Help! How to remove steering stem bearings
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 177
Likes: 52
From: Chicago
Help! How to remove steering stem bearings
I removed the triple tree and split the stem, both bearings are on the stem, are they pressed fit? The manual is very vague on this, just says to "remove bearings". But how? It's a 2015 road glide special
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 494
Likes: 60
From: Colorado Rockies
They slide on with just a touch of persuasion if everything is clean and nice. Moisture and time cause them to stick and it was difficult getting a good purchase to pry them off.
This guy pushed the entire stem out.
YMMV
This guy pushed the entire stem out.
YMMV
Last edited by ev780; Apr 14, 2020 at 11:26 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 21,180
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From: South Carolina
The inner race on the steering stem must be cut off, pulled off with a puller, or the stem must be pressed out of the lower clamp using a hydraulic press.
The top inner race is loose.
The inner races must be removed from the steering neck of the frame, either with a drift (if you can get to the back side of the race), a special puller, or run a bead around the race with a welder.
Chill the stem in dry ice, heat the lower inner race to 300 degrees f. Drop the bearing on to the stem.
After the bearing goes on, keep the heat gun pointed at the bearing until the temp of the stem normalizes to prevent moisture from condensing on the bearing.
The guy in the video only did half the job (cutting corners on customers bike), do you think he charged the customer for new outer races and installation??
Last edited by Dan89FLSTC; Apr 14, 2020 at 11:48 AM.
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Tourer
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 494
Likes: 60
From: Colorado Rockies
Moisture and time are not what makes the bearing tight on the stem, it is a press fit...
The inner race on the steering stem must be cut off, pulled off with a puller, or the stem must be pressed out of the lower clamp using a hydraulic press.
The top inner race is loose.
The inner races must be removed from the steering neck of the frame, either with a drift (if you can get to the back side of the race), a special puller, or run a bead around the race with a welder.
o it
Chill the stem in dry ice, heat the lower inner race to 300 degrees f. Drop the bearing on to the stem.
After the bearing goes on, keep the heat gun pointed at the bearing until the temp of the stem normalizes to prevent moisture from condensing on the bearing.
The guy in the video only did half the job (cutting corners on customers bike), do you think he charged the customer for new outer races and installation??
The inner race on the steering stem must be cut off, pulled off with a puller, or the stem must be pressed out of the lower clamp using a hydraulic press.
The top inner race is loose.
The inner races must be removed from the steering neck of the frame, either with a drift (if you can get to the back side of the race), a special puller, or run a bead around the race with a welder.
o it
Chill the stem in dry ice, heat the lower inner race to 300 degrees f. Drop the bearing on to the stem.
After the bearing goes on, keep the heat gun pointed at the bearing until the temp of the stem normalizes to prevent moisture from condensing on the bearing.
The guy in the video only did half the job (cutting corners on customers bike), do you think he charged the customer for new outer races and installation??
I used an outer race changing tool. (George's or Jim's can't remember which.) Bottom race was easy. Top one sucked!
Last edited by ev780; Apr 14, 2020 at 01:07 PM.
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From: Long Island, New York
On my '05, I couldn't get the lower race off following the procedure in the Factory manual, heat etc. Brought it to my local machine shop, they pissed and moaned, but got it off and charged me $20. I pressed a new one on with my vise. Good luck, sometimes the dealership is not the answer.
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Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 177
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From: Chicago
On my bike, the bottom bearing is pressed on the stem. I brought it to a friend who has a motion pro bearing puller/installer. I guess on pre-Rushmore bikes the stem is narrower because the tool is too narrow for my rushmore stem. I guess the only way is too press the stem out to remove the bearing. The other weird part is the top of the stem has a bearing seemingly pressed on but because the top of the stem has that big nut on it, I dont know how you could press it off.
I'm about to buy a press from harbor freight cause its gonna be the same price the harley stealership is charging.
As for the races, the rushmore bikes have a notch so you can get a punch in and punch it out. Super easy. Rented a bearing race installer from autozone and got them in super easy.
I'm about to buy a press from harbor freight cause its gonna be the same price the harley stealership is charging.
As for the races, the rushmore bikes have a notch so you can get a punch in and punch it out. Super easy. Rented a bearing race installer from autozone and got them in super easy.