with your point about the SVC mechanics, even the ones at Probiking are not that knowledgeable and enthusiastic about trying something new, at best those are just wrench monkeys. I'm afraid, you will have to go the DIY route or find someone who really knows what he is doing, I would have done the work for you but unfortunately you live far away from my place.

Re: Front end bearing replacement! Thoughts welcome.

Actually you're right it's easy. And I happen to see an excellent article with detailed steps on how to do them, and it was almost convincing. But let me see, still the bearing has a lot of ways to go, but you're right, they have lower inner or they are more aptly called bearing races, but not outer race, as the bearing itself acts as outer race. Yes it's easier said than done, but let's see they still have time with the stock, will see how it unfolds.

Cheers!
VJ

Front end bearing replacement! Thoughts welcome.

[MENTION=39214]B7ACKTHORN[/MENTION]
If you have the old bearing with you just glance through the side walls, there will be a model number printed on it and the manufacturer name.

I remember that back in 2002 the bajaj service center use to sell the bearing at high price and if you see inside the box they used to be skf bearings.


Example On 6025 1rs or 2rs (1rs 1 side rubber dust shield, 2 rs 2 sided rubber dust shield) is the most commonly used bearing its used from maruti 800' toyota supra. Mr2 to blackbird, fireblade and hayabusa in the front rim just a few quoting this example as knowing model number of the bearing will greatly help in guiding if they are there in skf or fag.


I know your looking for the steering triple tree bearing but just a thought




--
Riding is all I know, my pictures prove it.

Re: Front end bearing replacement! Thoughts welcome.

Thank you so much for the heads up. And you're spot on, most OEM use SKF I've seen quite a lot of them during suspension overhaul. But cone set bearings don't have numbers except tapered ones and or roller bearings. The Pulsars are old school, have the ball type, where the balls are force fit into the stem races. What you've pointed here is very useful if one plans to change another other roller bearings and or tapered ones. But I've been looking for good quality ball set, though most are of good grade, just wanted to see if I can get any better.

Cheers!
VJ

Re: Front end bearing replacement! Thoughts welcome.

Can anybody explain how to install roller bearings in the stearing stem? I mean apart ftom the dia the height also needs to be same as the ball and racer combo, right?

My question is, where will it sit? Flush in the T-neck, with the stem just sitting on it?

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Re: Front end bearing replacement! Thoughts welcome.

The height of the TAPERED roller bearings needs to correspond to the stem race height, else the bearing just won't slide in. The TRB will sit under the main stem tube. But before installing you need to remove the older races, install newer races (which suit the TRB) and it's done. So easy eh!

I still need to do quite a lot of more homework on this, but this is way better than those ball/racer setup.

Cheers!
VJ

Re: Front end bearing replacement! Thoughts welcome.

So the races will remain? only the balls wld be replaced?

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