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TOPIC: Re:Steering head bearings and forks, oh my! Forum Tools Post New Topic Show latest posts Rules

#238371 jetspray (User) Junior Boarder Posts: 107 Re:Steering head bearings and forks, oh my! 2 Years, 2 Months ago   jrtu wrote: The neck bearings are know to wash out. If you wash your bike or if it sits in the rain its just going to happen this is also my winter project along with some new tri bar passing lamps. I am thinking of using http://www.syntheticoilnlubes.com/amsoil_synthetic_water_resistant_grease.html . this stuff was awesome in the drive line of my old sea-doo 8,000 rpm and a very wet enviroment. never changed a bearing in 6 years of racing it.   Logged     Sig Pic deleted - larger than 450 pixels and 50 KB   The administrator has disabled public write access. #238380 Crusierbob (User) Platinum Boarder Posts: 1234 Re:Steering head bearings and forks, oh my! 2 Years, 2 Months ago   Service Manual calls for lithium soap based grease. That is what I put in there and still got rust. I may upgrade to a litium marine grease for better corosion resistance.   Logged       The administrator has disabled public write access. #238414 MightyRoadStar (User) SQUIRREL! Junior Boarder Posts: 143 Re:Steering head bearings and forks, oh my! 2 Years, 2 Months ago   After more research and a closer look, I ended up pulling my steering head apart again (I hadn't finished assembling the bike, or I'd have been pi$$ed!) - the grease I used, while lithium-based, and NGLI #2, wasn't right ... D'OH! I ended up cleaning all the old grease out, re-packed with Lucas Red N Tacky#2, and re-assembled and re-set the bearings to factory specs - MUCH better! The Lucas grease doesn't seem to want to run everywhere; it clings better, is tackier, and thicker feeling .... hopefully this will work out better than the other grease (a hi-pressure general purpose grease from O'Reilly) and won't run out everywhere. While my grease hadn't started to run (much) it did seem "thinner" than the Lucas and just didn't feel right. Oh well ...   Logged     The administrator has disabled public write access. #238433 Crusierbob (User) Platinum Boarder Posts: 1234 Re:Steering head bearings and forks, oh my! 2 Years, 2 Months ago   I would like other's opinions on what grease to use in the Steering Head. It appears that MightyRoadStar may have a better solution. I used white lithium soap based grease when I serviced my bearings at 12,500 miles and at 26,000 miles they were rusted and had to be replaced. One would think a metal saturated in a lube would not rust!!!! I am going to tear it down again soon to put zerks in so I can keep the bearings in a fresh supply of grease, but want to use a grease that will actually do the job. Thanks for your opinions and help.   Logged       The administrator has disabled public write access. #238434 Flashback (Moderator) Just the facts, Ma'am.. Moderator Posts: 9186 Re:Steering head bearings and forks, oh my! 2 Years, 2 Months ago   I haven't been into mine yet, but when I do, I will probably look to the marine industry. Mercrusier makes a special grease to lube the pivots on there outdrives, its corrosion resistant, water resistant, and designed to take high loads and temp changes,,good stuff..IMHO..   Logged       The administrator has disabled public write access. #238443 Papa Bear (User) Senior Boarder Posts: 237 Re:Steering head bearings and forks, oh my! 2 Years, 2 Months ago   Ironman- not sure if he'll use OEM or aftermarket. Papa Bear   Logged     The administrator has disabled public write access. #238472 MightyRoadStar (User) SQUIRREL! Junior Boarder Posts: 143 Re:Steering head bearings and forks, oh my! 2 Years, 2 Months ago   Papa Bear wrote: Mine just started with a little catch after 76,000 miles. I'm having a local shop do mine. He's putting together a price for me. What's it usually run $$ wise for a total bearing replacement. Papa Bear I would guess several hundred $$ - it's not a hard job, but it can be time consuming, and with most shops charging 70+ an hour, it gets expensive quick! My local Yamaha shop quoted around 300-400 iirc .... I think Yamaha charged me about $50 for the bearings; they were ordered from BigNumber1 in Alabama (they usually cut the price a good bit)   Logged     The administrator has disabled public write access. #238555 Crusierbob (User) Platinum Boarder Posts: 1234 Re:Steering head bearings and forks, oh my! 2 Years, 2 Months ago   I bought the bearings from Yamaha as I did not have time to shop around and find another source. The charge at the dealer was $38 a set total $74. Of course being lazy I had them shipped to me so it cost in the mid $80's for the bearings. I would guess an experienced wrench could do the job in about 2 hours, it took me more like 5, but I had to use a chisel to remove the lower bearings and if you have a press that would take about a minute. I would guess parts and labor with all the other shop charges this is a $400 repair, but that is just a SWAG.   Logged       The administrator has disabled public write access. #238576 Boatmark (User) Roadie fan, just blowin' down the road... Platinum Boarder Posts: 2395 Re:Steering head bearings and forks, oh my! 2 Years, 2 Months ago   Crusierbob wrote: Service Manual calls for lithium soap based grease. That is what I put in there and still got rust. I may upgrade to a litium marine grease for better corosion resistance.You hit the nail on the head, Bob! The manual calls for soap-based grease? That's the reason they wash out!   Logged       The administrator has disabled public write access. #238578 Boatmark (User) Roadie fan, just blowin' down the road... Platinum Boarder Posts: 2395 Re:Steering head bearings and forks, oh my! 2 Years, 2 Months ago   I feel that my bearings are still O-K, but how do you inspect and service them? This thread is getting me wanting to at least inspect them...   Logged       The administrator has disabled public write access.

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