Inspect/lube steering bearings

dave · #1 21st March 2005

My 10,000 mile checkup is coming up on Lilybeth (2004 1200C). One of the items specifies that the steering bearings should be inspected and regreased.

Anybody done this? How hard is it to do? Do I have to remove the front wheel and forks? Yes, I have a manual...

Chuck · #2 24th March 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave

My 10,000 mile checkup is coming up on Lilybeth (2004 1200C). One of the items specifies that the steering bearings should be inspected and regreased.

Anybody done this? How hard is it to do? Do I have to remove the front wheel and forks? Yes, I have a manual...

Damn Dave, 10,000 miles and year old. You must not even own a car.

My bike has a grease fitting. I just keep it greased. I have about 15,000 on my 98.

txsporty · #3 24th March 2005

My '03 has a grease fitting also.

If yours doesn't then I would take it apart and check it!!

I pulled my tree's apart just recently to change them out with a powder coated set and was Very surprised at how little grease there was in there!!!

The Manual for my bike tell you to grease them through the fitting until grease comes out of the top and bottom dust shields!!

To pull it apart wasn't that difficult just a pain!!!

Hope that helps!!

dave · #4 24th March 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck

Damn Dave, 10,000 miles and year old.

I just passed my one year anniversary (3/19). I love it! I think I would sleep with "Lilybeth" if my wife would allow it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck

You must not even own a car.

What's a car?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuck

My bike has a grease fitting.

I didn't even think to look! I also love bicycling (and do my own wrenching), so I sorta assumed that the whole front end would have to be disassembled just like a bicycle. Whew! I'll take a look for grease fittings tonight.

Thanks!

Chuck · #5 24th March 2005

I must have pumped mine 30 times before grease started to come out.

IronMick · #6 24th March 2005

I greased my '98 thru the fitting - regret it mucho. Warm weather and it oooooozzzzes out at the bottom. Makes a mess. Best to take it apart, clean it up, and put in just enough new grease. You do not need much! Just use good quality stuff.

dave · #7 24th March 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by IronMick

Best to take it apart, clean it up, and put in just enough new grease.

How much disassembly is required to get to the bearings? Are there upper and lower bearings?

dave · #8 24th March 2005

Last night, I took a good look at my manual and at Lilybeth. I see nothing in the manual about a grease fitting, and I don't see one on the bike either (2004 1200 Custom).

So I guess I will have to do some disassembly to get to the bearings. The manual, unfortunately, has nothing to say about this procedure. It just has an exploded diagram and the words "inspect and lubricate the steering bearings". Gee, thanks...

So again I ask: Anybody have any guidance for me on how to do this? Hopefully, I don't have to disconnect the front brake, remove the front tire, and remove the forks to get to the bearings...

dave · #9 25th March 2005

I guess nobody out there can help me..?

Just wanted to know if there were any guidance / suggestions for the disassembly required to service the steering bearings.

Oh well...

IronMick · #10 26th March 2005

I dismantled the whole front end of my 1980. Have not done that on my '98 or on any of my previous bikes. I am surprised that the manual is not much help. Perhaps a Clymer manual would be better. It is not a difficult job. But i would think that a manual would be necessary.

The hard part with the '80 was putting the wireing and parts back together in the correct sequence. I had to dismantle and re-start 2 times. But i was putting it back together a couple months after stripping it down. It would be easier done on a single weekend, say.