I've got some billet yolks coming and have a couple of questions re fitting. Where is best to get new bearings from (2007fe), and the best method for refitting the outer races in the steering head. The Haynes manual suggests a treaded bar and washers, and a guide for lower outer race (not sure what that bit means ?), is this arrangement easy to knock up or is it worth buying a tool. Do people still put outer races in freezer before fitting ?, any other help or suggestions would be appreciated, many thanks.
I just cut a slot in the old races & use them as a drift to knock the new ones in. The slot means they pop out with a tiny tap once the new ones are seated.
The hardest job is getting the bottom inner race off the shaft. I tend to destroy the bearing & carefully cut a slot a couple of mm deep to get a chisel in to knock it loose. Don't cut too deep or you're into the stem, you'll see how much you can do when you look at them.
For removing the old races in the headstock I've got a bent steel flat bar that allows for the headstock getting wider at the bottom to get the lower race out.
One thing I always do is over grease, especially the lower one. My experience is they get water dribbling down from condensation in the frame, so a layer of grease above the bearing stops it getting wet & rusting.
A slide hammer with the right size bearing extractor makes short work of the races in the frame. For the stem, cutting a slot and a cold chisel will get that off as Hooli says. I did see a clip of someone using a propane torch to heat the race up whilst the stem was held in an old bearing and spun using an impact driver and on the bottom thread, the race simply drops down the stem when its expanded enough.
Definitely lots of grease in and on the new ones, plus the current bearing of that size have a better roller and cage design than the original fitment.
Quote from: Eric GSX1400K3 on Thursday, 28 May 2026, 11:51 PMA slide hammer with the right size bearing extractor makes short work of the races in the frame. For the stem, cutting a slot and a cold chisel will get that off as Hooli says. I did see a clip of someone using a propane torch to heat the race up whilst the stem was held in an old bearing and spun using an impact driver and on the bottom thread, the race simply drops down the stem when its expanded enough.
Definitely lots of grease in and on the new ones, plus the current bearing of that size have a better roller and cage design than the original fitment.
I was going to use a brass rod to tap the races out of the frame ?
That works too. The inner race on the upper head stem is the problem child.
Good cheap drifts, served me well. N20 reo and car front strut rod.Just in case anyone needs to add to their tool box.
Thanks very much for all the advice, what make of bearing is considered best to get and where from, cheers guys.
Your local bearing shop should be able to sort you out.
Reputable brands include SKF, INA or Timken, NSK or Koyo.