The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2
General Category => General Announcements => Topic started by: thrang on May 28, 2007, 07:16:47 PM
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Had a bit of a nightmare today. Since Bimbo2 MOT test is due next month I've been slowly working my way through her and having noticed a wee bit of play in the head bearings decided to have a look at them last Thursday after work... and they were well knackered.
No problem thinks me so first thing Friday morning I phoned BSL in Barrow and as they did not have any in stock I reverted to option two I phoned Motobins who had them to me Saturday. A quick jaunt on down to Lancaster to borrow a pukka BMW head bearing puller and I thought I was set.
Having the right pullers and having replaced head bearings a few times in the past I was not expecting any dramas. Everything was going swimmingly, even the bottom race came out no problem as did the bottom yoke rollers and then things went pearshaped when I came to the top outer race. when the puller would not lift the bearing it quickly became apparent that a PO thought it was a good idea to fix the upper race in place with some sort of metal adhesive. Four hours later and umpteen Dremel cutting discs later the thing finally came out after I had to cut it up like a bloody cake!
In the past when I've cut a bearing free one cut and thats it, the thing comes out! Jesus what a pain in the arse, still they are done and fingers crossed I wont have to worry about them for the forseeable future. Now all I've got to do now is get back in the wifes good books as she's not to happy about me spending the Bank Holiday with my German 'grilfriend!'
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Persistence is necessary! Good old Dreaded Previous Owners. I've had my Brit bike so long that most of the things I have to fix, by now, are things I screwed up 20 years ago. I wonder if Rob has the same issues with his R65? Nah, he probably never did stuff wrong! ;D
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Did you see any evidence indicating why they might have glued in the race?
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So if it was some kind of metal adhesive, did you have to use the rotary tool to take away all traces of it, and still leave a proper shelf for the race?
That is the worst kind of nightmare! I'm sorry for you.
No Ed, I've never thought of gluing races in place.
Yes Ed, if enough people would buy it, I could write a book about my mistakes and retire.
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I know what you mean Ed, having had the Bimbo for for donkeys years I like to think that I've done petty much every dodgy bodge you can get anway with on an an airhead but I'd never consider using glue on a bearing!
Did you see any evidence indicating why they might have glued in the race?
No the housing looked fine, all I can think of is may be the owner found a bearing that fitted the stem but sat a little lose in the head. The bottom bearing (which unsually came out no problem) was the usual 320/28 but the one at the top had an odd imperial BS code, which I cannot read as I cut it to ribons.
My mate Alan mentioned in the pub last night that (he's an agricultural engineer) its the kind of thing farmers do, he's always complaining about having to cut free bearings that farmers have banged because they fit spindle but not the housing.
Cleaning it out was not that bad as I used a Dremel (bloody wonderful things) with one of the round abrasive blob fittings for the bulk of it followed by the emory roller pads and the one that looks a little like a denists drill type attchements to get into the corner of the step. It took a wee while but once the race was out the stuff came off pretty easily although I had to be a bit careful to take off just the adhesive.
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Hmmm, interesting...
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Oh brother. From what I've read, those aren't particularly expensive bearings, but somebody couldn't be bothered to buy the right one?
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You have to remember which planet we are living on, Ed.
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sometimes i feel i pi*s off my miss by waking up in the morning. ;D
i have to start calling the cafe project my german mistress! my miss would love that! i know it would a visual of some well endowed bar maid into her head ;D
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Jon, you hit the nail on the head. Every morning we wake up is one less day they have to enjoy the insurance payoff...
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'German girlfriend' was the wife's comment to my sister. I do rather like it though :)