Tapered steering stem bearings install

hi can someone direct me to a link for installing steering bearing. I messed it up had the all balls kit. I put the larger skinny one on the steering steam and put the smaller fat one in the top of the neck upside down. but couldent get it to seat. it fell out landed in the dirt and bent the outter cage . and followed that up with some not nice words.
thank you

 

Got mine in yesterday, I might do a how to.

 

Please do that razz!

 

Did you write anything up?

 

Its been raining non stop since i last posted.

 

I started one as well since the question seems to come up frequently but I'm stalled until frame is back from powder. Lemme know if you are working on one so we don't duplicate efforts.

 

Picking up my frame tomorrow and will work on bike on weekend. I'll figure it out, maybe take pics along the way.

 

Here you go. http://www.xjbikes.com/forums/threads/taper-bearing-how-to.60767/ (I cheated)

 

excellent. better than a youtube video

thanks much

 

Dont forget to like.

 

Well, what do you know...
I already messed that one up resulting in the destruction of the lower bearing.
Put the dust seal on upside down and was not able to remove the already seated bearing again without destroying it.

Also, the top ring will not sit flush, it is about twice as high?
Here a pic of what I mean. It is sticking out too much. I didn't hammer it in all the way, just took a pic to show you. But i measured. Any ideas? I have an 81 xj550 h
also, the bottom ring completely disappears inside the frame and falls out by itself.
I might have the wrong set of bearings? Poop. Long weekend and I can't get started on the bike and its assembly.

 

You probably have the upper and lower races (and bearings) fiipped around. They are different sizes.

 

No. I thought of that but both were same in height, both fell out.
I ordered a new set from Len, let's hope this will work.

 

Some of the all balls kits especially hondas are so confusing their directions suck . On hondas the upper race does stick up out of the steering head not as far as that. If you ever get in a bind get the numbers off the race and corresponding bearing and go to your local parts store and replace them since you will ruin the lower when you take it back off. A little trick of the trade put your races in the freezer and brgs in the oven they will go on much easier

 

They will!

 

might be an optical illusion but has someone been welding on the lower part of the steering head to down tubes see what looks like a lot of slag

 

Here a pic from weeks ago. Shows all the welds in that area

 

Glad to hear Len and I don't doubt it.
Have had no luck with bike parts lately...

 

Is that part of a house framing angle I see?! Back away from the welder. That is not the sort of steel that should be used to gusset the steering neck of a motorcycle! What did you use for filler? Welding stainless (I looked the bracket up) to mild steel requires a different filler than mild to mild does. Did you consider that the galvanized finish not only contaminated the weld, it also created a posionous gas when you welded it? What did you do to control heat distortion of the neck? At least the bead looks decent. I'm sorry for the harsh criticism, but there are better materials for your application, and they cost less than that bracket.

 

Interesting read. Not taken as harsh criticism at all. It is always good to learn, so keep the advice and observations coming.
Learning to weld is on my list of things to learn in the future. Right now, no clue. For this project, someone else did all the welding and I had to trust his "expertise".
Yeah, the bracket comes from home depot and is most likely a house framing angle.
The triangle was only welded there as a stopper so the clipons are not hitting the tank when turning. Welding a piece of metal there seemed the easiest way to achieve that.

 

The bearings from Len fit perfectly. The upper race was not as high, and fully seated it only sticks out 2 mm or so.
Still trying to get the lower in properly as I am having a hard time getting the star shaped fix nut (sorry about the wrong terminology) on.
I think I should have sanded down the powder coating first. That's probably the 2 mm I am now missing to get more thread for the fix nut.

 

i've also got an '81 xj550 and was about to order an all balls kit. How can I, also, acquire these proper fit bearings?

 

yeah those ^^^^^^

 

Send a PM to chacal. He will hook you up. Excellent service, fast delivery. Got my stuff within two days, I am in NYC.

 

muchos danke

 

German?

 

sperman...

 

Spandeutsch more like.

 

you must be from the other side of la pared

 

Ich soy de verden.

 

SperMan sounds like the worst superhero. Ever.

 

Thundrrr you're really funny..........

 

Thanx. I have read some funny that you have posted too! I use humor to cover my lack of wrench skills and XJ know how. "Matti? He's that funny guy!" as opposed to "Matti? That jerk is always running his mouth." My only worry is that I sidetrack serious threads too much. Don't wanna get in the way of people's progress!
(He said as he sidetracked yet another thread.)

 

Me too!

Same here.....

 

I wish I would've thought to have my powdercoater mask off my VIN, cant read it now . Guess I'll be taping and lightly sanding soon.

 

D'oh.
Thankfully my powdercoater did that thinking for me...

 

Yeah, I'm a little surprised they didn't ask/mention it. He said he does a lot of frames.

 

mine was illegible when i went to get it blasted.. thankfully, it's an 81 and has the shorty vin stamped in the frame,

http://xjbikes.com/forums/threads/tech-topic-model-id-and-vins.14577/

i just got the full vin sticker taken off, and if any issues arise later on down the line, i have that information^ to sort it out.
also found these:

http://www.khneisser.ch/products/126/detail/yamaha-y2u

anyone know if this is ok? i figured since the shorty is stamped in this would be.

 

Whether or not you can restamp and install a VIN tag, or you have to have a shop do it depends on which state you live in. In either case there will be paperwork and usually a fee. This is not something you want to do incorrectly because if a buyer has any reason to suspect fraud you will be on a very big hook.