Steering stem upper race problem
 

Hi guys, I just replaced my steering stem bearing everything's ok down, but up, the race does not fit flush on the frame in its place. Any ideas? Its a little up towards the tank, but half millimeter up, I'll post a photo in 5 mins

http://i.imgur.com/GkUbOiz.jpg

It doesn't look right to me. I had similar situation, but much smaller than 0,5 mm. Just a fraction. In your case I would try again, but maybe I am wrong. For peace of mind.
Petre

I did it twice :( the one solution I can see is to file, or or use something to level it, cause where it's level, the bearings are aligned, and now they are not, I feel my fork like nits about to break at every hole in the road, and there's another solution to put brass or aluminium foil in layers untill it's level er with the one that's already level. I don't know what to do right now, I haven't slept in about 30 hours:)))

How deep is the bearing (outer race) you have fitted? It should be 15mm. Is it jammed right down against against the lip in the headstock? Just double check you have been supplied with the right bearing(s) before we delve any deeper...

The bearings are the right size, the race from the other end was perfect, and the stem bearing is ok, this is the only problem I am encountering, and the old race had the same problem, and still the fork si acting like before, it's moving, when I wiggle it, but the same as the old bearings, that were stock, but still, as far as I know it should be flush, and by the way, the former owner had a crash with it, and the fork tubes were changed, because they were almost like a bowtie.

take it out.... put it in the freezer over night then retry...
shinking it a couple thou may make all the diffrents...

I replaced my bearing to do a USD fork conversion on my XTR & I
have an idea mine was a bit prowed of the head stock like yours..
but can't remember for sure...

as long as the outer race is tight & seated down on the shoulder
I can't see it being a issue...



...

It was in the freezer before I put it in, the problem is that the two bearings are not aligned, and I have front fork play, and it's not ok, what in thinking to try is to take it out after measuring the difference, and putting some aluminium film to compensate for the difference, , to even it out across,and align the bearings. it's better to put in (IMO) that to use a dremmel and cut some from the other side, at least it will be sticking out evenly. What do you think?

Have you measured the distance from the seat of the outer race (on the frame) to the edge along the circle? Before going into anything irreversible, measure the distance between both seats (on the frame) of lower and upper races. Maybe your idea of putting some material under the outer race is worth to try before cutting. Cleaning, maybe scrapping the seat from some old debris, but cutting? I would be scared, especially if I don't know the reason why geometry has been changed. You mentioned crash... it is possible. Are both wheels in same line? Or has been in same line before dismantling.

I cleaned it, before, put some grease, the race was freezed, the wheels are aligned, this motorcycle was given to me by someone who went to work abroad, and he doesn't want to come back, si it's basically mine and want to bring it slowly to mint condition, good thought to measure, don't know how I didn't think of that, the practical questions is, what after, if there is a difference between forms side and back side, I really don't want to cut the frame or anything gets but put some pressed aluminium to compensate for the difference in the front part, to level it out, because I think it warped a little from the crash.

If the top of the head is not true/round try putting a clamp on the long side
while you press/tap the outer race in...
don't know if it will work but worth a try...



..

I noted every suggestion you guys had, I'll try everything next week when I'll pull it apart again, work, kid, and I need a night all by myself for this, thanks a lot guys!!

Hi Valeriu,

Did you succeed to fix it?
I believe that I;ve got the same problem. After a few re-torques it became better but now 5000 kms later its back. I've got a set of new bearings and I am doing steering head job on Wednesday. I'll post pictures of my upper bearing race if it fail to align properly again.