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#Post#: 557--------------------------------------------------
steering head bearings
DIR By: littletriple
Date: November 17, 2018, 11:17 am
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Hi,
anyone had experience of these bearings? I don't need to change
mine yet but the price seems good so might buy for the future.
I recall lots of discussion re steering bearings, balls v
rollers, seals, etc etc. What is the current thinking?
HTML https://www.ebay.ca/itm/ALL-BALLS-STEERING-BEARING-KIT-YAMAHA-MT01-SA-05-09-MT09-EURO-14/322518885527?hash=item4b179fa497:g:boEAAOSwGJlZGxEv:rk:10:pf:0&vxp=mtr
cheers,
Martin.
#Post#: 558--------------------------------------------------
Re: steering head bearings
DIR By: TimR
Date: November 18, 2018, 2:41 am
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Tapered bearings seem to be favoured widely.
I have tried a set and discovered if they arent fitted very
carefully, bedded in with diligence and repeated fettling, they
will go bad faster than the OEM cup&ball...Given the cost in
time & money, I didnt bother with them a second time, electing t
fit OEM. That was three years ago, and no issues.
With all head bearings,be sure to grease them and install the
required seals. Keep the pressure washer away from the area and
I believe they will be fine.
They should not be over tightened. They should be checked at
the recommended intervals....
[emoji120]
#Post#: 560--------------------------------------------------
Re: steering head bearings
DIR By: Max Headroom
Date: November 19, 2018, 3:00 am
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Taper rollers are always better in a steering head
configuration, the contact area is far higher in the load path.
The only problem you'll have is quality, there's no such thing
as a good cheap bearing, the money goes in materials and
precision. Cheap sh!t from China is exactly that, a quality set
of taper rollers will cost more than an OEM set of balls.
#Post#: 563--------------------------------------------------
Re: steering head bearings
DIR By: omeo-mt01
Date: November 20, 2018, 3:15 am
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Max is right in that if you go the tepered route then buy
expensive.
But, and I was convinced of this by my dealer when I talked to
him about it when it was raised on the old forum some years ago.
The standard ball race is the superior option if you want least
friction.
The tapered copes with being loose better than the ball.
IMHO. buy the standard but grease it better than yam do.
#Post#: 564--------------------------------------------------
Re: steering head bearings
DIR By: Max Headroom
Date: November 20, 2018, 11:11 am
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Sorry but got to disagree there. Having spent the last 40 years
or so being a mechanical engineer I can tell you a taper roller
is always better in the steering head setup. It's about load
bearing capacity, a taper roller presents a greater contact face
in the direction of the load than a ball bearing (even angular
contact ball bearings). It's also false to think a ball has
lower friction it hasn't, friction under load will be higher in
a ball than a taper but the difference wouldn't affect use in a
steering head arrangement.
Again, everything is in the cost, no matter if you buy ball or
taper, you cannot make a precision item cheap.
#Post#: 565--------------------------------------------------
Re: steering head bearings
DIR By: littletriple
Date: November 20, 2018, 12:32 pm
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Thanks for the feedback.
I did think the reason for the ball races was to achieve faster
steering. A hangover from the R1 perhaps? Maybe noticeable in
racing but not really an issue on an MT01...:o
I certainly understand the difference in load capacity etc &
this is why I'm surprised rollers aren't used here. Have taper
rollers as standard in my other bikes (Honda & Laverda) & only
seen balls in old Brit stuff & bicycles. In this application I
would also expect balls to need more TLC (adjustment & greasing)
than rollers, which might explain the short life some have
reported.
I posted the link just in case anyone had used them. It's a kit
for the MT01, including dust seals, which won't come with loose
bearings & I seem to remember are hard to find. Is there a good
known source for suitable seals?
What are you guys running on your bikes?
Martin.
#Post#: 572--------------------------------------------------
Re: steering head bearings
DIR By: Rocker
Date: November 23, 2018, 1:44 pm
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Running tapered on mine with no problems the kit was under £40
and better than the original which only lasted 8000 miles
#Post#: 573--------------------------------------------------
Re: steering head bearings
DIR By: littletriple
Date: November 26, 2018, 9:26 am
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--- Quote from: Rocker link ---
>
> Running tapered on mine with no problems the kit was under £40
and better than the original which only lasted 8000 miles
>
--- End Quote ---
Hi Rocker, can you remember where you got them & the brand?
#Post#: 574--------------------------------------------------
Re: steering head bearings
DIR By: omeo-mt01
Date: November 27, 2018, 3:00 am
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--- Quote from: littletriple link ---
>
> [quote author=Rocker link=topic=91.msg572#msg572
date=1543002292]
> Running tapered on mine with no problems the kit was under £40
and better than the original which only lasted 8000 miles
>
--- End Quote ---
Hi Rocker, can you remember where you got them & the brand?
[/quote]
Round and round we go, The cheap roller kits from Pyramid are
just that.
The reason the standards dont last is because they are often
badly lubed from new.
Replacement oem's that you lube well and properly will last much
longer.
Buy standard seals and buy them from your dealer, it might help
keep your dealer around.
While the actual performance difference is so little as to
ignore I was informed that rollers do not tolerate being a bit
loose and tighten up some in this situation. Max might be able
to clarify that, or not.
#Post#: 575--------------------------------------------------
Re: steering head bearings
DIR By: littletriple
Date: November 28, 2018, 1:54 am
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OK, leave it there then. Thanks.
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