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Skyguy
Posted on Wednesday, March 01, 2006 - 10:27 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Sorry if this is out of the proper section but have gotten no response in the Tech section. Does anyone know of a bearing upgrade for the steering head? Mine are shot and I am reluctant to go with the stock stuff again as they did not last very long.

Thanks
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New12r
Posted on Wednesday, March 01, 2006 - 10:29 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

How did you burn them up? I got 28k with a
whole azz load of failed wheelies and tons
of stoppies and mine are fine.
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Skyguy
Posted on Wednesday, March 01, 2006 - 10:40 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I think the problem started after my bike got stuck sitting with no cover and a ton of snow on it for a week.......... I had a broken collarbone and six broken ribs from ditching lowside to avoid being hit head on and it snowed the next day.

That is only a guess though.
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Mountainbiker90
Posted on Wednesday, March 01, 2006 - 10:46 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

i'd like to know the answer to your question b/c i have replaced one of my bearings. i have done a lot of wrenching on various things. the headset bearings are without a doubt garbage. they are rather odd though- have no idea who would make anything similar. hope you have healed well.
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New12r
Posted on Wednesday, March 01, 2006 - 10:59 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I was unaware of the crash, I hope your feeling better. I dont know of any but the stockers, they should be fine.
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Skyguy
Posted on Wednesday, March 01, 2006 - 11:50 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Thanks for the good thoughts about the crash. It was over a year ago and I healed up real well. Damm cager never stopped and in fact another motorist tried to follow the guy to get a plate but he outran him. The real bummer was having to ride home fourty miles all busted up.

I am only guessing that the snow is what got to the bearings. I should have done a tear down and re-greased them........

There are some really good bearing houses nearby and I know there has to be something better. I was hoping to avoid pulling the bike apart to take the bearings in because I am awaiting a set of new pistons for my Pinzie and am without a second vehicle for at least another month or so.

Thanks again!
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Skyguy
Posted on Sunday, March 05, 2006 - 10:03 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

ARGH! No one knows about the size or type of steering bearings in an XB? Is this a mystery part? Are there really no bearings in there at all? Is this a giant conspiracy? Entire threads on the technical aspects of bore and exhaust and still no bearing info!!!

I am gonna have to tear this thing apart and take my balloon to the bearing house because My pinzie is down.

I think I have finally found a question even the Buell gods can not answer! Do I get a prize?

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Buelldyno_guy
Posted on Monday, March 06, 2006 - 12:34 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

All the older Buells used tapered roller bearings to take some of the loads. The XB's just use roller bearings, so the fit and tightness must be maintained per the spec. ... Terry
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Starter
Posted on Monday, March 06, 2006 - 12:38 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Yeah tappered bearing are what was recommended to me when I was adjusting every 1000km. You'd have to remove the old and take to a bearing shop to get measured.
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T_gerrick
Posted on Monday, March 06, 2006 - 01:26 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I think they are on there second or third update on the neck bearings. I see the problem mostly on the early xb's. The latest part number I have is E0002.02A8A But it may have superseded again. Just check whatever they sell you for the ones with the blue seals. Oh, and don't forget to anti-seize the stem on the reassembly.
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Bomber
Posted on Monday, March 06, 2006 - 08:36 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

while you've got yer scoot apart, consider popping a zerk fitting into the neck -- it's a mod I've been making to all my bikes for, well, er, lemme see, add 7 and carry the three, a long time now, and being able to lube the bearings really reduces the long term maintenance chores --

that said, I've never owned a scoot with an aluminum neck, but I do not see that making a difference
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Spike
Posted on Monday, March 06, 2006 - 09:59 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

I don't know the technical specs, but Buell did upgrade the OEM steering head bearings for the '05 model year, so if nothing else the new stock bearings should last longer than your stock '03 bearings.

Also, steering head bearing failures seem to be pretty rare, so I don't know if there's much to worry about with the stockers.
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Fullpower
Posted on Monday, March 06, 2006 - 01:30 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

they probably stopped using tapered rollers bearings on the xb to avoid the factor of preload compression on the aluminum stearing head portion of the frame. I have not had my XB stearing stem apart yet, so have no information for you.
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Skully
Posted on Monday, March 06, 2006 - 01:47 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only)

Tim,

If I am not mistaken, the bearings are sealed in the steering head. It seems like I have ridden mine more miles in the rain than not and the bearings on my 2003 XB9 are fine.

Keith
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