question about neck races

ol'ironhead · #1 13th November 2006

I'm looking to get some new front end parts (steering stem, trees, bearings, and races) and as I understand it, the races can be hammered in (and out) with a block of wood. I recently heard that this is incorrect and that new ones need to be pressed in. Is this the case?

Is any stem & tree set-up (manufacturer) better than the next? When I took the front end apart I found that there was a difference in diameter of 0.003" between the stem and the bearings and so I'm replacing everything.

IronMick · #2 14th November 2006

I do not have much experience with installing bearings. I have seen it done with a hammer and a PVC pipe, or a hammer and a large socket.

sjeccles · #3 14th November 2006

When I painted my frame I just used a block of wood and a large hammer. Worked fine just take it easy and make sure its going in square.

XLFREAK · #4 15th November 2006

I don't know about a block of wood, but you can get
a race and seal driver set for about twenty bucks.

Fourcats · #5 15th November 2006

Or some threaded stock, some nuts and washers...I hate beating on things.

tprJJ49707 · #6 15th November 2006

The cups should be pressed in on later models or any with timken bearings. The cup is real light and could damage easy. The earlier roller bearing types are just like a bicycle and could be tunked in with block of wood.

sjeccles · #7 15th November 2006

His profile says a 73 so I was basing it on that.

tprJJ49707 · #8 15th November 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjeccles

His profile says a 73 so I was basing it on that.

I'm with ya, just trying to come up with rational explanation why half say yes, and half say no...possibility of retrofitting timkens to old iron too.

jweitzel · #9 15th November 2006

If you talking about getting the cups in the frame neck, try freezing them for a few hours. The cups will contract and should slide in easy. You can do the same with the races. And/or try all thread and some blocks on each end, but I wouldn't beat it too much with anything.

sjeccles · #10 16th November 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by tprJJ49707

I'm with ya, just trying to come up with rational explanation why half say yes, and half say no...possibility of retrofitting timkens to old iron too.

The ones saying no aren't riding Ironheads. So they may not be used to the old neck cups.