FORK LOCK DRILL SHAVINGS IN STEERING HEAD BEARINGS

[SALTYFRIES]

Hello, I am new to this forum.

I drilled out the fork lock on my 73 R75/5 per Duane Ausherman's instructions. It worked well enough; I missed the screw by a little bit and so used a dremel and burr to grind away the rest. However, I am now concerned about the effect that the shavings will have on the steering head bearings, which certainly made their way in there, due in part to my use of compressed air to periodically clear chips. Are the bearings shielded? Should I now tear down my steering column to flush the bearings?

Thank you,

Max

[Duane Ausherman]

Oh, you gave me an idea. I should have specified to not use any air. I am going to copy this post and it (big IF) I get around to editing my site, I will add this in.

Yes, you must now tear it down, as there is no protection for falling chips.

I wonder if there is a simple way to add air pressure from the bottom in starting this procedure. That would keep them blown out the lock holder.

I am many years away from trying new ideas. The things that I now give you are what little I remember. Sometimes I have to go to my own site to be reminded.

[SALTYFRIES]

Okay, Mr. Ausherman, thank you for confirming my suspicion. I failed to realize how "open" it is behind the lock until I had it out. Oh well, it's surely overdue for inspection and grease anyway.

Given that the short wheel base /5 is susceptible to the wobble you describe on your site, should I attempt to service the bearings myself? I found excellent instruction at the link below. I own a machine shop and am mechanically competent (current blunder notwithstanding), but your accounts of high speed wobble have me filled with trepidation.

http://www.motorcycleclassics.com/mc-ho ... rvice.aspx

[ME 109]

High speed weave, low speed wobble.
High speed weave from the bearing preload adjuster nut being too tight, low speed wobble from the adjuster nut being too loose.

[Duane Ausherman]

Okay, Mr. Ausherman, thank you for confirming my suspicion. I failed to realize how "open" it is behind the lock until I had it out. Oh well, it's surely overdue for inspection and grease anyway.

Given that the short wheel base /5 is susceptible to the wobble you describe on your site, should I attempt to service the bearings myself? I found excellent instruction at the link below. I own a machine shop and am mechanically competent (current blunder notwithstanding), but your accounts of high speed wobble have me filled with trepidation.

http://www.motorcycleclassics.com/mc-ho ... rvice.aspx

Sorry to disappoint you, but that is a terrible article. First off, a tear down should always be done much like an autopsy. Find out how well it is aligned in the first place. It fails to give the standard test for stiction before and after. It leaves out dozens of major items to consider. It says nothing about fork alignment and that is just irresponsible. It fails in almost every aspect, except that it is a basic procedure that is as poorly done as the factory shop manual.

I guess that you didn't like the article on my website. It is your motorcycle, so do as you wish. Just make sure that your life insurance is fully paid up, an Advance Health Care Directive and you have a trust in place.

[Major Softie]

Duane is grumpy today....

[Ken in Oklahoma]

Duane is grumpy today....

As opposed to...................when?

Ken, a tad cranky today myself, but at least it doesn't show.

[ME 109]

Yeah, crap article. As Grumpy Duane says, not a mention of fork alignment.

[Rob]

http://www.motorcycleclassics.com/mc-ho ... rvice.aspx

Sorry to disappoint you, but that is a terrible article.

Yes it is, from that article:

In the Sixties and Seventies, the average bike used ball bearings in the steering head. Simple, cheap and effective, they're also prone to wear. Although widely used today, back then tapered roller bearings were usually only found in race frames.

I know from standing next to my nephew's 2000 GSXR750 (Suzuki, Duane) when he had it apart that they had ball bearings in NYLON races!
I was flabbergasted.

It made me feel so good when I upgraded the bearings in my pre-70 sidecar conversion to tapered rollers. I don't remember the details, but they slipped right in like it was made for them.

[SALTYFRIES]

I guess that you didn't like the article on my website. It is your motorcycle, so do as you wish. Just make sure that your life insurance is fully paid up, an Advance Health Care Directive and you have a trust in place.

On the contrary, I have greatly enjoyed reading your articles and have been impressed with the depth of your knowledge. I'm not sure what I wrote to imply otherwise. It's why I felt confident in trying the technique for drilling the lock. I respect your opinion, which is why I asked whether or not to undertake the work of cleaning the bearings myself. I'm not sure to which article you refer; I read the one about "wobble", but I don't recall reading anything about the procedure for removal, inspection, or replacement of the bearings. I've been reading a lot of sources as I familiarize myself with the subject of airhead restoration. I will look around on your site.