Streeing head bearings

[WRB08]

I'm looking for someone that has changed their Streeing head bearing to the roller type ( like All Balls Racing ) is there any pointers that I need to know before start, I'm also going to change front wheel bearing at the same time. I have 21K on the bike and I'm also doing the 20K service, any help would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[ionbeam]

Go to Google and paste this line into the search bar: steering head bearings site:fjrforum.com Pack a lunch and a six pack, you will be there a while.

What advantage is there to changing good wheel bearing with good wheel bearings? Unless damaged by road hazards or accidental mechanical oops wheel bearing failures on the FJR are rare. This kind of swap is pretty much 1:1.

 

[wheatonFJR]

Am I supposed to be changing my steering bearings? I've had two FJRs now and have never thought to do that. OOPS.

 

[kamal]

Just did my '04. because I could. Really didn't need to, the ball bearings were in excellent condition, with zero play.

Even if you just service the existing setup, you will need to be able to buy/borrow a tool to torque the castellated nut 'just roy' was making these for a bargain price https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?showtopic=118064&hl=steering+head+bearing+wrench

and a 36mm socket for the steering head nut (I found a Lisle in a clearance bin for $4 https://www.lislecorp.com/divisions/products/?product=36&division=1&category=9)

Hardest part, for me, was driving the bottom cup into place. A long puller would have been nice.

Even if this mod doesn't help the bike's performance, the included All Balls Racing decal is cool.

Good luck.

Al

 

[odot]

What's up with this new software we're working with now? Seems pretty weak.

 

[SkooterG]

I'm looking for someone that has changed their Streeing head bearing to the roller type ( like All Balls Racing ) is there any pointers that I need to know before start, I'm also going to change front wheel bearing at the same time. I have 21K on the bike and I'm also doing the 20K service, any help would be appreciated. Thanks

Why?

 

[WRB08]

Go to Google and paste this line into the search bar: steering head bearings site:fjrforum.com Pack a lunch and a six pack, you will be there a while.
What advantage is there to changing good wheel bearing with good wheel bearings? Unless damaged by road hazards or accidental mechanical oops wheel bearing failures on the FJR are rare. This kind of swap is pretty much 1:1.

Thanks for your in put and the seach site, I will check it out, I don't know if I'm going to change any thing but I am going to pull them apart clean and repack them I love doing stuff like that. Thanks again

Go to Google and paste this line into the search bar: steering head bearings site:fjrforum.com Pack a lunch and a six pack, you will be there a while.
What advantage is there to changing good wheel bearing with good wheel bearings? Unless damaged by road hazards or accidental mechanical oops wheel bearing failures on the FJR are rare. This kind of swap is pretty much 1:1.

 

[WRB08]

Am I supposed to be changing my steering bearings? I've had two FJRs now and have never thought to do that. OOPS.

No you don't have to change them put I'm going to do the 20K service and it calls for repacking the streeing head bearings, I've been wrenching all my life and I get realy picky when I do stuff like this, that's just me. Thanks for your reply.

 

[sliick2]

Hello, just came out of the garage after installing the "all balls" tapered roller bearings in my '06. The lower bearing race is a pain in the butt to install,because you are working over head. So what I did was to make a cheap bearing race installer. I cut 2 pcs. of 3/16"

thick by 2" wide steel stock ,drilled a 3/8" hole in each pc ( exactly in the center ) & used a pc of 3/8" all thread about 11"s long . I double nutted the one end of the all thread,put one pc of stock on the rod,then the new race, run the rod up the neck of the frame,put the other plate on the rod ,then the nut. You want to center the plates over the openings & the lower race. Run the nut on the top down finger tight while you get everything centered.Then you can start to tighten the nut on the top ( slowly ) ,check the race on the bottom & you can give the plate a couple taps with a long drift @ 3 & 9 o'clock.. This will take the tention off the nut you tightened.Re-check your centering on both plates & tighten the nut again. This is in effect pulling the lower race into the neck. IMPORTANT- this will not draw the race all the way into its installed depth. I used this to start the race into the bore- its very hard to start & get square

overhead. After I drew the race as far as it would go w/the plate -I drove the race the rest of the way with a tapered punch. Good luck,it can be done. It worked for me. Cheap ! Sliick

 

[Harald]

I don't know if I'm going to change any thing but I am going to pull them apart clean and repack them I love doing stuff like that. Thanks again

If you like doing stuff like that go ahead, but I can tell you it's probably not necessary. I finally got around to cleaning and repacking the steering head bearings on my 07 when it had 65,000 miles on it. I ride in the rain A LOT and it was a waste of time doing that maintenance on my 5 year old bike. There was plenty of clean grease in there and no rust, pitting or other defects.

If you really want to grease stuff, I'd highly suggest areas like front brake/clutch lever pivots, shift linkage, sidestand, rear brake pedal, centerstand and rear shock linkage. Those items really need regular greasing!

 

[user 27914]

I own a 2007, is there some type of online document that explain the process on how repack the bearing? I dont want to replace them, but simple repack.

I currently have 48K miles.

 

[SkooterG]

Is there something wrong with yours? To me, that's one of those things that if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

226,000 miles on my first FJR never touched them. 130,000 miles on my second FJR never touched them.

 

[user 27914]

Nothing wrong at all, looks and works like new. Never had an issue.

 

[Bounce]

Without issues, I'd do a good routine maintenance on the SHB

https://www.fjr-tips.org/maint/shb/shb.html

And a good swing arm clean and consider it done.

https://www.fjr-tips.org/maint/sa/sa.html

Since you're already in there, go ahead and do the U-Joint, too.

https://www.fjr-tips.org/maint/ujoint/uj.html

 

[ahchiu]

If your not getting any head shakes I would just grease and re torque the head bearings and call it good.

 

[user 27914]

If your not getting any head shakes I would just grease and re torque the head bearings and call it good.

Great. That's my project.

Is there a document that explains what has to be done?

What tools would I need?

 

[Bounce]

see post #14

 

[ahchiu]

If your not getting any head shakes I would just grease and re torque the head bearings and call it good.

Great. That's my project.

Is there a document that explains what has to be done?

What tools would I need?

You will need a special socket for the head to torque down, there was a fourm member that was makining them I think he no longer making them, you may want to post to borrow one.