Steering Head Bearings @ 8k miles

[pkoosa]

While installing hyperpro fork springs I went ahead to took apart the steering head and was surprised to see that the bearings and races were in great condition. It wasn't worth the trouble to swap, so I repacked it with marine waterproof grease and called it a day.

 

[madmanmaigret]

you seem to have some decent pics..... why don't you do a little write up on it? In the "how to" section

 

[bd43]

How often do you wash your bike and how many time have you ridden in the rain?

I've got about the same mileage on my 2007, washed it once every two weeks or so for 10 months that it's been on the road, and had to ride 8 hours in the rain during a Street Skills Course. I bought some All-Balls and plan to inspect mine this spring. Hope mine looks that good.

 

[pkoosa]

How often do you wash your bike and how many time have you ridden in the rain?

I've got about the same mileage on my 2007, washed it once every two weeks or so for 10 months that it's been on the road, and had to ride 8 hours in the rain during a Street Skills Course. I bought some All-Balls and plan to inspect mine this spring. Hope mine looks that good.

That may be a factor... I road in the rain only about 3 days since I've had the bike for 11 months now. I've only washed my FZ two or three times with water. I usually have and keep the bike clean routinely by wiping it down with a rag and cleaners designed for it, as opposed to hosing it down. The bike has to be really filthy for me to hose it down. It will be interesting to see how your bearings look like considering your bike has been exposed more to water than mine.

 

[pkoosa]

you seem to have some decent pics..... why don't you do a little write up on it? In the "how to" section

That's a good idea, however I didn't perform the bearing swap so a how-to would be incomplete. I just followed the instructions on the service manual.

 

[MarinaFazer]

resurrecting an old thread here, but do you have the tools to replaced the bearing with All Balls?

I'd love to do it myself, but it looks difficult and I'd rather watch and help someone with mine or have a pro do it.

 

[pkoosa]

resurrecting an old thread here, but do you have the tools to replaced the bearing with All Balls?

I'd love to do it myself, but it looks difficult and I'd rather watch and help someone with mine or have a pro do it.

Special tools are nice, but there's more than one way to skin a cat. I could have swapped out the bearings, but they were fine so left them alone. I'm also experimenting, because I'm curious to see how the factory bearings do after I cleaned and re-greased them with marine water resistant grease. I plan on servicing them at intervals as specified in the service manual to see how the bearings are doing.

 

[MarinaFazer]

yea, they've already replaced mine due to major rusting after 6 months of ownership. Now they're loose again and the parts are the same price, so I went for that. so far it's looking like I'll be going to a shop...GP Cycles or Moto Club

 

[pkoosa]

if you're going to pay someone to do it for you... West Coast GP Cycles.

 

[bd43]

That may be a factor... I road in the rain only about 3 days since I've had the bike for 11 months now. I've only washed my FZ two or three times with water. I usually have and keep the bike clean routinely by wiping it down with a rag and cleaners designed for it, as opposed to hosing it down. The bike has to be really filthy for me to hose it down. It will be interesting to see how your bearings look like considering your bike has been exposed more to water than mine.

I did finally pull my stock bearings out and have to say they did not look bad at all.

Since I had the front end apart anyway, I went ahead and replaced them with the All Balls.

 

[pkoosa]

I did finally pull my stock bearings out and have to say they did not look bad at all.

Since I had the front end apart anyway, I went ahead and replaced them with the All Balls.

Those bearings look nice considering your bike has been exposed water. Perhaps the issue is water finding it's way in and not the bearings that is accellerating bearing life? I saw your how-to for the bearings swap and the top seal that comes with the All-Balls appears to be an open invitation for dirt and water. Good call on using the OEM seal.

 

[chemicalsmile]

Is it possible they upgraded or changed something on the 07+ models after all the bearing problems on the earlier ones? Has anybody with an 07+ model had to replace theirs yet? Not a repair I'm looking forward to doing anytime soon.