Replacing steering head bearings before Rally!!!

I am replacing my steering head bearings this weekend on my 1300 before all the riding we are going to do when the darkside rally comes in April. I had developed a head shake if I took both hands off the bars, but just touch one hand back on the handle bars it would go away.

So, I removed the steering head tonite.....the original bearings looked great and were in good condition, it just appeared to needing to tightened and should have been fine. But I am replacing them anyway and going to paint the triple trees and forks. I am tired of cleaning them....hehehehe

I will let you know how it comes out!

Later...................bobby

Oh....yea! Smokey, there are places for a person like you that pack bearing that way!!!...


Thank you brother! You are the best and I appreciate your friendship. I will take both of what you sent me on the darksie Rally'! The bearings and the jumper cables!


.........................bobby


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twin1300 wrote:Oh....yea! Smokey, there are places for a person like you that pack bearing that way!!!...


Thank you brother! You are the best and I appreciate your friendship. I will take both of what you sent me on the darksie Rally'! The bearings and the jumper cables!


.........................bobby


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Welcome brother, I take it you finally opened them I knew you could appreciate it

See you at the rally
Smokey

Me and Buddha1800 are going at the bike full force. Changing bearings and painting as we go. NO MORE CHROME OR ALUMINUM! WOOOOHOOOOO! i am a rider and not a polisher!

Sorry, guys/gals! No pics, we are too busy to take any! Burning daylight, gotta go!




...............................twin


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If you clean up the old bearings and look real close, I would bet that you will see that they are bad. My first 2 set of OEM only lasted 8 to 10 k each and they had indentations in them. bike was pushing in the corners and shaking.

Wayne,

I looked at them and felt the bearings good.....they didn't appear worn and the cage was all in tack and look good also. But...they were excessive loose when I was taking it apart.


I tell what...these all balls bearing replacement are the bomb! Rode at any speed with NO hands from 20mph to 65mph for a couple of miles at all speeds...not the first shake!!!! Thanks Smoke for the bearings!!!!!!!



....................bobby

Hummm, new neck bearings, so far so good with mine. My balls are bearing just fine for now. I will have to keep an eye on them. 29,000 miles plus and no wobble yet.
Watch on my ride to Tenn. I will probably develop a bearing problem.

REAPS

vtxreaper wrote:Hummm, new neck bearings, so far so good with mine. My balls are bearing just fine for now. I will have to keep an eye on them. 29,000 miles plus and no wobble yet.
Watch on my ride to Tenn. I will probably develop a bearing problem.

REAPS

Hay Reaps.
Us 1800 guys got it made in the shade. We dont have that problem or at least not near as bad as those 1300 folks. Take it easy and have a beer.

Peace
Moon.

The 1800 bearings are what we replace ours with. Your cool.

Jerry

I'm doing the same thing , got my bearings from George after he sold his VTX.
Also putting on a new front tire.

horseman8m wrote:I'm doing the same thing , got my bearings from George after he sold his VTX.
Also putting on a new front tire.

You are going to love it horseman! Rides like it's brand new.



............................bobby

Not going to make the rally bit far for me esipcally since I going to the one in ferdisburg in June. you all have a great one. I am planning on changing my neck bearing first part of april when i do the tires.

Griffjag wrote:Not going to make the rally bit far for me esipcally since I going to the one in ferdisburg in June. you all have a great one. I am planning on changing my neck bearing first part of april when i do the tires.

I know Doc00 is going from Tuscaloosa and was looking for someone to share the road with.

Jerry

You are so right Twin , after I installed the new bearings and tire but before i reinstalled the windshield I took the bike out for a test drive ...
WOW whet an improvement , up to 60 mph and took my hands off the handle bars and it tracked straight as an arrow, no wobble at all.
I'm ready to go to the Darkside rally too.
see you there.