steering bearings,,

ok, i just looked into replacing the steering bearings in my 1980 Kz1000LTD B4, reading the Clymer manual they basicly want me to strip everything off the front of the bike,, headlight, gauges, wiring etc. This seems a little excessive, can i get awaw with just undoing the brake line and wiring at thier fittings, loosening the forks at the top of the tree and removing the top part of the tree off the steering shaft and sliding the whole assembly out the bottom? anybody done this procedure without dismantling the entire front of the bike?? thanks, jeff T Rindge NH

I did it the way you describe, the problem was that I needed about 5 hands to get it back together again.

I did the bearings on a 650, and loosened / removed only what I had to to drop the forks out the bottom. Calipers, tire, tank, tach and speedo cables from gauges. Brake line splitter on bottom tree. Top triple tree with handlebar and gauges still attached. Remove serrated nut and you're done. Bearings bouce everywhere. What fun, slingshot ammo!

:woohoo:

Post edited by: KaZooCruiser, at: 2007/03/13 12:16

That's the way I did it last time too. After removing the front wheel and forks and supporting your brake calipers somehow, all that's left is to undo your big bolt in the center of the top triple, and move the entire handlebar assm and headlight assm off to one side enough to gain access to where you need to work.

The more you remove, the easier it is, or that's what SHE said?

Did my steering bearings recently, and removed everything I could. It wasn't very difficult, and I didn't need any help. There wasn't anyone around to help if I did anyways. :whistle:

Do the wheel bearings too.