OK, so after the conversion to APES, I discovered the huge lack of stability in the riser bushings that come stock. And anyone wanting to remove them and replace them knows that Yamaha presses the bushings in, and you can't hammer them out. If you search the forums, everyone says you need a press to do it, and it can't be done on the bike. Which means, removing the triple trees. NO BUENO!!

Well a buddy and I sat around and were trying to get mine out, without using a press (which I do have one, but wasn't about to remove the trees) and we had already hammered and heated and cussed and beat more and tried EVERYTHING.....when we came up with a homemade press that works perfectly. Knowing what to do, the bushings were out in less than 5 minutes!!!

So, we took a long Grade 8 bolt with a washer that was just smaller than the diameter of the bushing, and ran it though the bushing. On the bottom side, we used a 36mm socket which fits perfect. Run the bolt through that as well, and add a washer to stabilize and a nut. Then start cranking. As you tighten the bolt, it will compress on the bushing and then suck the bushing down into the socket. We used a 1/4" drive for leverage, but in less than 5 minutes, it was out.

I replaced with the Barons Good-n-Tite bushings and it is night and day difference. Far better handling, no shake...definitely worth the $35.

Here is a couple pics of the homemade bushing removal tool

http://s161.photobucket.com/albums/t212/jcoleman19/Bike/?action=view&current=img218.jpg
http://s161.photobucket.com/albums/t212/jcoleman19/Bike/?action=view&current=img219.jpg

hows the vibration with the stiffer bushing in the trees?

its definitely not worse, but I don't think there was much change. It took the shake out, and there is no sloppy play in the bars, and when I ride one handed, the other side is stable, not spasming out. But actual ride vibes, mine werent bad to begin with, and like I said, it def isn't worse

I love the upgrade

A large C-clamp can make a nice portable press.

Clifford

We tried a big c-clamp, but couldn't get the leverage needed without the clamp spinning on the socket. that is what lead us to the bolt

Good idea. This should be put into the "Tech" section for future reference.
Paul

Sounds like some of that pirate ingenuity..thanks for the tip...

I have one of those customs tools.

Well done.

Doc

Just wanted to bump this thread because it was right on time today and helped me remove my bushings.

Tried that on mine and they just would not come out. I've used that method beofre on other things and sometimes it works.
Actually pulling the top of the tree off is no big deal at all. Dealer pressed them out cheap. I highly recommend the Good--n-Tite's AND go to bars with no damn huge weights in the end of them. Yes, a tad more vibration but you can feel the damn bike and what it's doing. Personally I want feed back and if it's rough sometimes so be it.