Re: How to remove Headrace bearings???
 

Sorted, you have a PM, just let me know when and I might be able to give you a hand also.

I think everybody has answered this for you.

Re: How to remove Headrace bearings???
 

Thank you for all your posts; the SV-GSXR bearing is in the post now.

Will we be needing to replace the lower SV bearing to a tapered roller too, and if so where is the best place to source one? Can you use a ball at the bottom and a roller at the top?


Thank you for that Dave but only if you are fully fit.

Re: How to remove Headrace bearings???
 

You don't have to... I did mine anyway, since the strip and build time is what makes it troublesome to change the bearings, so I thought I might as well while I was in there.

Re: How to remove Headrace bearings?
 

Heat gun and a long drift. Put the new bearing in the fridge while your getting the old one out, and heat the headstock to re-fit it. it will give you time to give it a few good whacks with a hammer. Use a large socket to hammer the race in. Getting the bearing off the stem requires heat again, use a chisel and tap it with a hammer round the base, be careful not to go too far and damage the stem. refitting new one needs more heat, get a tube that is slightly bigger than the stem but same size as the bearing and tap it down till it stops.
to hold the bike get a paddock stand and 2 axle stands and support under the motor or either side of the frame. good luck. There are bearing removal tools available, just search the net.

Re: How to remove Headrace bearings?
 

A quick update, we have a tapered lower bearing ordered from Wemoto. We have the whole front end almost, just looking for clip-ons and calipers (although DD is digging around in his sheds for some).

Thank you for all the posts.

Re: How to remove Headrace bearings???
 

This is excellent advice. Take it. It's essential the bearing comes out squarely to avoid frame damage.

One thing surprises me though - the much given advice to spank the carp out of everything. If you bring the bearing out squarely it will require very little force to shift it.

Re: How to remove Headrace bearings?
 

Except perhaps to get it moving the initial bit, I use a bit of penetrating oil, don't know how much good it does but it can't hurt.

Re: How to remove Headrace bearings?
 

I've always found they came out fairly easily for the lowers, a gentle tap from side to side did the trick fairly rapidly but the uppers were a PITA as you are hitting up and can't see so well.

+1 for reusing the old bearing as a drift but I just wave an angle driver through them, far quicker and easier than a dremel. I have a goodly collection of old seals and bearings with a slice taken out!

Druid

Re: How to remove Headrace bearings?
 

I have just done my head bearings, I put the rear up on a paddock stand and tied the front ( around the front of the frame then a safety rope onto the front fairing bracket ) to a beam in the roof of my garage with some rope, was very stable, a lot more than when I tried it on a paddock stand and jack. The bearings came out very easily, light tapping with a long flat head screwdriver in the grooves, as long as it stays square it should come out fairly easily.

Re: How to remove Headrace bearings?
 

I did mine as well seeing as i had it all apart anyway saves doing it later on.

The biggest PITA I had was fitting the new bottom bearings