steering head bearing replacement? : Yamaha R1 Forum

adamgeek · 06-07-2003, 05:43 AM

anyone done this before?

as you may know.. bike went down a few weeks ago, hit a pole at low speed, dented one of the forks. i replaced the forks but kept the stock steering head. then it started to click a bit on braking..

looked like the lower stem nut (under the tripple clamp) was loose.. so i got in there w/ a hammer and screwdriver and snugged it up. started clicking again today, i snugged it some more.. didn't fix it.. and now it's making even worse noises when not braking (i.e. if i yank on the bars hard back and forth, etc). So i am gonna swpa in the spare steering head i got w/ my forks. anything to look out for? any of the bearings need to be pressed in?

i am just hoping it's nearly the same job as swapping the forks. i.e. take off the nose and wheel, headlight, forks + steering head. swap forks into new head.. put back into bike. reassemble.

sound ok? thx in advance.

NHSPIKE · 06-07-2003, 05:53 AM

Adamgeek,

When I bought my R-1 from a wheelie-happy type owner, I tightened, and tightened, and tightened until it finally stopped clicking.

I took it all apart, there seemed to be no damage to the race, or the balls, so I put it back together and tried the tighter is better technique... always checking (with the front end up in the air) for any binding.

It's been 10 months or more since I've had any kind of clicking, and it's smooth as silk.

Perhaps you haven't tightened it enuff?

May save some time/effort/$ to try one more time before a major rebuild...

dunno fur sure though

...
spikey

integrars · 06-09-2003, 07:59 PM

they make a tappered version of that bearing specifically for the R1 I ordered it the other day will give my 2 cents after it is installed should last longer.

02RedR1 · 06-09-2003, 08:01 PM

man, mine has clicked for the longest time...what to tighten????

martinc · 06-09-2003, 08:06 PM

Nah,the needle-type tapper bearings are crap......stick with the ball-bearings.

Remove the crappy rubber washer and throw it as far as you can...hello fewer adjustments intervals.

I bet if we could find a star-shaped lock washer to put between the top triple and the top nut,added to the removal of the rubber washer,we wouldnt have to adjust them that often.

Its all regular maintenance on the R1.

New dust seals should be installed every time you install new bearings though.

tidbit · 06-09-2003, 08:26 PM

adam.. I wanna put some hids on my r6..

it's gonna require welding to my race faring stay.. and cutting/molding my sharkskin upper... i just need to find some projectors cheap

and i cant find any.. lmk I have money to burn

VinR1 · 06-10-2003, 10:20 PM

what?!?! can I use my factory spanner wrench to tighten?

Pfunkadelik · 06-10-2003, 10:29 PM

... just had the same problem. i snugged mine up, and it kept clicking after time. pull the lower bearing nut COMPLETELY off and looked at the threads. i found very tiny shavings and found the threads on the nut were no good. replaced the nut, and have had no other problems.

Pfunkadelik · 06-10-2003, 10:31 PM

....by the way... got your shirts. they are SWEET, and good quality. thanks!! already have seen another guy that lives in my area wearing the same shirt after i got mine. DAMN!!