How to make your own steering head bearing removal tool


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wingdings
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How to make your own steering head bearing removal tool

Post by wingdings »



Hi - all - Just getting ready now to do my head stock bearing replacement - made myself a tool to knock out the bearings - so just passing this on for fellow wingers to save money and make your own ..
20170212_142629.jpg bearing tool 2.jpg


Oh - here is a tool you can make your self using  25mm steam pipe :- bearing knock out tool !!

Cut list :-

1) One - 25mm 0.D - steam pipe . 500mm long or 20 inchs .

2) One - thin 1mm cut off disc for 100mm angle grinder or 4inch grinder .

3) Flat file or half round one .

Method :-

1) Place pipe in a vice cut rough  to size - say 20inchs - then cut again - both ends ensuring the ends are both cut off dead square - (This is critical  to ensure that both are square and flat to the face so when hitting the tool and the bearing race all four points hit the race lip at the same time on the bottom of the tool . ) When cut off should leave you with about 17"inchs

2) Mark from one end of the pipe  and divide the 25mm pipe into 4 equal parts - Six Inchs from one end of the pipe .

3) Take your angle grinder - slowly start to cut down the lines you have made until all four are cut to a depth of six inches down from the end of the pipe .

4) File up all the cuts made with a flat file or a half round one .

5) When all the fash has gone - place the pipe in a vice so the four cuts face up right then take a socket of the same size as the bearing you are trying to remove and knock down onto the four slits to spread them wide enough plus a little bit more for a snug fit too .

6) Coat with paint - there you go - your new head race bearing removal tool .
20170212_142645.jpg bearing tool 1.jpg
20170212_142659.jpg bearing tool 4.jpg


Last edited by wingdings on Sun Feb 12, 2017 1:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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RoadRogue
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Re: how to make your own steering head bearing removal tool

Post by RoadRogue »

Simple effective design,I like it. Thanks for sharing.now Im off to the shop to make one 8-)
Ride safe, Todd
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wingdings
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Re: how to make your own steering head bearing removal tool

Post by wingdings »

You are most welcome to as well :D :D :D :D - they cost £26 pounds on ebay - too - better to make your own :D :D :D :D
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Re: How to make your own steering head bearing removal tool

Post by WingAdmin »

Very nice! Simple and effective.
wingdings
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Re: How to make your own steering head bearing removal tool

Post by wingdings »

Why - " Thank you there - wing admin " - Maybe you would like to add it to your - How to Articles - Yes ?? - Think its simple and very easy to make too - and because you have four points of contact on the race bearing lip you put equal amount of force on all four sides you can pick up steam pipe almost anywhere - I got mine from a scrap yard - the guy gave me it for nothing !! :D :D :D :D .. if you buy the same tool on ebay it will cost you £26- £30 pounds - So a very big saving in your pocket too !! .

I will be making a steering yoke bearing - tool to knock the bottom bearing onto the bottom of the yoke - it will be a little like the tool I have already made expect - it will be working by pulling in the four prongs - rather than pushing them out and by putting a hose clip on the bottom it will stop the prongs from spreading out while you are using the tool - I will post this tool after I have made it later this week - I really don't have a lot of money to spend on fancy tools - so just showing fellow wingers how to do the jobs - using diy methods based on the tools that cost big bucks to buy - and in some case's you may only use maybe once or twice while you have the bike .

Maybe more !! if you use the after market bearings - because of the fatal floor they have - you need a thrust washer to sort out the problem please see vid below - which explains things a lot better then I could .. nothing worse than doing a job only having to do it again later down the road - yes ??



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..

INFO - IS KING WHEN YOU ARE WORKING ON YOUR WING !! - YES ??? ..
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guitarzan
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Re: How to make your own steering head bearing removal tool

Post by guitarzan »

Hi,
I can tell that's not black pipe, but what is steam pipe? I'm not familiar with the term.

Thank you
Frank
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wingdings
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Re: How to make your own steering head bearing removal tool

Post by wingdings »

Hi - Frank - steam pipe - its the steel pipe that is used to carry water around in buildings and offices - you can usually find it down the local scrap yard there fella - 25mm is a common size too - if you make the tool yourself - this is how effective it is over other methods there frank -

see vid below - :-



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and watch this vid too on after market bearings frank - it will make you think twice about checking before you install and show you how to sort out the problem of the aftermarket bearings problem you need a thrust washer to make them work correctly



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hope this helps you frank ... :D :D :D

p.s - just found this vid too - he used 25mm steel conduct - however this was for a bike stem bearing - the reason I used the steam pipe its a bit tougher stuff frank - but it may be worth a go fella -



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wingdings
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Re: How to make your own steering head bearing removal tool

Post by wingdings »

wingdings wrote:Hi - all - Just getting ready now to do my head stock bearing replacement - made myself a tool to knock out the bearings - so just passing this on for fellow wingers to save money and make your own .. vid at the bottom to show how effective the tool is

20170212_142629.jpg bearing tool 2.jpg



Oh - here is a tool you can make your self using  25mm steam pipe :- bearing knock out tool !!

Cut list :-

1) One - 25mm 0.D - steam pipe . 500mm long or 20 inchs .

2) One - thin 1mm cut off disc for 100mm angle grinder or 4inch grinder .

3) Flat file or half round one .

Method :-

1) Place pipe in a vice cut rough  to size - say 20inchs - then cut again - both ends ensuring the ends are both cut off dead square - (This is critical  to ensure that both are square and flat to the face so when hitting the tool and the bearing race all four points hit the race lip at the same time on the bottom of the tool . ) When cut off should leave you with about 17"inchs

2) Mark from one end of the pipe  and divide the 25mm pipe into 4 equal parts - Six Inchs from one end of the pipe .

3) Take your angle grinder - slowly start to cut down the lines you have made until all four are cut to a depth of six inches down from the end of the pipe .

4) File up all the cuts made with a flat file or a half round one .

5) When all the fash has gone - place the pipe in a vice so the four cuts face up right then take a socket of the same size as the bearing you are trying to remove and knock down onto the four slits to spread them wide enough plus a little bit more for a snug fit too .

6) Coat with paint - there you go - your new head race bearing removal tool .

20170212_142645.jpg bearing tool 1.jpg

20170212_142659.jpg bearing tool 4.jpg




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wingdings
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Re: How to make your own steering head bearing removal tool

Post by wingdings »

Hi- folks - finally got round to knocking out my head race bearings - using the tool - I made above - Top race came out 4 hits and out it came !! - (see pic below) .
20170225_115333.jpg RACE TOOL PIC 2.jpg

20170225_115225.jpg RACE TOOL 3.jpg
20170225_115256.jpg RACE TOOL 1.jpg
However the bottom race bearing was a night mare !!! - There was no lip to put the tool onto - and the bottom bearing race had been poorly installed a well ( see pic below ) .
20170225_115648.jpg bearing pic poor install .jpg


So had to come up with a new tool to get the race out !! - you could feel a sight lip on the race but could not get the tool to lip on it - so I bent the ends out on the end of race tool - to make it hit the recessed lip of the race bearing - and tapped it into place - then I used a cold chisel to wedged into the petals solid up against the lip of the race tool - 4 hits and out it came too - see pics of modified tool - will have to make another one now for the top race - lol -( see pics below ... ).
20170225_125548.jpg modiyflyed tool pic 2.jpg
20170225_125717.jpg modifyed tool pic 1.jpg
The best way to use these tools is to always pull them up from the bottom to the top and listen for the petals to snap into place that way you know your on the lip of the race bearing .. Happy bearing removal - Not F.R.O - time !! - lol ...
wingdings
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Re: How to make your own steering head bearing removal tool

Post by wingdings »

Hi - folks - forgot to add the modified pic of the bottom race knock out tool - its the same tool made in the same way - however - just bend over the four petals - by about - 15to 20mm at the ends - . :D :D :D :D :D and don't forget the fat cold chisel either ....
20170226_124831.jpg bottom bearing removal tool mod pic 1 .jpg

20170226_124814.jpg bottom race bearing removal tool mod pic 2 .jpg
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Re: How to make your own steering head bearing removal tool

Post by WingAdmin »

As I mentioned in my [url=viewtopic.php?f=14&t=23661]How to replace your steering head bearings[url] article, the bottom bearing doesn't have a lip, but there is a slight angle in the steering head that gives you access to the top of the outer bearing race:

Image

I took a chisel, heated and bent it, then ground it to fit the rounded profile of the race:

Image

It then fits into the notch, so you can knock the bearing out:

Image
wingdings
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Re: How to make your own steering head bearing removal tool

Post by wingdings »

Hi - Good morning !! - there wing admin !! - Yes you did mention that point - however at the time I had my lap top in the house - but I did remember you bent screwdriver tool - That inspired me to bend over the four prongs on the petals and make a new style bottom race tool - I feel myself it's a very quick /clean -easy method of removing the bearing's there to - Judge for yourself in the two you tube vids - below there fella - I know which one I prefer - lol .. :D :D



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guitarzan
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Re: How to make your own steering head bearing removal tool

Post by guitarzan »

Hello ,
Nice clean shop you have. The videos look nice too. What kind of pipe did you use to make the tool?

Thank you
Frank
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wingdings
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Re: How to make your own steering head bearing removal tool

Post by wingdings »

Hi - frank - hope your well there fella - Yes - I used 25mm mild steel pipe - the type you use on buildings or factory's for water pipes and heating you could try your local scrap yard - however - you could try to use 25mm steel conduit - at a pinch - see vid below - I think that's what the guy used fella ...



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guitarzan
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Re: How to make your own steering head bearing removal tool

Post by guitarzan »

I'm fine thank you, how are you? The pipe we use for water is typically copper.

You're a good guy getting back to me and being patient with me.

Have a good day and stay safe.
USMC Purple Heart Combat Veteran MOS 0331 Machine Gunner Vietnam 70-71
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wingdings
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Re: How to make your own steering head bearing removal tool

Post by wingdings »

Hi - again frank its not a problem - there fella - you just need a steel pipe and a cutting disc - failing that it will cost you £30 pounds off ebay there must be some steel pipe knocking around somewhere where you live fella - yes :D :D :D :D :D
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Re: How to make your own steering head bearing removal tool

Post by pidjones »

I just removed the bearings from my '78 GL1000. I made a tool to remove the lower race using a ~1.5" aluminum bar ~ 12" long with a 3/8" tapped hole in the end of it. I used the hole to bolt a large flat washer (thick fender washer) to the bottom that was about 1/8" larger in radius. This gave me a lip to place above the lower race. I alternated front-back, right-left and measured a coupe times to assure me it was was working. About one minute of tapping and the race fell out. I used the bar without the washer on it to tap out the upper race. To remove the lower bearing from the shaft, I had seen and read of cutting with a moto-tool part way and then splitting with a cold chisel. I first cut off the roller cage, then bent the seal out of the way. I cut with one of those thin, delicate abrasive blades (didn't shatter this time!) until I heard a tink! and the race broke open. The chisel then was used to tap the race on off. I have dressed the surface with a diamond hone (a few burrs from someone's previous work) and polished with 3000 and 7000 grit silicon carbide paper using isopropyl as a cutting fluid. BTW, using 91% (or the highest you can get) isopropyl as a cutting fluid for fine abrasive helps to keep the paper useful many times longer by keeping it flushed and carrying away cuttings. I discovered this trick years ago at my paid vocation. Thanks go out to those that have recorded their ideas, tools, and success. They really encouraged me to try it myself. I won't say my was better - I just happened to have these pieces on hand. Two days and the new bearings will be here. I plan to use the removed lower race to tap in the new bearing with a piece of PVC driving above it. I will use the removed outer races to tap the new ones it.


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