steering head bearings

[craigm]

Just wondering if anyone has changed the steering head to run taper roller bearings?And if so how did you go about it as I don't seem to be able to buy a bearing to suit off the shelf.The reason I am looking to go this way is because one of my races for the original ball bearings is broken.

[bsracer]

I have tapered bearings in my SR175 racer. I got them from Allballs. I'll try and find the numbers, but I also have Ceriani forks which I think have a different ID then the BS races.

paul

[BigAl8295]

Does anyone have a part number for the tapered bearings?  I need steering head bearings for my 175. 

[reed]

BigAl8295,
I have book on tapered bearings if you can get me the sizes to me then i can give you part numbers etc.
Thanks.
Steve.

[BigAl8295]

I have the All Balls Racing parts list as well.  I was hoping someone had the correct size already.

I believe it's 25mm Inside Diameter, 48mm Outside Diameter, but am unsure of the "width".  They show a 13mm, 14mm, and 15mm.

Anybody?

[Jon Hardcastle]

Sorry to resurrect an old thread, Did anyone follow up on this and figure out which tapered bearings to use in the 175?
Tapered bearings are a much better way to go, I am in the process of researching my options.  Has anyone here had any success with this?

Thanks,

Jon

[BigAl8295]

My son is working on our bike at a friend's shop.  Today he came home and said they were getting some tapered bearings for it.

I should have a part # sometime this week.

[Jon Hardcastle]

Big Al,

That's Great!  I look forward to hearing from you..

Jon

[IrishWheelee]

hi

Did you ever get the size of the taper roller bearing for the 175, I have a 200 but as it is early one it is a TA1 frame. I would really apprecitate the sizes as I live in Dublin on the other side of the pond.

Many thanks

Pat
"Life is a participant sport"

[BigAl8295]

No. The tapered bearingss my friend thought would work, didn't, and we ended using standard bearings.

Sorry.

[BigAl8295]

Maybe VinnyG is running them in his MKII racer?

[bsracer]

Hey Alan,

It's been so long ago that I put the tapered bearings in I don't remember where the specs are. Like I said, I run Ceriani forks. The tube for the Cerianis is separate of the lower triple clamp (yoke). The Bridgestone is a complete unit. You need to measure the frame where the bearing races go then measure the tube diameter to see if Allballs offers something to fit the Bridgestone. I think I had to skim the Ceriani tube to make the closest size that Allballs offered fit. I don't have a Bridgestone lower triple clamp handy to measure the tube diameter where the bearing race fits. If you get some measurements cross reference the Allballs catalog or give them a call. I think I modified a Honda top cap to fit the Ceriani tube as the Bridgestone seemed to be ISO threads.


paul

[scrambler]

I went through this a while ago and if I remember correctly I couldn't find a match in a tapered roller bearing.

[BigAl8295]

We just ended up with OEM bearings after all. 

[slawsonb]

From an engineering point of view the stock bearings are not a bad solution. Despite the concerns expressed about stock ball and race setups they are typically capable of handling the loads experienced in even racing conditions given periodic maintenance and the correct lubricants. So rebuild it, ride, and don't worry.
...bert

[IrishWheelee]

Hi

I just checked the manual and it does not show the steering head bearings, would anyone know how many bearing there are , I have 38 for top and bottom. Is this the correct number for top and bottom?

Pat

[disc_valve]

Hi,

I can't remember the exact number of balls, but 19 sounds a familiar number. The easy way to check when installing steeering head bearings, though, is to put in as many balls as you can, and then REMOVE ONE BALL. This gives enough clearance to allow the remaning balls to roll freely around their tracks without binding. If you don't remove that final ball, the steering will bind

This will apply to any such loose ball bearing on any bike in any similar application


Graham.

[slawsonb]

The 175/200 parts manual shows a total of 38 Balls...
...bert

[IrishWheelee]

Hi

I bought 40 to be sure but I think it took 21 after I took one out. I will confirm when I am putting it back together or if you need the number urgently I can recheck. I suggest you buy at least 44 if you are buying them. I could not get taper bearings of the right size.

Best of luck

Pat