Hello from South Africa

[montmil]

For the lower outer bearing race, sure you can warm it up. To install, use a suitably sized piece of metal tubing -doesn't have to be a heavy gauge wall- and tap the bearing home. There is a thin metal dust shield that drops on first. You may have one or perhaps not. They'll often get damaged when removing the lower race and sometimes folks just go on without one... as on my '81 R65. Add one if you plan to run the Dakar.
   No need to chill the steering stem. That's plain ol' overkill.

Pretty much same for the upper outer race. If you have a large socket to match the race diameter but just wee smaller than the neck opening, use it. Carefully square up the race and drive it home. Confirm that it is fully seated before moving on.

Good ol' wheel bearing grease is just fine. Pack the bearings well and ride happy.

[HOFFI]

done done and done, steering head bearings pushed, pulled, hit, heated cooled, packed in other words installed.
now its just buying a few more spares,o rings, rubber stoppers and dust caps for the shocks (have the seals and oil) then the front end can go back together completely.

as usual questions,
1. Does anybody know the actual size for the rubber stoppers? i work in the rubber industry and am pretty sure i can get them moulded.

2. My next challenge is the rear end. as mentioned i need to do bearings, i have the special socket. any other tips tricks or advise i need to know about or is the procedure from the bmw workshop manual sufficient.

thanks again.

PS i have been cleaning up the engine casings a little will post pics soon.

[HOFFI]

finally i have all the needed spares to put my forks back together, the reassembly went well up to the point where i needed to add the oil, now i have the correct oil and the measurements and syringes to make sure i am going to put the correct amount...

The question however is where do i fill the oil, do i just fill the stanchion (fork tube)?

[thrang]

My method of filling the forks is to remove the little plugs from the centre of the retainer at the top of fork tube. A narrow necked funnel will drop into the open hole, and then I pour the oil into each fork from a small kitchen type measuring jug I keep just for fork oil.  

[HOFFI]

Thank you that makes sence