Motorcycle Steering Head Bearing Replacement

This video shows the steering head bearing replacement method I use. The bike in the video is a 2017 KTM 300 EXC, but most other motorcycles will be very similar. Be sure to check the manual of your bike for torque specs.
KTM OEM Headset Repair Kit: 54201081144
NTN Taper Roller bearings: L45449/L45410
Headset Bearing Press Tool: www.tokyooffro...
Webshop: www.tokyooffro...
TShirts: www.storefront...
Facebook: / tokyooffroad

[@bikesbeersbeats]

Gearing up for my first steering stem replacement, wish me luck!

[@ashfox2012]

Same here GL👍

[@malibu188]

Good video, applicable to just about all motorcycles. To press the lower bearing onto the shaft a long bolt (through the hollow steering stem) and a piece a pipe with washers generally works well if you don’t happen to have a 20 ton hydraulic press in the workshop. A high speed Dremel tool with a 1 inch cutoff wheel (to cut a slot in the race) and a cold chisel will suffice to crack and remove the lower race if no puller tool is available.

[@endurowarrior]

He just steals my idea and sells it on his website as if he invented it

[@TokyoOffroad]

@endurowarrior - I haven't seen any of your tools, your website, or channel. The tools I sell are my own design and I hand make them. I'm not interested in copying anyone else's tools and only offer the tools because I think no one else has the same thing.

[@Justvisiting498]

Outstanding content! This job isn't rocket surgery, but it is nice to have a well explained vid to confirm how it's done. There is a large Warehouse retailer in the US that has pretty good tutorials, however, this is master class.

[@enamjx]

I can't tell you how much joy I get from seeing you post more informative videos. Love them all, they're always great. I've watched the majority, multiple times. 👌🏽

[@mototrailz]

So cool to have high-end tutorials again 🙌

[@apousidisvasileios9571]

Bravo!!!!!!100% the correct way to disassemble and assemble the steering wheel bearing

[@Cee-FJedi]

So good to have a Tech video from you again. Always my go to for any repair. Thanks 👍👍

[@flintstoneengineering]

Cool tool, simple and elegant... why didn't I think of that.

[@nvmcrider8475]

You're definitely a top notch mechanic. A couple of things that I learned the hard way is that when pressing on the new lower bearing back onto the stem, place a washer or two under the stem so that all of the force goes onto the bearing and stem and not onto the lower triple clamp. I didn't do this once and the stem slipped a few mm down into the lower triple clamp which I didn't notice until tightening the top nut on the top clamp of the stem and I had t disassemble everything and get it in the press agin to get it right. This was a factor on a Yamaha may not be a factor on other brands. You can also use an air hammer to blow off the old bottom bearing, it will come off in 30 seconds or less, certainly nothing wrong with you way and not everybody may own an air hammer. Excellent video keep them coming!

[@TokyoOffroad]

Pleased to hear you enjoyed the video. The end of the stem is flush with the base of the triple clamp, so there is no way the stem can get pressed down further while pressing on the new bearing as it's resting a a flat steel plate. Funny you mentioned the removal technique using an air hammer as I've been thinking about getting one recently. Definitely a higher risk of damaging something during use though I would have thought.

[@att49356]

Thank you for this beautiful guide. I have no 20T press machine but I do have a set of similar extractor pulling tool, I was too focused on pulling the whole bearing from the lower side but you gave me a much simpler option and I do not have to worry about the steering stops!! Could I use the same extractor on the other way around to press the new bearing down using the old bearing seat turned upside down using the inner lip against the inner lip of the new bearing? Spent 2 days looking for in-house methods for removing old bearings from steering stems and I hated every minute of it, because it consisted on every single dude using a goddamn hammer and chisel, leaving a strip of aluminium chips behind them from their lower triple clamp. I can't stress enough how good this video is.

[@Superdrew_23]

Sweet press. I have one similar for my mtb suspension pivots. I just 3D printed the press spacers as the are a bit easier to press into carbon.

[@Mr10usdad]

It is great to have the right tools. Good video!

[@linaliu9173]

Thank you ❤

[@rpm_michael]

very helpful 👌 thanks 😊

[@TokyoOffroad]

Pleased to hear that you found it useful!

[@hoerenj0ng141]

Very good tutorial, if I can make a suggestion I would recommend that you mention alternative ways without the specialized equipment. Most people are not going to have bearing pullers and hydraulic press. Those who do in all likelihood don't need a tutorial.

[@TokyoOffroad]

Thanks. In the video I did talk through a way to remove the lower roller bearing race with out special tools (cut of the cage, make a slot, then use a chisel to crack and romove the bearing cone). Regarding installing a new lower bearing on the triple clamp stem, without doubt using a hydraulic press is easiest, although you could probably do it using some all thread and washer.

[@hoerenj0ng141]

@@TokyoOffroad Thanks for the clarification, very useful for us who don't have specialized tools. I find that a pipe of the correct size and simply hammering it on works fine with basically no risk of damage. For placing the outer races in the frame, using the old races also allows for riskfree hammering

[@silentdwak]

Thanks man

[@sorin.n]

Thank you! 🧡

[@TokyoOffroad]

You're welcome! Pleased to hear that you like the video.

[@sorin.n]

@@TokyoOffroad it is always a pleasure to watch your tutorials and learn from you! I don't even need to do this now but I know that if/when I will, then your excellent video is here! 🫵👍

[@stevenwilliams3741]

Great video however when I went to take my steering stem out I had to give it a couple of smacks with a mallet. Greased everything up and went to install the top bearing and could not get it back on the stem. Do you know what is causing this to happen?

[@TokyoOffroad]

The top bearing should be a slip fit on the steering stem. Check the steering stem for damage, or dirt. If it looks perfect maybe it was machined out of spec. You could measure it using some calipers. If you find it's out of spec I would discuss with my dealer and request it be replaced.

[@stevenwilliams3741]

Excellent thank you! I appreciate the quick reply.

[@afonso_santos]

bearing from brazil..??

[@atanaspetkov2458]

Great Video Thank you. A question: how do you determine if the bearings need replacing? and if not to be replaced but just re-greased would you clean the old grease from the bearings using degreaser or just push in the new grease as shown on the video? My bearings had grease in them although slightly discoloured, there was very small play in the T clamp when i push the forks up/down but also the T clamp cap nut was very lightly tightened i undid it by hand. bike is 140hrs 3.2k miles. should i just replace the bearings now that i have removed the T clamp or just re grease? Thanks again

[@TokyoOffroad]

If the bearings have rust on them, or feel gritty when you turn then replace them for sure. For your hours, if they look and feel OK then cleaning and regreasing should be fine.

[@sabamacx]

Tohnichi. If you know, you know.

[@TokyoOffroad]

I have quite a collection of Tohnichi torque wrenches. High quality, moderately priced and will outlast me I'm sure. Love using them.

[@robsonenduro3316]

nice, can hammer be use with that pipe instead of press?

[@TokyoOffroad]

Yes, you could probably hammer it on (carefully). Be sure to only contact the inner race though while doing it. You could use a suitable piece of pipe which is a little longer than the stem.

[@bcgal0004]

Yes you can. You can use the old inner race upside down tohit against.

[@anthonylonnkvist-qy1yf]

Top video plz could u tell me which side is injecter 1..and injector 2 a 250 tpi iam in middle of changeing wiring loom on the wiring loom saying injector 1 and 2 or don't it make a difference thanks for Ur help in that makes sense

[@TokyoOffroad]

Pleased to hear that you enjoyed the video. Injector 1 Connector (Orange and Black/Gray wires) connects to the left side of the cylinder and Injector 2 Connector (Orange and Brown/Gray wires) connects to the right side of the cylinder.

[@anthonylonnkvist-qy1yf]

@@TokyoOffroad thanks very much got to keep on top of these tpi they can be a head ake some rebuild the engine and didn't time the balance shaf up every one said crank out of balance now she back right 👍 god was running like a whacker plate next time do it my self 🤣

[@thehungryhunter3454]

you must be an engineer.

[@TokyoOffroad]

Yes, electronics engineer.

[@thehungryhunter3454]

@@TokyoOffroad I could tell you weren't one of us regular blue collar guys because we just beat on things with big hammers lol Nice tools you made!

[@handendaer]

Or just regrease them on thr reg instead/season. Gas will get in there....

[@endurowarrior]

Dude, you just copy my tools and idea from my channel, and selling on your website. Don’t you think someone going to sue you?

[@thehungryhunter3454]

Do you have a patent?

[@TokyoOffroad]

I certainly don't copy anyone else's tools and haven't looked at your channel.

[@TokyoOffroad]

I just had a look at your KZbin channel and see that you released a headset overhaul video 4 weeks ago. Today is the first time for me to see it. I see that you like making custom tools- very cool. However, I didn't copy any of them. The headset bearing press tool I published on the Tokyo Offroad Webshop on 2017/8/20, almost 6 years ago. I talk about the tools in this video which I made 4 years ago: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p2eVomp6hr2ehMk

[@Superdrew_23]

😂 maybe if you had a website you could sell yours. Oh and you only have 209. Subscribers 😂😂😂