Steering Head Bearings

[fat6man]

Would anyone have the ID numbers for the Steering Head Bearings...I would rather use an American

Made Bearing.

Thanks.....

[T.P.]

You cant use American bearings, The only option is OEM or the Allballs kit. try to find my post from last summer on head bearings and you will see why.  T.P.

[Jeff K]

http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,17877.0.html

[T.P.]

Thanks for finding  it Jeff!  I will post it below,  T.P.

HEAD BEARINGS !!!!!   Just back from TULL Bearing of Minneapolis.   INTERESTING !!!  While the "ALLBALLS" bearings cross reference to the 32005x and the 32006x, the inside dimensions have been changed............the stock 32005x has a inside diameter of 25mm and the AB has 26mm stamped on the ring.   so a stock bearing will be too small.......Dick at Tull said, he has motorcycle, ATV and snowmobile guys bring in bearings all the time with altered specs......you can't change the dimensions after they are hardened.  so the only options are OEM or ALLBALLS.  T.P.


Dick also said there are no bearings made in the USA anymore.

[Ricky-D]

The best option is to leave them alone!

Only if they are indexed should they need attention.

***

[Warlock]

The best option is to leave them alone!

Only if they are indexed should they need attention.

***

He must think they need changing if he's asking for P/N 
David

[fat6man]

Thanks for all your input... Guess I should have went into more detail of my concern.

As of yet I have not taken the triple trees off. What I did do that puts me in question about the head

bearings is this. After removing the front Calipers and the wheel for a front suspension rebuild with

Progressive Springs. I reinstalled the axle shaft, snugged up the pinch bolts, and then set up a dial

indicator to read movement of axle shaft. I then without bike or lift moving pulled and pushed fore

and aft on the forks and I got a total travel movement of .025" - .028" at the front axle. I realize

that movement at the head bearing area itself will be much less due to the bearings being only inches

apart comparted to the distance of the Axle to the Steering Head. I'm just a little concerned with the

movement. ????  I not sure but maybe just disassembly, regrease, and a retorque of the head bearing

will do. Thanks for the help with locating a bearing supplier. ALLBALLS.com  Part Number 22-1020

    

[Disco]

Do they need to be replaced, or just tightened? 

[Ricky-D]

There are a few that consider maintenance of the bearings (any bearings) involves replacing the bearings whether or not they are bad.

***

[Chrisj CMA]

There are a few that consider maintenance of the bearings (any bearings) involves replacing the bearings whether or not they are bad.

***

There was a guy here in NW florida.......may not still be in business.......way before I had my Valkyrie I had friends that had 1500 wings.  More than one of these guys took their bikes to this guy to remedy front end wobble and he would retorque the head bearing without replacing it.  He had a great rep for fixing many wings, but apparently he would not perform this operation if the bike had over some certain amount of miles (amount unknown to me)

My interpretation of that experience has always been....if the bearings were too loose from the beginning you will have problems early and those problems would be easily corrected by re-tightening the bearings.  If problems arrise later its not the same thing and replacing the bearings and the races is probably in order.

If there are no problems....then well, maybe there are no problems

MHO

[Warlock]

I have found several bad steering bearing bad from around 65000 miles and more to be bad. A good way to check for index is when you have the front wheel off. Turn it real easy from side to side and pay close attention when approaching center position. Sometimes it will click and sometimes you can feel it. JAT
David

[fat6man]

Got the Triple trees off and the races and bearing seem to be alright, so I guess I'll just regrease them, assemble and re torque. With the forks off I just don't want to miss anything that would be an easy fix. Thanks to all.   

[Patrick]

Its fairly common for these to get out of adjustment, its one of life's little wonderments. I just snug them up to check for damage.. If they work smoothly, I'll adjust them using a spring scale [ 1.75-2.25#]..

[fudgie]

Like warlock said, take front wheel off and check. I noticed mine were way loose without the wheel on. with it on, with the weight of it, I didnt notice they were loose. Bars moved front to back. this was 2k after replacement. Retourque them and see. If you do replace them, besure to check torque a few hundred miles later. i used all balls and was pleased.