3/4" springer stem into 1983 XJ750 neck

Anyone have an idea on bearings that would work for this?

 

If you have an industrial bearing supply near you, take them the ID and OD measurements needed and I'm sure they could come up with something.

 

Okay, I'll try that. Thanks.

Edit: Would two of these work? http://www.ebay.com/itm/RLS6-2RS1-Radia ... 1e87e7bc1d

The stock bearings have OD 48 and width 15.2, so would the slight difference in OD and width hurt anything?

 

Bearings are a slight press fit. If any of the dimensions are off, the bearing and stem will end up being damaged, and you'll have a bike with dangerous handling characteristics. You're almost certianly going to need to have the stem modified in order to fit bearings to both it and the steering kneck.

 

+1 They have to be the exact same measurements. And you may need to switch stems or modify the springer stem if you can't find the appropriate bearings. Might be able to change cups too.

Trying to remember about a member putting a DNA springer on his XJ. I think he used 1'' trailer wheel bearings, but not sure. Good luck and happy hunting. Don't forget to post the results with pics.

 

Yeah, I figured so but wanted to be sure. Thanks.

I seen one or two on here but on one the guy just showed the finished result with no build-up or specs, and on the other the guy never came back to finish/update his thread.

I'll try one of the bearing distributors here like you suggested earlier. If a no go then maybe switching to a 1" stem from a 3/4" would make it easier to find match. I'll check on the cups also.

Or maybe I can even manage to pop out the xj stem and swap it onto the springer.

And if I make this work, I will post pics and a step-by step so maybe it'll be a bit easier for the next guy, and we know there will be a next guy because springers are just that cool. lol

Thanks again for help.

 

Read this, it will give you an place to start.

http://www.thechopperunderground.com/fo ... opic=50017

XJ650, 750 & XS650 use the same bearings for the stock front end so that thread should have pertinent info:
Upper: 25 x 48 x 15.2
Lower: 30 x 48 x 15

 

Thank you, I'll check that out.

 

That info, along with Orange-N-Black's mention of the 1" trailer bearing, helped a lot. It lead me on a search which brought me to this thread: http://www.chopcult.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5438

Apparently you use the stock races but replace the stock bearings with 1" trailer bearings. The trailer bearings will fit snugly into the stock races with no mods.

Now I just need to find a 1" stem for the springer. Anyone know the length of the stock steering stem? I haven't pulled the front off the bike yet as I want to have everything ready beforehand.

 

Have you tried the bearing supply yet? I'm sure that bearings for the 3/4 stem will be cheaper than a 1" stem and paying someone to press it in the trees.
Another option would be steel insert bushings to adapt the bearing to the 3/4 stem if you can find one.

 

Steel inserts are another great suggestion I hadn't though of, thank you. And yeah, not having to switch out the stems would make for the best option in terms of both labor and costs. Something like this? http://www.princessauto.com/pal/en/Trai ... /8182214.p Or does it need to be long enough to go the length of the stem from bearing to bearing?

Not yet on the bearing supply. Waiting on funds to come in. Being on a tight budget with an expensive hobby is fun!! lol Luckily, since I plan on bobbing this beast, I have a good size list of parts forming to sell to perhaps get this project close to paying for itself.

The springer itself needs a few things such as a top tree replacement, nuts for the spring stems, and now new lower springs as my ever-so-helpful brother somehow managed to drop one on concrete just right to snap two coils off, so I'll be replacing both to make sure I have a matching set.

 

Yeah those will bushings should work. And yes, you got yourself involved in an expensive hobby that leads to more bikes if you don't get a hold on it. LOL

 

Got my first at 15 with my dad's hand-me-down 1971 CB750. Since then I've had two more CB750's, a 1971 Yamaha XS1, a 1978 KZ750, and two years ago parted with my last bike, a 1979 Suzuki GS750. I did things like painting and of course keeping them maintained but never really bothered going too far away from stock on any of them.

But there was just something about this 1983 XJ750 Midnight Maxim sitting there in a line-up of "bikes for sale" at the junkyard that grabbed me the instant I saw it. And after finding and perusing this site for the last few months looking at all the different builds I realized why.

I now understand those sculptors who say they don't create art pieces, they just chip away all the stuff around the piece that's already in there. I look at this bike and all I see is a dirty, mangy beast snarling to get let out of of it's pretty but normal cage. So I gotta try to chip him outta there. lol