Bearing race over steering stem removal?

I've done a search and most discourse speaks of pounding out the bearing races in the head tube. That all seems good, but what about removing the race stuck down on the steering stem. Man , that sucker is on there. Is a special tool, like a bearing puller or something the only way to get it off? Chiseling at it side ways will only leave marks. Any home made puller ideas?

Have you tried to heat it with a propane torch? The heat will expand the race away from the stem. Swat it with a hammer while hot to break the corrosion bond between the race and the stem. PB Blaster might help loosen corrosion both before heating, and immediately after the hammer impacts. Channel-locks or visegrips might allow you to twist the race laterally and loosen it. A die grinder can be used to cut a slot in the race, and a chisle used to open the joint and probably break the race. Cautions with this include eye and body protection while breaking the race. Races fracture violently.

try and put the stem in a vise sideways, then take a good chisel and put a "V" into it, then change your purchase to spin the race and twist it off. done it before.
ok duh just read you question again. put a BIG "V" in it first.
heat helps alot to

Post edited by: flht1997, at: 2007/02/15 18:10

I assume you're trying to remove the stem?

If so, don't worry about that race.

Get the grinder out and remove the weld that retains the stem to the lower triple clamp...

Then go someplace that has a press. The hand operated presses (2 ton even) work AWESOME for this as you can work slowly....

Clamp the tree to the table and press down on the top of the steering stem (Be sure to put something between the press and the stem... like a piece of scrap steel!).

As you press SLOWLY the stem will press down. Once you get about 1/2" down the race will just pull off as it will be loose.

That's the best way to go about it to be sure not to F anything up.

Have fun!

Not sure if you are swapping bearings, or what, but when I did the steering bearing replacement, Someone had recommended using a dremel cut-off wheel to cut the lower race, since I was replacing it anyhow. It is a one-way, permanent removal, but sometimes, that is just fine. And it worked dandy - cut into it on each side, 180 degrees apart. That gave enough play to slide it off. Careful not to gouge the stem up, though!

EsaPro wrote:

Careful not to gouge the stem up, though!

Which is why you should use a press...

Which is why you should use a press...

Agreed, but dremel I have, press, I don't! :whistle:

Cut it with a dremmel and use a chisel to get it apart.

If you have a welding machine you can put a small bead of weld on the race, weld about 75% around the circumferance (sp). As the weld cools it will srink the race and it will fall out. Be careful not get any weld on the head tube. This works really good for automotive wheel bearing races. They just fall out!

Good luck!

yeperra wrote:

If you have a welding machine you can put a small bead of weld on the race, weld about 75% around the circumferance (sp). As the weld cools it will srink the race and it will fall out. Be careful not get any weld on the head tube. This works really good for automotive wheel bearing races. They just fall out!

Good luck!

That works great for internal races (inside head tube), but he is trying to remove the race from the steering stem, shrinking it would just make it tighter.

The only way I've had any luck is to cut a notch into the cone, that's the one that fits over the steering stem, and then to use a nailset to rotate and lift it slightly. Often, if the notch is deep enough the cone will break during the process. Be careful not to grind too deeply.

I've tried laying a bead of weld onto the cone so that it would expand and then driving it off while it's still hot. No Luck! even using the bead to drive against didn't help.

Bill