Steering bearings and putting it back together help!!!

Ok so i got my new bearings (rollers vs the stock) and im putting it all back together...and... When the steering shaft comes up through there are 2 adjuster nuts that are the same that sit on top of each other....well now there is only enough thread to put one on!!!!! i took a rubber mallet and knocked everything in its place extra good and i still am not getting the room....Can anyone help me!!!

sitting here covered in grease and at wits end...if you have any ideas or anything i'll be sitting here waiting for your response.

 

Sounds like the bottom bearing is not seated in enough yet as thats wats stoppin the thing goin all the way in , you could measure the lenght from the bottom bearing and guess the lenght with the old bearing to see if the lenght matches up beteween the two [old versus new bearings]...good luck.

 

the bottom bearings are in there nice and tight.. I knocked em in with a pvc tube and extra tapped em in with a rubber mallet... Are you saying that its possible the hight of the bearings are differnt? therefore it wont sit the same. And if so. its not safe to leave the one adjuster nut off (even though theres 2) right?

 

I would start by checking for a difference in thinckness from old bearing to new, also check dia. If the bearinf are slightly larger either way they will not seat correctly. Sometimes the sealed bearing have to be a hair smaller than the old OEM bearing beacause of the casing around the sealed bearings. I would pull out what I have together and check the measurement between old and new. Look at your bearing seats and see if they were making contact somewhere before the seat. Look for marks in the seat and throat of it to see if it looks like something was being forced.

 

Kbar:

If you are seating the new bearings with PVC and a Rubber mallet ... you need to upgrade the insertion tooling.

Use a Ball-peen hammer and a good-sized Drift. Dress the tip of the drift so it has a nice flat end ... not a rounded surface that will slip-off the race.

Tap the race of the new bearing in ... working your way all around the outside diameter ... driving in the bearing a little bit at a time.

The bearing will "ding or ring" until you've seated it. Once it seated right, it won't ring ... it changes to "thunk" ... because its all the way in right.

If you are having big trouble ... use a big socket on the race and let the socket help you drive that new bearing in there!

 

Best way others have found to fully seat the lower bearing is to take the lower triple tree and place it in the freezer. Take the bearings and heat them in the oven at about 200 degF. Using an oven mitt to hold the lower bearing slide it down all the way. If needed then use the PVC and mallett. I know it sounds nuts but what you are doing is to contract the steering shaft and expand the bearing.

 

When seating new races I like to take an old race and grind the OD slightly undersize. Then I use this on top of the new race to protect it while driving it home.

 

uhh, dumb question, forgive me but have to ask.... did you get the old ball bearing race out of the frame head?

 

Good call; Nick!

Is that the voice of experience?

 

Nope, haven't gone there yet, down the road upgrade I'm sure!
I just didn't see any mention of the prep work prior to stuffen the new bearings in!

 

Nick you hit the nail on the head....I never removed the bottom race boy do i feel stupid...But thanks all for the help...now tomorrow i get to take her out on the road again...(lets hope everything is where its sopose to be :roll: )

 

Yo ...
Nick ....

Step-up and pick your prize off the Top Shelf, buddy!!!

Ladies and Gentlemen ...
Proof positive that when the Greats put their mind to a problem ... it ain't gunna be no problem fur much longer.

Nick ... as "The King" used to say: "Sang-gue verra mush!"