'04 750 Restoration Project
61 - 77 of 77 Posts
Well fellas you guys were right.
I did some sketchy jack stand stacking magic, and got the front end unloaded, and got the bearings out. They indeed had dents in the races. Barely visible, but there. But my God, let me tell you how seized the head nuts were....
So I took the forks back out, and got the top triple tree clamp/plate off, no big deal. 2 ugga duggas with the impact made easy work on the outer stem nut. This is where everything got so much worse.
I got to those two spanner nuts stacked on top of the seal and bearing, and I have some little spanners that fit perfect. Well come to find out after a bunch of heat, penetrating oil, hammering, a snapped spanner wrench, and a cut off spanner nut that the nuts and washer were like.... rusted or corroded to the main stem shaft, and there was gunk in there causing them to cross thread as they were coming off. After I snapped my wrench hammering the nut loose, I just got the carbide cutter out on the Dremel and ground most of the way through the nut and it came off easily.
How awful. Only other thing I've had this much misfortune unscrewing is front sprocket nuts. Yeesh.
But yeah, I got those off and ruined the nuts, washer, and rubber seal in the process. I'll just buy new ones.
What a day. Also closed up the steering damper with the 15wt oil. It is indeed quite resistive now, and perfectly smooth after letting it sit tilted in my vice all night. Sealed it off perfectly, and its all cleaned up and ready to go back on when the time comes.
Well I guess it is time to order bearings, and maybe a half decent press tool. Any recommendations on bearing press tools for head bearings? The outer race is 55mm diameter and the inner race is 30mm.
Guess I should decide between All Balls and OEM bearings too.
EDIT: Ordered All Balls tapered roller steering stem kit, as well as their front and rear wheel bearing sets, and some vortex grips. Exciting!
Thanks for reading folks.
-Mike
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I did some sketchy jack stand stacking magic, and got the front end unloaded, and got the bearings out. They indeed had dents in the races. Barely visible, but there. But my God, let me tell you how seized the head nuts were....
So I took the forks back out, and got the top triple tree clamp/plate off, no big deal. 2 ugga duggas with the impact made easy work on the outer stem nut. This is where everything got so much worse.
I got to those two spanner nuts stacked on top of the seal and bearing, and I have some little spanners that fit perfect. Well come to find out after a bunch of heat, penetrating oil, hammering, a snapped spanner wrench, and a cut off spanner nut that the nuts and washer were like.... rusted or corroded to the main stem shaft, and there was gunk in there causing them to cross thread as they were coming off. After I snapped my wrench hammering the nut loose, I just got the carbide cutter out on the Dremel and ground most of the way through the nut and it came off easily.
How awful. Only other thing I've had this much misfortune unscrewing is front sprocket nuts. Yeesh.
But yeah, I got those off and ruined the nuts, washer, and rubber seal in the process. I'll just buy new ones.
What a day. Also closed up the steering damper with the 15wt oil. It is indeed quite resistive now, and perfectly smooth after letting it sit tilted in my vice all night. Sealed it off perfectly, and its all cleaned up and ready to go back on when the time comes.
Well I guess it is time to order bearings, and maybe a half decent press tool. Any recommendations on bearing press tools for head bearings? The outer race is 55mm diameter and the inner race is 30mm.
Guess I should decide between All Balls and OEM bearings too.
EDIT: Ordered All Balls tapered roller steering stem kit, as well as their front and rear wheel bearing sets, and some vortex grips. Exciting!
Thanks for reading folks.
-Mike
Joined
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228 Posts
Good on you for doing the bearings, shame you had to break stuff to get it all undone!
You don't need a press tool. The new outers will tap in quite easily, especially if you put them in the freezer overninght before hand. Just make sure they go in square.
I put the bottom clamp in the freezer too and use the old inner race to hammer the new one onto the frozen stem.
You don't need a press tool. The new outers will tap in quite easily, especially if you put them in the freezer overninght before hand. Just make sure they go in square.
I put the bottom clamp in the freezer too and use the old inner race to hammer the new one onto the frozen stem.
I already removed the races with a punch, and have cleaned the race seat. What tool is that one? I am trying to figure out which one will be the most suitable for me. Thanks!
-Mike
Joined
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228 Posts
Mine was showing signs of fatigue, like a crazed cracking staring to appear, but when I took it off it was soft and pliable and seemed to still be a good fit, the "cracking" lines were superficial only and didn't open up further when bending or manipulating it, so I put it back on. If I had changed it, it would have been for aesthetic reasons only.
It didn't come with my Allballs kit, only the bottom one which fits between the bottom yolk and the lower inner race on the stem was included.
Yeah I am definitely going to get the tool for sure, or at least borrow one. Not going to drift the bearing in lol.
Man that would be rad, I don't even have my bearings yet, any word when you might have the tool back? I could be quick with it and return it to ya ASAP after, and the seal would be rad if you don't need it!
-Mike
Man that would be rad, I don't even have my bearings yet, any word when you might have the tool back? I could be quick with it and return it to ya ASAP after, and the seal would be rad if you don't need it!
-Mike
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