Need a hand, steering/ all balls install.

Johnny Y · 06-27-2020, 06:15 PM

Hi every one, I'm in the middle of putting all balls bearings in my 2012 Nomad. All has gone well till I got to the part where I have to pull the old race off the lower part of the steering stem. I've looked through posts on this subject but I'm still stuck.

DragonLady58 · 06-27-2020, 07:15 PM

You can either use this https://www.harborfreight.com/bearin...bearing+puller , which is what I use with a couple of pieces of hardened allthread added....(takes a little longer than the 3" cutoff)
But if I'm in a hurry, I'll grab my die grinder with a 3" cutoff wheel in it, from left to right, (with triple tree right in front of you), slice the race from top to bottom. Be careful not to nick the triple tree or the steering stem.
Does not have to be all the way thru....but wear your safety glasses....and gloves....
I have a big ole rounded off chisel, I get my big ballpeen hammer...., one good sharp hard smack in that slit you cut, maybe 2, bearing breaks clean along that deep cut into bearing....
She will now slide off with a little help....
Sometimes you'll need a screwdriver in that slot to open her up, but usually comes right off. Takes less than 15 minutes....
By the way, did I mention safety glasses and gloves???? Sometimes a sliver of that super hard bearing race will fly and poke a hole in your hide, if not wearing gloves....
Ask me how I know!

Johnny Y · 06-27-2020, 07:29 PM

Thanks DL I don't have a die grander but my brother may have a Dremel.

Peg · 06-27-2020, 09:54 PM

I used a Dremel... Cut nearly through & chisel the rest as DL advises. Keep the old bearings with slices through them. Both inners and outers can become excellent tools for pressing the new bearings fully into place.

**Sabre-t** · 06-28-2020, 10:30 AM

I did my steering stem bearings before I got a bearing puller. For the outer races, I had a 2' piece of 1/4" square steel stock. An edge would just catch between the race and the tube. Used a hammer to drive that race out. Dremeled the triple tree race as others have said.

BrokeAss · 06-28-2020, 06:58 PM

MIG weld a quick bead on the race...when it cools, falls right out...

DragonLady58 · 06-29-2020, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrokeAss

MIG weld a quick bead on the race...when it cools, falls right out...

Johnny Y · 06-29-2020, 01:48 PM

New problem, the rubber seal on the base of the steering stem got damaged. I'm guessing I need that as the seal that came with the all balls kit doesn't look as if it will seal up that area as well. All the bike shops in my area are closed today.

Peg · 06-29-2020, 06:49 PM

It's not a great idea to mix OEM seals with All Balls bearings. I thought the same thing when I did the steering bearings on my 800 - that the All Balls seal didn't look up to the task. I used OEM seals instead... And I had to do the bearings again within a year after they got water in them & pitted.

So from then on, despite how they look, I use All Balls seals - and I've never had another problem.

Johnny Y · 06-30-2020, 12:14 AM

It just now occurred to me to go to all balls web site & look for a tech. support link. what I found were online instructions that show them reassembling using only the seals in the kit. I wish I had thought of that on Sun. I would have had my bike done by now.

06-27-2020, 06:15 PM	#1
Johnny Y Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: S.E.WI. Posts: 159	Need a hand, steering/ all balls install. Hi every one, I'm in the middle of putting all balls bearings in my 2012 Nomad. All has gone well till I got to the part where I have to pull the old race off the lower part of the steering stem. I've looked through posts on this subject but I'm still stuck. __________________ Johnny Y PCV. Chucksters B.A.K. , D&D slip-ons. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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06-27-2020, 07:15 PM	#2
DragonLady58 Sr. Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Somewhere South of Alaska.... Posts: 2,351	You can either use this https://www.harborfreight.com/bearin...bearing+puller , which is what I use with a couple of pieces of hardened allthread added....(takes a little longer than the 3" cutoff) But if I'm in a hurry, I'll grab my die grinder with a 3" cutoff wheel in it, from left to right, (with triple tree right in front of you), slice the race from top to bottom. Be careful not to nick the triple tree or the steering stem. Does not have to be all the way thru....but wear your safety glasses....and gloves.... I have a big ole rounded off chisel, I get my big ballpeen hammer...., one good sharp hard smack in that slit you cut, maybe 2, bearing breaks clean along that deep cut into bearing.... She will now slide off with a little help.... Sometimes you'll need a screwdriver in that slot to open her up, but usually comes right off. Takes less than 15 minutes.... By the way, did I mention safety glasses and gloves???? Sometimes a sliver of that super hard bearing race will fly and poke a hole in your hide, if not wearing gloves.... Ask me how I know! __________________ --------------------- Don't start no schit, there won't be no schit.... My Sarcasm is directly proportional to the amount of Stupidity involved --------------------- VBA#03239 VROC#37400 VRA --------------------- 2014 Vaquero 2001 Nomad FI 2003 Street Glide (sold) 1500 Meanie, fresh rebuild (sold) 90s BUBF Bobber (sold) 2001 UltraCycle FatPounder (Sold) 1975 HD ElectraGlide (Sold) 1982 Kawasaki Z1 Chopper (Sold) Suck It Up & Ride! Last edited by DragonLady58; 06-27-2020 at 07:31 PM.
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06-27-2020, 07:29 PM	#3
Johnny Y Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: S.E.WI. Posts: 159	Thanks DL I don't have a die grander but my brother may have a Dremel. __________________ Johnny Y PCV. Chucksters B.A.K. , D&D slip-ons.
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06-27-2020, 09:54 PM	#4
Peg Sr. Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: West Coast, North Island, New Zealand Posts: 1,375	I used a Dremel... Cut nearly through & chisel the rest as DL advises. Keep the old bearings with slices through them. Both inners and outers can become excellent tools for pressing the new bearings fully into place. __________________ Nothing screams poor workmanship like wrinkles in the duct tape '02 1500 blonde Nomad (Sold) '97 800 burgundy Classic (Sold)
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06-28-2020, 10:30 AM	#5
Sabre-t Join Date: May 2015 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 838	I did my steering stem bearings before I got a bearing puller. For the outer races, I had a 2' piece of 1/4" square steel stock. An edge would just catch between the race and the tube. Used a hammer to drive that race out. Dremeled the triple tree race as others have said. Login or Register to Remove Ads Last edited by Sabre-t; 06-28-2020 at 10:38 AM.
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06-28-2020, 06:58 PM	#6
BrokeAss Member Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: Ohio Posts: 296	MIG weld a quick bead on the race...when it cools, falls right out... __________________ '09 Nomad 1700 - Ivan's flash - Kuryakyn Alley Cat - V&H slip-ons - Triple hi/low beam H4 headlights - Desert Dawgs - Half the F&S Catalog
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06-29-2020, 01:48 PM	#8
Johnny Y Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: S.E.WI. Posts: 159	New problem, the rubber seal on the base of the steering stem got damaged. I'm guessing I need that as the seal that came with the all balls kit doesn't look as if it will seal up that area as well. All the bike shops in my area are closed today. __________________ Johnny Y PCV. Chucksters B.A.K. , D&D slip-ons.
	0

06-29-2020, 06:49 PM	#9
Peg Sr. Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: West Coast, North Island, New Zealand Posts: 1,375	It's not a great idea to mix OEM seals with All Balls bearings. I thought the same thing when I did the steering bearings on my 800 - that the All Balls seal didn't look up to the task. I used OEM seals instead... And I had to do the bearings again within a year after they got water in them & pitted. So from then on, despite how they look, I use All Balls seals - and I've never had another problem. __________________ Nothing screams poor workmanship like wrinkles in the duct tape '02 1500 blonde Nomad (Sold) '97 800 burgundy Classic (Sold)
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06-30-2020, 12:14 AM	#10
Johnny Y Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: S.E.WI. Posts: 159	It just now occurred to me to go to all balls web site & look for a tech. support link. what I found were online instructions that show them reassembling using only the seals in the kit. I wish I had thought of that on Sun. I would have had my bike done by now. __________________ Johnny Y PCV. Chucksters B.A.K. , D&D slip-ons. Last edited by Johnny Y; 06-30-2020 at 12:19 PM.
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