Removing steering stem bearing 'races' or 'cups'

[MikeS]

Been having fun trying to swap out steering bearings on a KLR650. I've removed the top and bottom tapered steering bearings easy enough, the problem is the remaining tapered 'races' or 'cups'. I've tried heating, levering, hitting, whacking, twatting and even swearing but neither will budge.

I've read people using a cold chisel to basically break the old races up- is this the best way to do this or does anyone have a pearl of wisdom they wish to share?

Thanks!

[Frank Warner]

The 'cups' in the bike frame ..

a) Special tools can be had for this - basically a sliding hammer with a fitting on teh end - an expanding thingy that locks onto the cup.

b) Another way is to shrink teh cup - run a stick weild on the race face .. wait for weild to cool and teh bottom one will fall out -- the top one will come out easily now. Be sure to wrap the outside with a damp cloth .. do not burn the electrical wires .. nor the clutch cable ..


The bearing in the lower triple Tee ...

a) Use a 20 ton press to partly remove the stem from the triple Tee ... then reinstall stem into triple Tee. .. leaving the bearing sitting up free .. remove bearing.


b) Cut the cage and rollers away .. use a dremel to cut the surface - at say 90 degrees intervals (only 2 really required .. but 3 makes it easier) hit with cold chisel and hammer to break the beaing up.


Method A is the workshop method. Method B is not the recomended way .. but people do it.

[loxsmith]

Originally Posted by Frank Warner

The 'cups' in the bike frame ..

b) Another way is to shrink the cup - run a stick weld on the race face .. wait for weld to cool and the bottom one will fall out -- the top one will come out easily now. Be sure to wrap the outside with a damp cloth .. do not burn the electrical wires .. nor the clutch cable ..

I have used this method on all sorts of bearings on cars and bikes. Simple yet effective way to remove tapered roller bearings with no distortion to housings and no hammering.

Glen

[MikeS]

Cheers lads, I was speaking to the Kawa shop and they reckon the weld method is probably the easiest.

Well it would be if I had an arc welder handy. It's $80 to hire one for 4 hours but Bunnings sell one for $100.

Thanks

[loxsmith]

Don't forget to disconnect your battery or I believe the welding will lunch your charging system!

[MikeS]

Yep, I remember watching them fry the ABS on Long Way Round cos they didn't disconnect the battery!

Originally Posted by loxsmith

Don't forget to disconnect your battery or I believe the welding will lunch your charging system!