Steering head bearings,...HELP

[iamyvr]

Well I pulled the forks off in preparation for this weekend's rebuild, and pulled the steering head bearings out to see how bad they are (they are bad) and ordered a new set. I am having trouble getting the lower bearing race off. Any suggestions? Of course the bearing cage came off and I now have an inner race that won't vacate the stem.

I tried putting heat on it, but I with an aluminum stem, it is most likely expanding and just exacerbating the problem

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Pat

 

[gasgasman]

A few options..

You can use a Dremel tool to cut the race off.
Use two flat blade screwdrivers to pry the race off.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfv9fShpg3I

 

[Simmo737]

Park tools make a race remover, 30 odd dollars and its a 5 second job and you have the tool for life and no damage to the frame.

 

[iamyvr]

Thanks Guys,

It looks like I might need to cut it off the stem, but I like the Park tool for removing the outer races.

 

[StuJohnson]

If you don't have the tool. Which I want now....
Use a dremel to grind (do not hit the steering stem).
Add heat then using a torch.
Then get a good chisel/punch and hit the race up.
Once you get it loose it ought to pop off.
Trust me at first it takes a while and some patience.
Then when you get the race completely off, grind all the way through the race and flip it over and use it to tap on the new bearing to the stem.

There is a great video out there somewhere showing this. I will try and find it and post it.

Good Luck

 

[StuJohnson]

Found it.
Keep in mind this is not for a GasGas but at 4.07 minutes in is the part you are looking for.....

http://www.garagenight.tv/ep-5-replacing-steering-head-bearings/

GOOD LUCK and by the video it looks like having a bottle of beer or more is part of the tool...

 

[iamyvr]

I got it, Thanks all,

I left it in the freezer overnight, scored a deep groove in it with the dremel, then ground the whole area down around the groove. as I got within about 1mm from the stem, it cracked right along the grove I had scored.....

Dont know if the freezer helped at all but it is done.