Steering head bearing races

[robin]

What is the best way to get them out,i'm changing out the bearings because i'm putting in a new triple tree.

     thanks,Robin

[Louis Durocher]

I used a Dremel to make a cut in the lower one. The top one is easier to take out

[bentwrench]

Hey Robin,
I did mine last year,I used this to get the lower one out http://www.amazon.com/OTC-4796-Steering-Bearing-Remover/dp/B00BVL80JA/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1424385643&sr=8-1-fkmr1&keywords=otc+steering+head+bearing+race+remover I had to chamfer the edge to get it to bite,then the race came out 123.If you want to borrow mine PM me we'll figure it out.

The upper one will come easily with a long punch.
The handling feels much better with fresh bearings.At over 93k I didn't realize how the low speed handling had degraded now it feel like power steering.moving the bars through those dented races actualy requires effort.
BW

[Valker]

If you have access to a welder, just run a heat bead or three on the race face. It will fall right out.

[ptgb]

Mine came out real easy....

For the top, just stick a flat head screw driver upward from the bottom, catch the lip of the race and hit the screwdriver with a hammer semi-lightly.. right out.

For the bottom race:

Go to your local auto parts store and pickup one of these for $10 or less...



It is called a seal puller or something of the sort.

I finagled it up to top lip of the lower race, and hit the handle of it with a rubber mallet once or twice and the race popped right out.

[RonW]

At what mileage should the stem bearings be re-torqued?  Btw.

[Ricky-D]

Never if you haven't messed with them.

***

[John Schmidt]

I just use one of these. You adjust it to almost straight out and lock it, then insert from the top of the neck and catch the top of the bottom race. A couple good whacks with a hammer, turn 180 deg. and repeat. It's out in less time than it takes to get out your welder, no finagling, no cutting with a dremel. Just put it in and it's out in seconds. It's hardened steel, I've had mine for a few years now with no failure.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200378688_200378688