RaceTech Upgrade & Steering Head Bearings 3/2/2014

Bike up on the lift

Forks sent off to Racetech

I have Heli risers so I was concerned the would interfee with the
Racetech cap adjusters

About a 1/2" of clearance

Looks like the center line is clear of the adjuster screw

I was able to tie the handlebars to the mirrors to support them in a level position

Top bridge removed

Drift used to extract the lower, outer race. Same was done from the bottom up to
remove the upper, outer race

New RaceTech forks installed

Just enough clearance for the cap adjusters

The excellent tool kit from Johnny O!

Bearings removed, except for the lower inner race and the lower dust seal

New tapered bearings. Not my pic, but this is what they look like

Removed the stock bearings and installed the new tapered bearings.  Tapping out the stock outer races
with the drift in the kit was pretty easy. I started tapping lightly, but had to notch it up a bit to get
them moving. Once they start moving they pop out pretty easy.

 Removing the lower inner race was a bitch!  I banged around the interface of the lower dust seal and the lower
bridge tree with the cold chisel in the kit. I couldn't even get it to move for a while. I destroyed the original
lower dust seal in the process. Eventually I got the race to move off the surface of the lower bridge. After I
had about a 3/16 I tried to lever the race with a large screw driver, but no luck getting it to move. I decided
to visit the local dealer to see what they would suggest. The guy at the counter said he'd use a press to push
the shaft out of the lower Bridge which would force the lower inner race off the shaft. He said that's probably
what's in the manual. I don't think my manual said that?? Anyway, he didn't have time to look at it so I headed
home. I was only able to get the chisel to contact the race in one spot around the circumference which would
enable me to hit it down the shaft. Fortunately that was enough to get in moving. Once it was nearly off I could
get enough access to the entire race to hit it on spots all the way around the circumference.  Installing the new
lower, inner race was an easier process thanks to the tool in the kit John supplied. I did have to end up using a
maul to get enough impact to get the race seated. 

I actually had some waterproof grease in the garage so I greased up the bearings and put it all back together to the
point I could torque the assembly. I used a method I read about on ST-Owners. I guess it was from another Honda
model that comes with tapered roller bearings. I torqued the assembly to 22 Ft-lbs and twisted everything back
and forth a bunch. Then I set the torque back to zero, then up to 5.5 Ft-lbs. That's a little tighter than "finger tight"
as was recommended in something else I read. I figure it will probably loosen up after a few miles.   

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