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Greasing steering head bearings?

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Old Feb 18, 2015 | 09:51 PM
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Default Greasing steering head bearings?
I was looking around under the nacelle on my new RK getting ready to do a bar change and could not find any grease fittings for the head bearings. Maybe I am just not looking hard enough, but I scanned both sides and felt around the front.

Are the new bikes using a sealed bearing now?
 
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Old Feb 18, 2015 | 09:56 PM
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Sealed bearings yes
 
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Old Feb 19, 2015 | 09:16 AM
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No grease fittings ,repack at 25,000 miles.
 
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Old Feb 19, 2015 | 11:41 AM
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Seems like a extremely antiquated procedure??? Sealed wheelbearings on modern cars last well over100k, seems like they could use high quality sealed bearings that would last similar miles without service. Hate to think what the service charge will be on my 14 TK.

On the flip side, this will be the most opportune time to install premium front suspension and chrome lowers.
 
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Old Feb 19, 2015 | 12:08 PM
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If a zerk was installed would the bearings take grease like previous years do?
 
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Old Feb 19, 2015 | 03:40 PM
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Originally Posted by Harttoo
No grease fittings ,repack at 25,000 miles.
Then they are not sealed they would still be a packable cage bearing
 
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Old Feb 20, 2015 | 07:23 AM
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The manual states "Inspect, lubricate and adjust" at 25k...

If I'm that deep into it, I'm replacing.
 
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Old Feb 20, 2015 | 08:04 AM
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Sealed bearings won't work in the neck because of the need to set the preload for adjusting fall off.
 
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Old Feb 20, 2015 | 09:39 AM
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Originally Posted by Walter Sobchak
Sealed bearings won't work in the neck because of the need to set the preload for adjusting fall off.
Thanks for the clarification, I agree with saftyman, better to replace considering labor to access. I can just imagine that labor bill.
 
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Old Feb 20, 2015 | 06:12 PM
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I'm thinking that a lot of the new bikes are never going to have the bearings lubed. Probably just have the preload adjusted and if everything seems smooth, call it a day...
 
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