Steering neck bearing replacement
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 21,083
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From: The Wasteland
Steering neck bearing replacement
How many have replaced the neck bearings in their bikes? Is it a pain in the butt or pretty easy? Bear in mind I dont have a garage so all work is done on a jack in my driveway.
Anyway its a 2005 Super Glide Custom. Any special tools needed? Anything to look out for or avoid dong? Im no ace mechanic but I can turn a wrench. I do most all the work on my bikes.
I put this in general chat because its the same procedure for all models.
Anyway its a 2005 Super Glide Custom. Any special tools needed? Anything to look out for or avoid dong? Im no ace mechanic but I can turn a wrench. I do most all the work on my bikes.
I put this in general chat because its the same procedure for all models.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 618
Likes: 100
From: MA
Its both easy and hard at the same time. With the proper tools its no big deal. I haven't done the ones on my Harley so I can't say for certain how they are done but in a lot of cases the lower bearing is pressed onto the steering stem so you will need a way to remove it and then press a new bearing on. You could use an air chisel to remove the old bearing since you don't care if it gets damaged if you have a new one. Pressing the new one on you'll have to be a bit more careful. The upper bearing should just come out. The races are pressed in for the top and bottom. Usually can get them out with a drift of some sort as long as you keep and eye on what you're doing. You can install the new races with a tool like bearing race driver such as the one from Motion Pro. One trick that can help is putting the new races in the freezer over night and then applying some heat to the neck around where the races go in to make the install a bit easier.
It's one of those jobs that isn't difficult but its easy to mess up.
It's one of those jobs that isn't difficult but its easy to mess up.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 100,455
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From: Centennial, CO
Getting the races out, and R&R the lower bearing are perhaps the most difficult parts of the job.
Inexpensive tools are available for the race removal, a press really should be used for the lower bearing. Maybe a machine shop in your area would do that for a 6-pack of beer.
New races can be installed with a piece of all thread and washers + the old races.
Inexpensive tools are available for the race removal, a press really should be used for the lower bearing. Maybe a machine shop in your area would do that for a 6-pack of beer.
New races can be installed with a piece of all thread and washers + the old races.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,641
Likes: 156
From: florida
I'm a firm believer in using the proper tools to make the job go easier with predictable results. If you are going to commit to doing your own wrenching I would seriously consider investing in the tools to do so.
Working on Harley"s is mostly pretty simple if you have basic mechanical aptitude which it sounds like you do, good tools can be the difference in a good day or a really bad day.
Take a look at Motion Pro, they have reasonably priced specialty tools for Harley's.
Working on Harley"s is mostly pretty simple if you have basic mechanical aptitude which it sounds like you do, good tools can be the difference in a good day or a really bad day.
Take a look at Motion Pro, they have reasonably priced specialty tools for Harley's.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 9,243
Likes: 3,267
From: west Michigan
Here is a race removal tool.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BVL80JA...v_ov_lig_dp_it
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BVL80JA...v_ov_lig_dp_it
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Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2010
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From: huntersville nc
Do this at work many times over the years.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 10,232
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From: Georgia
Thats the way I was taught in the 70s with wheel bearing races also. Works slick on head race bearings. OP has no welder and tools. Im suggesting getting some experienced help. Ive seen several messed up steering heads after someone butchered with a chisel.. G.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: west Michigan
I was welder when I did the Beemer bearings and already had a good amount of motorcycle mechanical experience, and I had a shop manual for every bike I owned.