tripple tree neck bearings

[05 old dog]

15000 mi on bike sooo. not finding much for actual procedure to check and pack bearings...so how far do i need to strip down the front end? do i need to pull tank? unplug wires? gonna change front tire and install new wheel bearings and brake pads and thought this would be the time to check neck bearings...

 

[Relic]

There may be a quicker way but I pull it completely apart (pull tank, disconnect wires under tank, pull bars etc). I break the tree apart at the bottom after I pull the legs and leave the stem attached to the top part of the tree.

At 15,000 miles, it's definately time to pull it down.

 

[05 old dog]

yea thats what i thought...

 

[WRM66]

so how do you know if u need new neck bearing? i got 20K + on my K9

 

[Relic]

I usually just change them at 10,000 regardless of how they look. They are fairly cheap timken bearings. You can get them from drag specialities etc (drag part #22-1032 / about $23).

Just be gentle and take your time getting the race out of the neck (can get a race puller but I just use a piece of sharpened bar stock and tap it out with a hammer after soaking it with penitrating oil). You can freeze the new race and make a press out of 2 big washers and a piece of all-thread to press the new race back in.