Royal Enfield Headrace Bearing check plus a chat about the bike..........

A look at the water ingress problem concerning the lower headrace Bearing on the Royal Enfield Himalayan....

[@barrydaly2292]

Just amazing to see someone go through that with confidence and control. I've only just started to attempt self maintenance jobs on the bike I'm 59. I find it rewarding but I'm no natural and it's always stressful as I only have the bike now, no car. To learn from great videos like this helps to make it much less daunting. Thank you Dickie It's a pleasure to watch and learn.

[@DickieMintCycles]

Thanks so much Barry..Read the manuals , Watch a bit of KZbin for the practical and just take your time.. Oh and double check everything ..It can be quite rewarding plus save you a few Bob 😄👍

[@johnbiddal5951]

Great video Dickie, worth it's weight in gold to anyone faced with the same jobs. I'm sure you are the only poster on You Tube who does not continually bleat because the bike the bike won't do a ton plus on the Motorway...Dipsticks..🤣🤣

[@DickieMintCycles]

Everyone is in too much of a rush nowadays 😄👍

[@rob2941]

Thank you Dickie for showing us how to carry out this procedure. Great video. Keep them coming.

[@DickieMintCycles]

It’s the Dickie procedure but not necessarily the RE procedure 😄 Or maybe it is 👍

[@WiltshireMan]

Nice educational video Dickie, it is an easy bike to work on. Make sure not to torque the calliper bolts to 45nm like I saw on a video I watched recently!!! Benelli do use thread lock, it's the clear stuff:)

[@DickieMintCycles]

Don’t watch an Indian guy torquing brake bolts Sandy and I’m not commenting on parts falling of my Benelli due to clear loctite 😆

[@fishmaster1960]

Good video Dickie, would it be possible to drill and tap a hole into the headstock tube so you could fit a grease nipple that way you could just pump it full of new grease every now and then.

[@charlesbarnett2724]

Good question

[@DickieMintCycles]

Absolutely.. People have done that mod.. Only issue I see with that is your filling the tube up with grease but is it getting to the taper roller? I don’t know 👍

[@SteveSeadog]

If ever I buy a Himalayan, I know where to come for the maintenance videos. Nice and easy to follow.

[@DickieMintCycles]

Thanks Steve.. My first “How to” vlog… Glad you liked it 🙂👍

[@simonwiltshire]

Nice to have an easy to understand bike, very rewarding being able to look after yourself and cheaper! Cheers for that great video as always.

[@DickieMintCycles]

Thanks Simon 👍

[@edwardhughes352]

Some of us have no idea, so keep sharing, nice job.

[@DickieMintCycles]

Everybody can do this stuff Edward.. Just having the tools and some time that’s the main thing…Thanks for watching 👍

[@TheCoopdway]

My '18 was the first white one in Minnesota, ordered sight unseen. It is and has been my favorite bike, ever. Mine at almost 30k miles would have a LOT more miles if its other garage mates didn't need their exercise. Thanks for the detailed project Dickie!

[@DickieMintCycles]

Thanks 🙂.. Yep, I’ve got a few bikes as well..The Himi is my workhorse bike and gets used for everything.. A fantastic little bike ..One thing that shows up is that we’ve both got a good eye for the underdog motorcycle that turns out to be a little gem ..Take care 👍

[@stevesmith3216]

All good stuff and really useful. Thanks

[@jeremyhooper1309]

Benelli thread lock 😂 Great video Dickie. I get as much enjoyment working on my Himalayan as riding it. It’s very satisfying knowing that you have done the maintenance yourself. The Defender analogy is perfect.

[@DickieMintCycles]

Being able to remove the tyres at the roadside to fix a puncture is another one .. It gives you a sense of invincibility 😄.. My Suzuki DE on the other hand .. No chance..ATB 👍

[@chrissteer9215]

Great video Dickie and interesting will be checking mine in the morning

[@karlos3611]

Really enjoyed this video it was a pleasure to watch. Only had my Himalayan 3 months and out of interest and wanting to learn how to do stuff I've watched most of them but this is one of the better ones regardless of what it was about i enjoyed how you put things across in a very relaxed manner. Ive done 3500 miles in 3 months i would say a good 2 thirds of that has been in the rain so this will come in very handy. Look forward to you showing us how to change the bearings👍 fitting a grease nipple could be a good idea not sure how involved that would be. Keep em coming Dickie this is great. I love this little bike makes me smile its just like going back to the 70/80s trouble is I'm ignoring my others😄

[@DickieMintCycles]

Thank you…That’s good mileage 🙂…Have seen people fitting grease nipples to the headstock though I’m not sure if it’s the answer.. Yep they’re charming little bikes… ‘The go to bike’ as I call it…Thanks for watching and take care in all this rain 👍

[@markrobertson5305]

I thought that was a great video. I think i could now tackle that job on my Himalayan. I agree with you about the bike. I'm not tempted to upgrade. I'll be keeping my 2019 Himalayan and I'll continue to learn how to keep it maintained myself, with the help of these videos. Thanks. 😊

[@DickieMintCycles]

Hi Mark .. Thank you 🙂…Just showing my way of tackling a job that may well need doing at some point..The Quick way 😄.. Glad it was of some interest to you ..👍

[@heywhotsgoinon8286]

Nice one.👍

[@dazzaoutandabout4870]

Thanks Dickie, very informative and easy to follow. Will look forward to your bearing replacement video for future reference. Id be keen to see you do the valve adjustments when you get the chance. I'll keep watching for that one. I have found other videos contradict each other where the correct marking is on the crank, I would say you would do this correctly. Funny you speak of the LR Defender being like the Himi, I have both and find them both great to work on with the assistance of KZbin. Thanks again Dickie, love your stuff here down under. Cheers

[@DickieMintCycles]

Thanks Dazza.. .Really chuffed I’ve got some Aussie viewers..Thanks for watching my stuff.. You do realise you have to reverse all the procedures because your upside down on the planet..Think the water goes down the plug hole the opposite way too..So I’ve been told 😄.. Seriously though, thanks again for watching and take care 👍

[@dazzaoutandabout4870]

@@DickieMintCycles really, iv never noticed. Us convicts don't have running wayer in the colonies. I do enjoy your no BS nature. You and Sandy ate my pommy himi mates. Cheers

[@dewipeach]

Happy Easter. Excellent, Textbook covered to the letter.. you've done it before.. The Factory greasing, watched their assemble line video.. grease looked white soft stuff (chicken fat) brushed in tube and round bearings, job done. The limited movement don't help,, there's reason it's called bearing race..! When I'd taken calipers off any vehicle, would have a suitable piece of wood between the pads, in unlikely event no one wouldn't pop out the piston, cautionary a tie round wheel cylinders with shoes off both sides.. Reminder to anyone chance in removing the handlebars the lever could get pulled or something elsewise happen.. ok if on own, but if helped I know it happens. On your cover plate lower bearing.. not coming up with metal.. wondered, plastic milk jug tis a right angle short/long side, not going to rust..! Stay safe, cheers

[@DickieMintCycles]

Yep.. The early ones were a bit of a lottery when it came to grease.. One chap checked his swing arm bearings and found no grease at all 😆.. Ive got a different seal for when I replace the bearings..Take care bud 👍

[@dewipeach]

@@DickieMintCycles I'd seen the different video's about lack of grease and swingarm issues.. Shane Smoak had to fit a shim, his had little too no movement at all, bolted up from Factory it had been tight. Only hope as far as I'm able to tell, mine's are OK. Be interesting when you replace the bearing and your seal. Stay safe and dry.. moment South Staffs has more than April showers.. .. second day getting wet.. ..

[@stevecoppin4278]

Good Morning Dickie , What a great step by step instruction video well done , i have to say i found this very useful tbh , so take care & ride safe

[@DickieMintCycles]

Thanks Steve..👍

[@peter236uk1]

I love mine great bike

[@charlesbarnett2724]

Great little video that mate. Lots of little helpful tips. Just got myself a 2nd hand Himmy with 8000 miles. Cheers.

[@DickieMintCycles]

Thanks for watching Charles.. I’m sure you’ll have a great time with your Himi…They’re cheap to buy, hard as nails and easy to fix .. I actually dropped mine in a big big puddle ( Land Rover type puddle) on the ridgeway in Wiltshire and submerged the thing.. Picked it up and rooster tailed the thing out of there no problem 😄👍

[@Bob-oo7sm]

Lovely video dickie .sold my Himalayan waiting for the new 450 to arrive.let's hope it's as good as the 411.

[@DickieMintCycles]

We’re all waiting for them Bob.. I’m going to have a go on one when Bike Treads gets a demo hopefully.. Initial reports from the press and good ol Nora are great..👍

[@Bob-oo7sm]

@@DickieMintCycles I've been told that the demo bikes will be available from end of April

[@chrisholt2474]

Nice film Dickie, I have always maintained and rebuilt my own bikes since the 70’s. It’s always good to see how someone else works, great job, all the best. 🍻👍👍👍

[@DickieMintCycles]

Thank you…I do tend to find I spend considerable amounts of time trying to find stuff I’ve only just put down 😄..It’s an age thing 👍

[@bmxrich69]

SEB cutters lol I’ve got some of them

[@oldmaninashed]

Great video and very informative 👍

[@alanarmer8069]

👍🏍🏍🏍🏍🏍🏍🏍🏍🏍🏍👍👍

[@MsDenver2]

I think it’s great that you can do all this work on your bike , I bet you can save some money, one little thing please cover your tank with a cloth as I wouldn’t want you to scratch your tank😊👍🏍️

[@DickieMintCycles]

Don’t know how to break this to you but I have a confession.. The top of the tank has a very shallow dent which was caused by me dropping a heavy pint 🍺 tankard of beer onto it ..Not whilst riding along may I add 😄..Take care 🙂

[@rogerwilliams2902]

Hope you dont mind me saying Dickie and I dont think you mentioned it , but the metal part at the end of the brake hose where its bolted to the caliper looks badly rusted /corroded , which will need cleaning and greasing !. The critical bit is where its swaged to the flexy hose.

[@DickieMintCycles]

Hi Roger.. Not at all .. I’ll give the banjo unions front and rear a once over and wire wool em and as you say a bit of anti corrosion juice put on em ..The bike went through its MOT ok though…Thanks for your input and watching ..Take care 👍

[@peter236uk1]

Doing the same as me at the moment

[@DickieMintCycles]

Hope they’re ok.. You can buy a better seal for em.. There’s a lot of stuff on the Himi/Scram Facebook group about maintenance and sorting issues which is really helpful…👍

[@charlesbarnett2724]

"No threadlock, which is called Binelli"😂

[@DickieMintCycles]

Didn’t put any on mine.. That’s why things were falling off the thing .. Centre stand, exhaust etc. 😄

[@mikehurley5052]

Just wondering why you did all that just to do it all again next week, i would have got new bearings regardless if i was taking all that off, nice job though.

[@DickieMintCycles]

You have a point Mike 😄…Was board so thought let’s vlog pulling the forks..Bike flew through the MOT by the way..Which is good..I’ll get the bearings tomoz plus a decent bottom seal for the bearings.. That plate does make a difference too…👍