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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | ...bearing of my Vision. Got a little dry and hard to keep track. Fortunately I didn't let it go to long and repacked the grease. It felt a little tight also. Putting it back together now and I had to come grab the specs before tightening stuff down. I've done this to many times now, perhaps I should have it memorized. Not as hard as it seems except getting the torque in the right order on the shoulder nut and the forks. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Well, we're done. I recommend having the steering bearing checked and greased according to schedule. I may need to replace mine again soon, no excuse. I'll see how it rides in the morning, but it just don't feel like 'er old self at the moment. |
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Visionary
Posts: 2118
Pitt Meadows, BC Canada | What a co-incidence, Chris. I too had a Late night caressing the neck... of my sweetie
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Cruiser
Posts: 258
Akron, Ohio | varyder - 2012-03-22 11:26 PM
Well, we're done. I recommend having the steering bearing checked and greased according to schedule. I may need to replace mine again soon, no excuse. I'll see how it rides in the morning, but it just don't feel like 'er old self at the moment.
After I did mine, I think the bike is easier at slow speeds like just before you put your feet down at a traffic light. Seems like I don't wobble as much. Thought it might be just me but it is better than it was. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | donetracey - 2012-03-23 1:09 AM What a co-incidence, Chris. I too had a Late night caressing the neck... of my sweetie Don, it just keeps getting better and better!! |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | The ride to work proved to be sucessful. I encountered all types of riding conditions, even very slow moving traffic due to an accident on I-95. However, inspection showed that there was some wear and I expect to replace it in about 15,000 if it gets an atitude on me. This run on this bearing and grease was around 66,760 miles. I suspect if you keep it lubed at the intervals that this bearing should last the life of the bike pr well over 100,000 miles anyways. Mine first one started to fail around 35,000 miles, I replaced it at 44,500 miles and it was bear to remove. So take care of it and it will take care of you.
Ride hard, ride long, ride safe... |
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Visionary
Posts: 2027
Brighton, TN | Never having done it and I don't seem to have any issue with it that I know of. How long is it taking you to do it? Is there a quicker way than the book? This was directed to DoneTracey? Oh the Travshamockery! However, VaRyder, if you'd like to respond please do. Just seems that OldSumpatooeyDoneTracey just keeps rubbing it in! There is no escape in my verbage. Dang it! |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | I appreciate anyone who has a respected fire in the throttle of life as our northern friend has. Passion I believe it is called and it keeps life interesting to say the least. This interlude of life took a mere 5 hours, to include preparing the setting; mood setting; the interaction and removal of interferring items; gentle handling of delicate parts; and so on, and so on....
There are 7 basic areas you have to deal with when doing the steering bearing - the console, handle bars, ignition switch, front wheel, front brakes, forks, and of course, the triple tree. I could have done it in 3 hours if I started in the morning, but after a long day, and no dealers close by, I took my time. |
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Fountain Inn, SC United States | If anyone does this procedure in the future, please consider videotaping or photographing the steps and putting it in the Tech reference section. Highly Valuable! |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | A very critical piece in this whole process, is that it requires a special tool, a spanner socket for the steering shoulder nut. It is a dealer only item and I tried to find one using the specs and never found an aftermarket to order, so....I made my own using a pipe piece. I'll take a picture and post later. It will speak volumes to the determination of a shade-tree mechanic. |
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| varyder
May I recommend going to a bearing wear house and buy better quality bearings then what vic puts in there. There worth the money for longer life. |
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Tourer
Posts: 388
Salisbury, NC | varyder This is one that I made for the Hammer.
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Cruiser
Posts: 111
Salina, KS | I maxe my own spanner socket using a cheap Harbor Freight 1/2" drive impact socket and some square keyway stock purchased at Westlake's Hardware. I cut 4 pieces of the stock to 1 1/4" and welded to the side of the socket. Total investment was >$10. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 802
| Chris,
I was wondering from your observation what would be a reasonable service interval to grease the bearings? I'm doing about 25-30K per year and the book calls for a relube at 15K which seems a bit short for such a time consuming job. What do you think? I'll look up other big bikes and see what they call for as well.
Thanks,
Marc |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | marcparnes - 2012-03-27 6:53 PM Chris, I was wondering from your observation what would be a reasonable service interval to grease the bearings? I'm doing about 25-30K per year and the book calls for a relube at 15K which seems a bit short for such a time consuming job. What do you think? I'll look up other big bikes and see what they call for as well. Thanks, Marc I'm thinking no more than 30,000. This one was running 60,000, but it got real sticky and the race is "stained", showing where every bearing was. Also, when I was regreasing I put a fresh amount of grease to get it unsticky, wiped it as clean as I could and repacked, all by hand. Overall it feels okay, but I think it may be a little rutted, every so slight. That is all it takes, I couldn't feel any score, pitting or valleys with the fingers, but it has been a long time since I had them calibrated for bearing races. It really isn't all that hard to do, and on a good day I could do it in about 3 hours taking my time. The hardest part is making sure you run the cables, brake, clutch lines and wiring harnes in and around the tubes right. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 802
| I was kinda afraid you were going to say that since I now have over 30K on mine. I guess this will be my project for tomorrow. The Traxxion components are coming tomorrow as well so this is the time to do it. I'm going to make a tool for the adjusting nut out of aluminum based on the fact that the torque is only 30 lbs and aluminum is what my CNC is tooled for. I'll save the program in case someone else wants one. BTW, I checked my FLH Harley manual and they have the steering stem being greased every 10K and repacked at 50K. Of course they have a Zerk fitting so greasing it only takes a minute. Which ours did.
Thanks,
Marc |
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Cruiser
Posts: 156
Bluff Park, Alabama - God's Country! 2011 PW VV | I haven't looked at it, but would there be a way to add a zerk? |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 802
| I'm going to look tomorrow.
Marc |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | I think you could, but I'm not sure if you could put in a place to get to it readily, or be easy to install unless the whole front was disassemblied. In my mind I can see how it would work well enough to be worth the effort. Where's a Vision engineer when you need one? |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 802
| Zerk fitting won't work. The steering neck is part of the intake path so its not in any way sealed and way too large.
Marc |
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| marcparnes
If you could get your hand down the intake hole could you touch the steering stem? I was just woundering.
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Iron Butt
Posts: 802
| Its right behind the air filter so probably yes.
Marc |
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Late night caressing the neck...
