I Destroyed These Bearings

[@CameronNiemela]

Curious about what tools I use on a daily basis? Here's the list: www.amazon.com/shop/cameronniemela

[@iamtay589]

My dream bike is a Honda cr 250 evo 1989

[@iamtay589]

Cr 80 2000

[@iamtay589]

My dream bike is a yz 450 2018

[@Justin-mo6uv]

My dream bike is Honda CRF 250

[@truthberkley2610]

Those triple clamps looks sick!!!🤩

[@human1513]

It really helps to put the steering stem in a plastic bag & then putting it into the freezer part of a fridge. Leave it there about 20 minutes. The cold temperature shrinks the stem/triple clamp (metal). The plastic bag is to act as a barrier between the dampness/ice in the freezer & the part. Then remove the stem from the freezer & the bag. Also heat the greased bearing in an oven or toaster oven at no more than ~150°F. The new heated bearing may just drop into place now over the shrunken steering stem. A little tap on the inner race may be required at the most. Use a small punch, brass if available & tap with a small hammer. Or use an appropriate diameter sized piece of metal tubing to slide over the stem. This works great also for the new outer races that will be installed into the steering head part of the frame. I also used a propane torch to gently heat the aluminum head frame in the area where the bearing will sit. The heat expands the aluminum a tad. I heated the outside of the head for about 1 minute keeping the propane torch in motion. You just need it to be warm to the touch. This expands the aluminum head. Have the outer race ready that you got out of the freezer. The last ones I did the outer race literally fell into the steering head. I used the old outer race and a small hammer to tap the new race until I heard that familiar bottoming clunk. Mine required 1 gentle tap in each of 4 places. Meaning tap in 1 spot then 180° across from the 1st tap. Them move 90° & repeat. The race moved a hair at the most. I actually could not see it move because it dropped nicely into place. Easy peazy. Cold shrink the inside part & heat expand the outer part. Oh those are roller bearings not needle bearings. Heating the steering head gently with a propane torch or heat gun aids in removing the old races. Be quick so the heat does not transfer to the race & also expand. Love your videos. No grease is needed between the bearing race & the head stock. Grease takes room & we want a snug full contact between the race & the aluminum steering head.

[@TXAggie2015]

Great comment, it's pretty crazy how much using heat and cold can help!

[@skylerhealyvlogs9642]

Human I did this for my 2005 yz 125 head bearings and it worked amazing. Heating the bearing and freezing the stem works so dang good. 👍👍

[@samuelyeet6006]

How do you heat the bearing? It should be covered in grease so what's the easiest way?

[@JETZcorp]

Thank you for this! Hopefully this will help make it easier when I do my '82 Husky next week. Seeing as it's one of my possessions, I suspect it's going to fight me as hard as it can go, so I better show up with my guns loaded!

[@hodaka1000]

Heating works I've never seen great results from puting parts in a freezer

[@thatdesertmoto4923]

My dream was an older two stroke, and my dream came true, now I have a 1997 CR 125!

[@lol123321123321]

For someone that is very mechanically inclined I'm surprised you didn't "pack" those bearings the right way. I guess they don't see the same speed as tapered wheel bearings so it really doesn't matter as long as they are coated.

[@nastysoda9212]

they look fully packed to me

[@lol123321123321]

@@nastysoda9212 oof, have you never hand packed a wheel bearing?

[@cadwarrior]

i did the exact same job on my 2003 cr250r with the exact same RM tools! and used a 3/8"socket extension to remove easily the races from the frame. i have this job to do in the next few weeks on my new YZ 125, hope it will be as easy as it was on the CR! Great video you did by the way, looks easy!, the only place i had hard time was the bearing stem removal, but with your technique, its straight foward, easy and smart!!

[@brendanmcenery2648]

85’ CR500! Keep up the good work mate, can’t wait to see the CR back together 👍🏽

[@MarkNealon]

I did this all yesterday without any special tools, though I did make my own bearing press with a threaded bar, three nuts and a couple of scrap blocks of aluminium. Didn't use nearly that much grease though...

[@garyhitthehills9987]

Kx 500 in a 2018 kx 450 frame

[@steviemunier8411]

A lot of people don't tell us watchers what every step they are taking is, but you always tell us what you do, step by step!

[@sendmemes5474]

My dream bike is gonna be this bike !!!!!

[@Warrior-gt6le]

Same brother

[@mark.e.p]

I know this is an old video but this is perfect for me doing my bearings for the first time. I've seen some scary videos on you tube with hammers and chisels hitting the stem. Yours is perfect and professional thank you so much!

[@samnice5314]

Dream bike??......How about a 2001 cr500 motor in a 18’ crf450r Frame😍

[@RRL551Dynamic]

I can just about remember my first head bearing replacement as a teenager and struggling with my Dads basic tools, ended up pulling the races in with threaded bar and nuts, took ages. You made it look easy, that Tusk puller is the dogs bollox. Great vid.!!

[@Loading321]

I would love the cr250 your building now😂

[@KICKERfilm]

You can replace these bearings without any specialty tools. For removal I used a dremel to cut the bearing and the inner race too. For the installation of the race into the frame you can just use a correctly sized socket (and the triple clamp as a press, more on that later). Cooling the race and heating the frame helps a lot too. To install the bearing on the stem I think I just slowly tapped it on using a punch, hitting the top of the inner race to get it started. Then, you can use a socket as a spacer and use the threads on the triple clamp itself to press on the bearing. Using grease here helps a lot. It should be as quick as using the tools. This won't damage the bearing as the forces encounted by the bearing during normal use of the bike will far exceed the force you use to press it on there using this method. You could also make the press tool using correctly sized piece of metal pipe for the stem and some threaded rod as for the frame with the correctly sized socket.

[@trentwindom1132]

Your cr250

[@rickconstant6106]

If you are going to invest in any special tools for this job, my advice would be to buy a bearing separator. You can clamp this under the upper lip of the inner race of the lower bearing once you have removed the cage and rollers, then rest it on top of the open jaws of the vice and tap the stem through with a soft-faced hammer or mallet. When you re-install the lower bearing, use the old inner race to press the new one on and invert the whole assembly using the bearing separator to support it on top of the vice again, then tap the bottom of the stem down through it using the soft mallet. Removal of the outer tracks can be easily done with a soft drift and hammer, then insertion with the old track and hammer. As long as you make sure you start them straight and knock them in evenly until they are up against the shoulder, they will be installed squarely. I am always reluctant to use heat unnecessarily on critical components like these. I am retired now, but I have removed and installed many hundreds of tapered roller bearings in my time with simple tools.

[@nomdeguerre13]

Nothing like having the right tools for the job, saves a lot of frustration for sure. Nice work!

[@averymerlo2146]

2018 CRF 250R for sure. Great videos, can't wait to see the finished project.

[@twistedjigco.548]

Did you end up getting one? The 18’s had some issues with the cams and valves. The 2019 tho made a big comeback with 42hp and just slap a 49 or 50T sprocket on it.

[@lowifrles9813]

Cameron, great videos. I recently restored a 1984 Husky WR 400, and had to d the same work. What I used was a rivet gun ( not an air hammer because they have crappy controllability.) get some chisel dies and brass or aluminum dies, and you won’t have to fight with a hammer and chisel. Use a mig welder to carefully put a bead of weld around the race. After it cools it will be tremendously easy t remove, again with a rivet gun (ingersoll rand AVC13 hits good) and a long straight die.Check Boeing surplus in Renton. Or Craigslist. In Western Washington you should be able to find one relatively easy! I will upload my pics and video when I get time on my channel. Again, you do great work, and wish you great success. -Aviyaytor.

[@kellyhill430]

Ive changed quite a few of steering stem bearings and using a torch localized to outside of the bearing and quickly use your punch and hammer to tap it off the stem before the heat transfers through the bearing into the stem. And then using normal interference processes for the installation.

[@dakotanewman4443]

A modern 500cc 2 stroke with an adjustable power valve, a map switch and an easy pull clutch. And after riding an Alta at a demo I would prefer that more after the battery life gets better. It was definitely the best bike I have ever ridden.

[@TheJelf10]

Great video 👍🏻 slightly disappointed seeing you use a 3/4 extension to tap the race out. But more disappointed seeing how you packed the bearing. Doing it how you did will leave air gaps. Put the grease in the palm of your hand like you did but press the bearing against your hand so the grease goes in between the inner and outer parts and keep rotating the bearing till you see the grease come though then do the same from the other side. (Had it drummed into me as a apprentice mechanic years ago)

[@_ds804]

When it came to removing the races, the only difference for me was that I used a long flatblade screwdriver to pop them out, and installing them, I already had a race seating tool to install them. No giant wingnut, just a a long road with a race adapter on the end

[@brezkat07]

Dude I am so keen on seeing this Bike finished!! Your video quality is mint! The way you explain things like how each part goes together and how a tool works is perfect... for anyone that's learning I refer them to you! Keep up the awesome work dude and in no time you'll have a huge following. Legend!

[@motoxproductions1437]

2018 crf450r with dual fmf 4.1, tuner, and black wheels🤙 Keep giving it your 110 best effort like you always do!!

[@Secondkey1]

My dream bike was my 1993 Cr 250 that I had to sell due to knee injury and the birth of twin boys. Love the videos they are very informative

[@billylawes423]

My dream bike is your cr250 because I’ve seen how much work you have put in to make it mint

[@caydenmaccachren4119]

Before watching this build my dream bike was a Husqvarna FX350 but this bike is coming together so well that my dream bike is this piece of art. The amount of hours you have put into this bike has made it so cool.

[@seanihde]

The 'Batcycle' (ca. 1966) has always been my dream bike. Great videos. Really inspire me to DIY.

[@davidknight5863]

Use a couple of tyre removal levers ,to remove the taper roller bearing you will do it in seconds as it comes off square and no damage either.

[@HadrienATF]

Everytime I have a problem with my CR125, there is one of your vid to help me out 👍 awesome

[@forevercomputing]

My friend knocked out the head stock races with 3 whacks each. A splayed drift works wonders and pushes out evenly. Beautiful tool.

[@Chozenfew73]

Someone should invent a tool to get that lower bearing off easier.

[@IHOPTHIS]

My dream bike is a 2013 honda crf250r because it has dual exhaust, keep up the killer videos!

[@JohnnyApplepie]

Just had to do those bearings on my YZ! I used the same kit as well. I literally had to use my full strength just to turn the bars.

[@TheSilancer92]

Love how u show how to do stuff step by step keep up the amazing work

[@freezingfiregaming2988]

Always wanted to build a nice yz125 dream bike, these videos definitely help me to know what I’m doing when I get to do it someday!

[@2wheelLove]

hey man, nice vid. i went through this painful experience on my 10' TE310. I wound up cutting the old bottom race out of the triple cus it was cold welded to the steering stem. What a nightmare.

[@zackmiller1165]

My dream bike is my 18 crf450r. But I've always liked and wanted to get an 01 cr250r. Your bikes gonna look awesome, can't wait to see it.

[@rosscotunes9251]

Dream bike ,2007 CR125 blinged out man, loving this build

[@madddog1411]

custom 2018 250sx, keep up the good work cant wait to see the bike finished

[@masonbecker522]

2001 Honda CR 500AF. Bike will look like no other! Great Progress

[@apexnight872]

Great content as always Cameron keep up the great work now I no how to sort my head stem out on my new cr 125 project bike thanks for sharing

[@coloradodirtbike5930]

I should have bought a tusk installer tool... Went with the motion pro instead and its a nightmare trying to bang them in straight. Going try heating the area and freezing the bearing before installing the bottom one.

[@therawlifefamily]

You pack the bearing a different way than I was taught. put the grease in your palm and press the gap between the inner and outer race against the edge of the grease pile repeatedly and it will pack from the inside out. You'll see the grease eventually start to squeeze out from the rollers.

[@shadowsilencer276]

custom 2018 yzf250 supermoto with alpina. love your videos btw, if I need to replace anything or learn how to do it you're the man to watch 👌💯

[@UlisesGlez26]

Mine is a Honda CR 500, I can only imagine the kick on the ba*$ of that thing. Good to see your bike finally coming together.

[@nigelwolfe6150]

TIP....Use a little zip lock bag to get the grease in the bearing....put the bearing in the little bag squirt the grease then zip the bag shut (careful not to have it inflated with air) now you can work the grease into the bearing without getting it all over you and everything else! you can even grease em ahead of time and just leave em in the bags until ready to install ....you could even save the bags afterwards to grease the next bearings if doing multiple bikes or use the greasy bags to do your axles next tire or sprocket change etc.

[@b_mb4948]

Coming together very nicely indeed!

[@barra245t2]

Another handy way to get those tapered races out is with a bead of weld around the inside of race,as th weld cools its shrinks the race and they literally fall out.

[@ironmaiden8625]

My Dream bike is a 2019 Suzuki RM 125. C'mon Zook, bring it back! Cameron, your videos are incredible. Thanks for your dedication, bro.

[@ianvtonder]

That triple clamp looks amazing ! Great job Cam !!

[@SHAUNOTPPRODUCER]

1993 cr250 cant wait to see the finished bike keep it up mate

[@tylerspaid1289]

2001 cr250r. Great videos!! Keep up the awesome work!

[@adenpires4491]

2003 Cr 125 love your vids your the best and this really helped me

[@StilwellMotovlogger]

I think i need to re-grease my steering stem bearings. My front end moves around very freely, the steering is smooth like butter, but it makes a little squeaking and I’ve never re-greased it. Thing is i dont have the right tools to do it

[@royalengines703]

My dream motorcycle is a honda crf450x!!! Always loved the hondas(and your vids)!!!

[@kevinschweickert2387]

2017 crf450 with rg3 revalve, full fmf, rapture doot pegs, magura hydraulic clutch, hinson clutch

[@bobthedealer9970]

As far as dream bike go I’m torn between a 2018 KTM 250 XC (Very rare in Australia!) and a 1995 CR250 believe it or not my mum used to have one back in the day! That’s the bike that really made me fall in love with dirt bikes

[@mitsymafia3891]

I haven’t really got a dream bike but I’m happy with my old 02 yz250 that I’m slowly doing up

[@taylorkelley4498]

My 2002 CR250!!! Currently building just like you!

[@Brynfreerunning]

I would love a Cr500 in a CR85 frame because why not, thats why! Loving the build series!

[@craizebra2045]

Totally enjoying your bike build .nice to see the tusk tools at work .keep up the great video's

[@svenfokkinga8069]

My dream motorcycle is the Hisqvarna fe450. Keep up the great work, I learned a lot just by watching your vids

[@julianurban7868]

Honestly , I don't really have a dream bike but I think the bike you're building right now would be my first choice! Greetings from Germany and keep up with the great work!

[@phillthomas3359]

You can do this job without spending 200 plus on special tools. Just use the old bearing races to knock the new ones in and whats left of the old bearing can be used to fit the new one on the stem.

[@jacoblivingston2164]

I haven’t been riding long but so far the bike I have has been the dream, I gotta show some love to my 09 RMZ 250 🤙🏽

[@carlosdiego12]

Congratulations on your work, thank you for sharing your videos!

[@_ds804]

My dream bike would be the latest generation of a KX125 and KX250 with the new subframe to accept the 2017 and 2018 KX250F and KX450F plastics, which would be the new teal color with some crazy graphics on it for sure and a nice aftermarket seat cover. Also a bunch of other cosmetic, comfort and performance mods as well

[@TheEfterbliven]

Dreambike is 2018 Gasgas EnduroGP 300. Love watching your videos, feeling relaxed and learning.

[@FlagFootballRankings]

My dream is to have back my 1980 CR 80. I learned to ride on that bike 20+ years ago and since then I have not been able to find one. Man those were some good memories

[@xucer5360]

1985 kx250 braaaaap have a good one your inspirational for sure

[@restoredmoto1645]

Bike looks so amazing!!! You are really good at this, keep up the amazing work, man! My dream bike would have to be a brand new CRF450. Planning on doing a build on one later on in life

[@ThomasBrock74]

Cam, you're going about packing those bearings wrong, you wanna pack the grease in from the bottom of the bearing you pack it in the crack in between the bearing raceing the cage? Just put a big doll up in your Palm and push it in from the bottom of the bearing. Push it into the crack and just keep shoving it under the crack until it comes out the top..

[@nickkaminski8357]

2018 beta 250rr race edition with the build your own beta option with fmf shorty and a bunch more upgrades

[@scottkilgo4226]

07 CR250 with an 01 motor in it. Gotta love those mechanical power valves!

[@JordanSchultz26]

Definitely would have to be a 05/06 yz125. Love the vids and can’t wait for this bike to be done

[@clinteastwood6986]

2001 CR250R; the best bike in history! Alternately, a brand new YZ250X. Throw a flywheel weight on the CR and either bike would be great for trail riding.

[@OhhSooQuiikk]

1974 CCM 580 twinshock, rebuilt from scratch, all chromed out, check them out guys amazing bikes!!!

[@kmm100504]

Dream bike? 2010 KTM 250xc with a Christini AWD frame kit and a cr500 engine with the panthera electric start setup!

[@Captainkleen]

I bought my grandson a adult size Monster Moto Mega Max 212cc mini bike it has solid front forks and just rear hydraulic disc brakes. The one I wanted was their top of the line Mega Max Pro that came with front suspension front and rear disc brakes thicker frame headlight and torque converter both bikes are the same size including 212cc except for frame thickness . The company went out of business but another company bought all their inventory so I bought the front suspension and front brake assembly rotor and rear rim for the rotor to mount to. So I took off the solid forts pulled out the races and tapered bearings and noticed the bearings were larger with the new suspension along with the races it is still a new mini bike but took me a month to find bearings to fit the 1-5/8” I.D steering stem. Because the triple tree shaft on new suspension was 1”O.D and the original triple tree shaft is only 3/4” the steering stem opening is 1-5/8” I.D I guess their top of the lines slightly thicker frame the steering stem was minimum 1-3-4” but not sure so I couldn’t use any races and the only bearings I could find are 1-5/8” O.D and 5/8” deep where the old races are 1/4” deep. Since it’s not a motorcycle only a mini bike if I dremel out more of the inner race stop to make the un tapered bearings fit without races and no lower seal because it didn’t have any seals on the solid fork setup will it be ok or what would I use for bottom seal? Like I said the original tapered races were 1/8” thick at the tapered end and the TT tree having a 1”O.D shaft nobody had bearings that small with 1/8” thick taper that small to fit the 1-58” I.D stem opening. This is my only option and figured if I take out just under 1/16”of 6/8” of the 5/8” new bearings on top and bottom of steering stem the straight bearings will fit in stem like the races and bearings originally did. As far as seal under bottom bearing not originally having one what do you suggest? This was my only bearing option with the limited stem opening. Sorry this is a long question but I needed you to know what a mess I’m dealing with making sure it has bearings like it came with. Thanks in advance.

[@rogerthornburg8794]

What kind of bearing kit did you use? OEM? Cause I bought a all balls steering bearing kit and both gaskets look the same when I compared them....there was no thinner or thicker lip...unless I'm not looking in the right place

[@Limeayy]

Can i buy those rocky mountain tools to be used for automotive usage like placing in bearings in transaxles or transmissions and so on without a press? Was wondering if that black tube was wide enough for me to place on shafts in automotive usage

[@aaronpavey1224]

I had the same style bearings on mine and when I tried doing it like you're doing it and knock the lip off of it broke it all the way around I had alleged and end up damaging the stem and had to file it out later

[@apcpowersports9090]

Hey cam, you haven't run into any issues with cerakote or powdercoat on the inside of the triples where the forks are clamped? Just curious for my own set I'm doing. Thanks!

[@oliveraronsen7379]

My dream bike is cr500! Love your vids man

[@kgahms2947]

2006 of newer Honda Crf250r with duel fmf and exel black rims. Awesome video man will help out a ton in the future🤙🤘

[@wartdawg4656]

Phenomenal build and vids! Keep it up! My 94' CR 250.

[@KevinPersonius]

never thought of a dream bike too hard before. I imagine it would be a kx500 stuffed into a modern chassis with A kit suspension. thanks for the video!

[@aheppner9750]

Dream bike is a tough choice, probably your cr250 or one of those new tpi 2 strokes, I would love to try one!

[@samuele4036]

Hey Cameron! Do you know how to make a tripod for this bike by modifying the left footboard?

[@SSRacing66]

Is it too later for a free steering nut wrench 🔧 for my fav 2016 YZ125 ? 😉

[@Universal_Craftsman]

Heating that bearing with a torch would made this less of a mess. It is an old bearing you can heat it red hot and it will fall down on its own.

[@JokurAtkinson]

“Using no special tools.” Lmaooo

[@mbrad2669]

No special tools that he had to PAY for... Just stuff generously provided for free...hey rocky mountain can I get a hook up with a bearing puller and installation tool?

[@gus9272]

If you put the lower triple clamp in the freezer a couple hours and heat a little the bearing you don't need a hammer. Bearing goes to the bottom of axle alone by his way.

[@Ozzy-vy3nu]

My dream bike is a brand new kx 450f. Can't wait to see the bike all together it's gonna look sweet!

[@StilwellMotovlogger]

Cameron, I own a 1995 kdx 200 and my kickstarter has been acting up lately. I’ll get ready to kick it and when it kick it, it will go down like nothing with a sound like its barely grabbing a gear. Its feels like its slipping, other times it will kick so problem. Sometimes I slowly push down on it until i get tension then I bring it back up and kick it over. I had a ton of engine work done in January and its started to do that when I got the engine back. Is there anything I can do to eliminate this problem? Ive just started racing harescrambles and it pisses me off when I cant get a decent start because of my funny kickstarter. Thanks

[@jmcusack]

Why not remove the lower bearing using a harmonic balancer puller?

[@Pinnaclewindowcleaning]

I can’t wait until the bike is done! I’ve seen every video so far.