610 steering stem bearings

[sidetrack]

Hi

Mine is very rough and passed it. Before I tear it diwn and possibly wait 2 or 3 weeks does anyone know the sizes ? Are they off the shelf from bearing places by any chance (long shot) ?

[sidetrack]

320 x 26 X J looks like ?

[BiG DoM]

Should be off the shelf from Bearingman - call them and quote the numbers. Get the best quality they have (SKF etc) and ensure you grease well with waterproof grease. Also take the opportunity to cover the hole in the steering head that is I believe some throwback to a steering lock mechanism.

http://www.cafehusky.com/threads/steering-head-bearing-replacement.9079/#post-314230

http://www.cafehusky.com/threads/630-steering-stem-fix.31769/#post-294605

[sidetrack]

Hmmm looks like it may be 320 x 28 x J as that is what I can cross reference. Thanks will contact them.

[sidetrack]

FYI took my front end apart. My bike is fitted with Timken bearings part # L44600LA, the bearings has a built in rubber washer. Luckily mine only needed a good coating of grease. The bottom race had minor grooves at the frame side only, the top and bottom bearing is still nice and smooth. Should get good use out of them yet.

[BiG DoM]

good to hear - did you wash out the old grease first before repacking? Often bearings have inferior grease and are under-greased ex factory.
Also you will probably find the "washer" is a plastic dust cap/seal and if you carefully pry it it actually comes off. These are often referred to as capped bearings and do help in keeping the water and gunge out. You will also often find the lower bearing race to be the most worn - and yes often in one area where the most impact is exerted. Also the lower one inevitable gets the most water and dust.

When one thinks about it a steering head bearing gets relatively little use compared to other bearings used and it is also in a very limited range of the turning arc. If good quality and regularly serviced and adjusted they should actually last well (and pressure washing kept clear!). Strangely dealers never seem to adjust these bearings until they fail and few seem to know to adjust them after new, after a 1000km or so. The reality is a loose bearing like this deteriorates rapidly if left to its own demise.

[Straatkat]

I never pressure wash my bikes, the no:1 culprit in my opinion. The head bearings have a real easy life, they fail because of rust.

[BiG DoM]

I never pressure wash my bikes, the no:1 culprit in my opinion. The head bearings have a real easy life, they fail because of rust.

Ja as I said