Steering stem bearings and fork oil?

jtascone · 05-03-2018, 06:44 AM

03 Nomad 1500. I am looking to replace the steering stem bearings. Anyone know the part # for the all balls bearings for the 1500 Nomad? Also, I believe I have read that the 03's are a cartridge style fork? What is required to replace the oil in the forks?

Jllm02199 · 05-03-2018, 07:48 AM

https://www.ronayers.com/oemparts/a/...e47907b4/frame

Find the parts here.

The forks are easy. Remove each fork sssembly. Take the top off and turn upside down and pump the oil out by sliding the tube in and out.
Reassemble in the triple tree and put 12.5 ozs of fork oil in. Reinstall the top cap.

**wbclement** · 05-03-2018, 05:41 PM

Check All Balls web page. I came up with there part # 22-1031- Its a kit, upper and lower bearing with seals. $44.78

jtascone · 05-03-2018, 07:06 PM

Is replacing the bearings a job I should leave for a shop? Or is it a fairly easy job?

**Sabre-t** · 05-03-2018, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jllm02199

https://www.ronayers.com/oemparts/a/...e47907b4/frame

Find the parts here.

The forks are easy. Remove each fork sssembly. Take the top off and turn upside down and pump the oil out by sliding the tube in and out.
Reassemble in the triple tree and put 12.5 ozs of fork oil in. Reinstall the top cap.

+1. I also recommend pouring in a little clean fork oil, pumping the fork while upright, then pour it out with pumping. A lot of acidic sludge can build up in the bottom of the forks and won't come out with just pouring.

Spondulas · 05-04-2018, 03:47 PM

If you have experience removing and pressing in bearings, you should be able to do it. There is an excellent video tutorial by Delboy's Garage on YouTube that can help you make up your mind as to whether to attempt it.

Jllm02199 · 05-04-2018, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtascone

Is replacing the bearings a job I should leave for a shop? Or is it a fairly easy job?

May I suggest, while you have the front end apart, drill the side of the yoke and install a small grease fitting. If you do that and give it a shot of good waterproof grease every 6 months or so the bearings will last forever.
My bike has 148,000 Miles and I have the original bearings. I took it apart once to check the bearings and they were good. Same thing can be done with the swing arm bearings. I was Amsoil heavy duty water proof grease.

**tomm** · 05-04-2018, 05:54 PM

Not sure if the 1500 and the 1600 are the same, but if they are, there is the fork spring, a washer and a tube under the cap. When I did mine, I pulled the tube out and emptied the fork into a pan. Put everything together, and a few weeks later, I emptied the pan. Lo and behold, at the bottom of the pan were two washers. Checked the parts drawing and saw where they belonged. Pulled the forks apart again and found the springs embedded about two inches up into the tubes. Guess that explained while the front felt a little squirrelly after the work.

Don’t forget those washers!

Atom · 05-07-2018, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtascone

Is replacing the bearings a job I should leave for a shop? Or is it a fairly easy job?

It can be a real son of a bitch getting the old races out. Aside from that it's a pretty simple job.

hammer · 05-08-2018, 01:33 AM

Maybe this might help with some ideas, http://vulcanbagger.com/forums/showt...+stem+bearings

Like Atom said, getting the races out can be a major pain. If you can't see the pics and that would help, PM me with an e-mail address and I will send them to you.

RJM · 05-08-2018, 11:30 PM

I had a fun time trying to get the races out on my 03, too cheep to buy the puller for them. Ended up running a bead of weld around them and they came right out. Good luck.

OU812 · 05-09-2018, 07:55 AM

Blew this job off at the end of last season. Time to pay the Fiddler... Can anybody tell me what size socket that needs to be cut and modified for the top nut ?

Atom · 05-09-2018, 09:56 AM

Pipe wrench works just fine

OU812 · 05-09-2018, 10:16 AM

Ha ! HUGE fan of the pipe wrench, works just like a gun only quieter.

Just trying to be a little more specific on the bearing torc deal as I think thats how I jacked it in the first place, adjusting it just a tad with a flathead punch and a small ball peen because I had that unusual feeling in the steering and all along it was an 80% good tread thre that was bad...

Peg · 05-09-2018, 05:24 PM

Here's my tool. I just found an old piece of pipe around the right size, did some grinding & filing on the end until it fit, and then sacrificed / tacked in whichever of my sockets that fit inside it. That was a 32mm if I recall correctly.

05-03-2018, 06:44 AM	#1
jtascone Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 282	Steering stem bearings and fork oil? 03 Nomad 1500. I am looking to replace the steering stem bearings. Anyone know the part # for the all balls bearings for the 1500 Nomad? Also, I believe I have read that the 03's are a cartridge style fork? What is required to replace the oil in the forks? Login or Register to Remove Ads
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05-03-2018, 07:48 AM	#2
Jllm02199 Advanced Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Morrow, Ga. Posts: 830	https://www.ronayers.com/oemparts/a/...e47907b4/frame Find the parts here. The forks are easy. Remove each fork sssembly. Take the top off and turn upside down and pump the oil out by sliding the tube in and out. Reassemble in the triple tree and put 12.5 ozs of fork oil in. Reinstall the top cap. __________________ 02 1500 Nomad (07 1600 Motor) 160,000 Red & Black 12" mini apes Galfer lines (6' over) EJK Dobeck Reckless Fairing. Led H4 headlight All LED lights Rockford Fosgate radio Last edited by Jllm02199; 05-03-2018 at 07:50 AM.
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05-04-2018, 05:54 PM	#8
tomm Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Lee, New Hampshire Posts: 568	Not sure if the 1500 and the 1600 are the same, but if they are, there is the fork spring, a washer and a tube under the cap. When I did mine, I pulled the tube out and emptied the fork into a pan. Put everything together, and a few weeks later, I emptied the pan. Lo and behold, at the bottom of the pan were two washers. Checked the parts drawing and saw where they belonged. Pulled the forks apart again and found the springs embedded about two inches up into the tubes. Guess that explained while the front felt a little squirrelly after the work. Don’t forget those washers! __________________ Tom Maziarz (tomm) VBA #00766 2008 Kawasaki Nomad (Black) 1978 Suzuki GS750EC (My son is riding it now.) 2017: National Rally - Lake George, NY 2016: NE US / E Canada Rally - Mont Tremblant, QC 2015: National Rally - Eureka Springs, AR 2014: NE US / E Canada Rally - Lincoln, NH 2012: NE US / E Canada Rally - Wellsboro, PA
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05-08-2018, 01:33 AM	#10
hammer Sr. Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 1,329	Maybe this might help with some ideas, http://vulcanbagger.com/forums/showt...+stem+bearings Like Atom said, getting the races out can be a major pain. If you can't see the pics and that would help, PM me with an e-mail address and I will send them to you. __________________ Hammer aka CrocHammer KawaNow#00988, VROC#26389, VR#2202 Abbotsford, BC, Canada 2006 Black Nomad
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05-09-2018, 07:55 AM	#12
OU812 Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: "out of my mind" Posts: 172	Blew this job off at the end of last season. Time to pay the Fiddler... Can anybody tell me what size socket that needs to be cut and modified for the top nut ? __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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05-03-2018, 05:41 PM	#3
wbclement Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Southeast Massachusetts Posts: 31	Check All Balls web page. I came up with there part # 22-1031- Its a kit, upper and lower bearing with seals. $44.78
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05-03-2018, 07:06 PM	#4
jtascone Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Posts: 282	Is replacing the bearings a job I should leave for a shop? Or is it a fairly easy job?
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05-04-2018, 03:47 PM	#6
Spondulas Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Dickson, Tennessee Posts: 110	If you have experience removing and pressing in bearings, you should be able to do it. There is an excellent video tutorial by Delboy's Garage on YouTube that can help you make up your mind as to whether to attempt it.
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05-08-2018, 11:30 PM	#11
RJM Jr. Member Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Michigan Posts: 5	I had a fun time trying to get the races out on my 03, too cheep to buy the puller for them. Ended up running a bead of weld around them and they came right out. Good luck.
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05-09-2018, 09:56 AM	#13
Atom Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Lloydminster, Alberta Posts: 124	Pipe wrench works just fine __________________ 2006 Vulcan Nomad 2003 Road Star Silverado SOLD
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05-09-2018, 10:16 AM	#14
OU812 Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: "out of my mind" Posts: 172	Ha ! HUGE fan of the pipe wrench, works just like a gun only quieter. Just trying to be a little more specific on the bearing torc deal as I think thats how I jacked it in the first place, adjusting it just a tad with a flathead punch and a small ball peen because I had that unusual feeling in the steering and all along it was an 80% good tread thre that was bad... __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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