Steering head Bearings

[Ozboc]

Greetings fellow Busa enthusiasts , well double demerit points are on us again , so the bike is being parked for the next few days......


Ok well recently i got a new front tire for the bike - Dunlop qualifier - used them before on the fireblade - was wrapped - so go them for the busa - had a range of issues from the second it went on - took back to the bike shop 3 times and each time would have a crazy wobble / almost tankslap at 70 / 80 kmh --- ends up they put a new tire on and this fixed the prob ( they balanced the tire each time without effect)

NOW - whilst the new front dodgy tire was being replace - the guy found my steering head bearings are binding up .... took me to the w/shop - and i got to also feel it .... Brg would get tight at about 2 o clock 10 oclock -- no free movement or noise just binding.

NOW - is this a job that is moderately easy to do? ( i am a fitter machinist by trade) can it be replaced without needing to remove all the fairings ? i know the forks have to come out, and holders.

was quoted about $300 for the job - should this be something i should do myself or should i leave it to the Bike mechanics?

I am on the tools all day repairing high speed packaging machinery so i am a little half arsed to come home and spend a few more hours on the tools if its not going to be straight forward ... your options ?

Busaboc

[Greeny_SA]

IMHO If money isn't too much of an issue I'd gladly pay the $300 &
have a nice relaxing easter.

[1300hayabusa]

Pay the 300,see if you can watch what he is doing and next time should be a breeze.

[tomrux]

replacment not a huge job. plastics should not need to come of. go for tapered rollers bearings instead of the standard cup and cone. way eaiser and heaps better to boot. just cost a few more $$$$.

BUT having said all that make sure that it is the bearings giving probs and not cables or something causing grief. cant say that i have ever heard of the symptom before. may just be short on grease. the factory was kind of jewish on lubrication. had mine out at about 5k very dry and not a high qual grease.

Tom

[bigfoot]

grab the last copy of rapid bikes and their is step by step instructions on how to do it does not look to hard just time consuming! if you have experience as a mechanic should be no problem!

[Maj]

Old site had a sticky on converting to tapered bearings, most complicated bit is removing the lower bearing seat from the shaft .