Steering bearings, Steering damper?

[VaSteve]

I have almost completely disassembled my bike to perform various deferred maintenance, fix leaks, paint the frame and body parts.  

The steering head has always baffled me.  It appears as if it has been leaking since I would occasionally find grease on the wiring that goes to the headlight.  Is there a seal or something in there?  Perhaps the prior owner used the wrong kind of grease or something?  

Also, I have been reading the Clymer book in preparation for my many projects.  Did the R65 ever come with a steering damper?  I could see from the frame how it might fit on there, but I have never seen one.  

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Steering damper was an option, apparently: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=0363&mospid=51897&btnr=31_0299&hg=31&fg=10
Duane Ausherman says if your solo bike needs a damper, something needs to be fixed.

On the lower steering head bearing, there is a "dust seal", which is a stamped metal cover for the bottom of the bearing.  #13 in this picture:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=0363&mospid=51897&btnr=31_0296&hg=31&fg=10

There is no grease seal for either the top or bottom bearing.  
Standard axle grease is all you need - it's pretty hard to go wrong.  I suppose a PO could have put some oil on them to loosen up some hard grease?  You might want to consider replacing them.

[montmil]

...The steering head has always baffled me. It appears as if it has been leaking since I would occasionally find grease on the wiring that goes to the headlight. Is there a seal or something in there?  Perhaps the prior owner used the wrong kind of grease or something?

Nope, no seals on the stem. There is, however, an OEM nylon/plastic button/plug thingy filling a hole in the frame neck. I have not heard of the reason for this but some owners have been known to pump grease into the opening, believing they are actually helping the bearings.

If and when you pull the steering stem, you may find a cache of grease.

Monte

[Bob_Roller]

You can grease the steering head bearings by installing  grease fittings in place of the plastic plugs, cap the openings at the top and bottom of the steering stem with a length of threaded rod with large diameter grommets and large area washers and then nuts to hold everything together and then pump in the grease until you see it come out around the bearings .

The holes in the steering head are threaded for bolts, so a pipe or tapered thread grease fitting doesn't fit real well .

I wouldn't recommend it, until you know what kind of condition the bearings are in .

[VaSteve]

I snapped a photo when I got it apart today.  You can see the existing grease track heading towards the brake line bracket.   Any thoughts or just the wrong kind of grease?

[Bob_Roller]

Most grease separates and oozes oil after a while .

I think any kind of thick grease would work, I would just stay away from the fiberous type wheel bearing grease .

The last grease I used, was wheel bearing grease from NAPA, smelled like gear lube .

[Justin B.]

The tapped holes with the plastic plugs in the steering head are for attaching the fairing bracket.  Anyone who has installed an RS or RT fairing will know what they're for!