Steering Stem Bearings

[montmil]

I've emailed Dan at Cycle Works with your question. Probably Monday before we hear back.   Monte

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Monte,

Will that tool, also remove the swing arm races ?

No, the swingarm races are a smaller diameter.  There is a different tool for that.  I bought it and give it a hearty two thumbs up.



Re: the thin black screws.  There are 6 of them arranged in a circle.  The heads of the screws (set level to each other) engage the inner lip of the bearing race.  When the inner bolt gets tightened up, it applies force to the black screws, keeping them in place.
Then you pull the whole mess out with the ring and the large flat plate.

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

BTW - both of my outer-race tools can be borrowed for free.

All I ask is that you hold on to them until someone else needs them.

[montmil]

BTW - both of my outer-race tools can be borrowed for free. All I ask is that you hold on to them until someone else needs them.

That's very gracious of you, Rob.  Which brings up an off-topic idea I've had for some time...

Several local groups I've belonged to over the years have had "tool cribs" where worthy members (read: trustworthy) could borrow specific use tools. I'm unsure how this might work out with an internet forum group but the idea might be worth considering.

If there is interest, perhaps we could begin a tool crib specific thread?

Monte

[montmil]

There's a hole in my bucket...

Wanting to flush the filth outta the fork lowers, I needed some way to plug the large hole vacated by that big ol' Allen screw.

A vinyl plug (screw protector, vacuum cap, whatever) with an approx i.d. of 3/8" filled the hole neatly and made the job simple. Gently insert with a long cross-point screwdriver; extract with needle-nosed pliers.



And the things you find while servicing these older bikes... The Allen screws at the top of the fork tubes? One screw had zero aluminum crush washers while its neighbor had three!   Monte

[Bob_Roller]

I just drained all of the fluids out of the LS this last week, and I would have to say that all of the metal crush washers, looked to be original, paper thin and 'oozing' onto the threads .

Also noticed the drain plugs on the lower fork tubes, aren't OEM, they are regular metric bolts .

Looks like someone stripped them out  .

[montmil]

...Also noticed the drain plugs on the lower fork tubes, aren't OEM, they are regular metric bolts. Looks like someone stripped them out.

UhOh [smiley=wall.gif]   Don't the OEM Allen screws thread into the damper rod assembly? Has the rod been tapped for bigger/different threads or do you think just the screws were stripped and not the rod threads...    Monte

[Bob_Roller]

Not the Allen head bolts on the bottom of the fork leg, the small ones on the backside of the fork leg, that you drain the old fluid out of .

[montmil]

Not the Allen head bolts on the bottom of the fork leg, the small ones on the backside of the fork leg, that you drain the old fluid out of .

Whew!