Hitchcocks Forum

Hi All

Having difficulty in fitting steering head bearings where i think the top frame race is not fully pressed In (i think it should be flush with the frame) is there a tool to help with the fitting i wonder, hammering with a piece of wood
does not seem to work


Thanks

Bob Parkinson

which model and year?

A length of chunky studding (with nuts) and a couple of pieces of steel plate drilled to suit might be a good place to start.



A.

I was going to suggest using a bigger hammer, only because someone has to say it.

I am shocked at people suggesting hammers for the job, without knowing the year ans model of bike and the type of bearing.

If there was an emoticon to represent "I'm joking", I would have used it. So instead, I'll say it. I'M JOKING!

Big copper mallets OK?

They are most likely press-fit races unless anyone knows different. Bob's original post at least suggests that they are.



Bob, you could try bashing - sorry, taping them out and checking that the recesses in the headstock are completely clear of any debris - paint/powder coating, rust, damaged metal or whatever. Then you can measure their depth against the that of the race and you should be able to work out by how much if at all they should protrude when fully belted - sorry, tapped home. If it were an alloy casting you could heat it up and pop the bearings in the freezer, but I'm not sure how effective this would be for a malleable cast iron headstock, without burning the paint off! Try a hot-air gun?



A.

Just put mine back in after painting the frame, they protrude about an eight of an inch and are fully seated [ 61 bullet frame ]

Sorry, yes, Redditch mode off. I think the Indian frames have a bit of steel tube, not a casting. Same advice otherwise. I have an Indian Bullet frame to check and will see how it compares with gnasher's UK-made frame and bearings.



A.

Hi All

Appreciate all the advice model is 1968 MK1A TT7 fitting new set from Hitchcocks (of course) Top FRAME bearing when fully seated sits apprx 1/8' proud of frame
and there is no obvious way it seems it can be pressed in further looking at the shape of the top of the headstock. The bottom FRAME bearing does go in further and sits apprx 1/8" INSIDE the frame which makes sense as the steering head bearing race goes up inside so i think this is where my extra 1/8" i need to enable the chrome forks /headlight collars to fit snuggly rather than rattle around as they currently do will come from. Head stock all clear and no obvious "pinching" is apparent i will try the pressing tool idea i think. It has been suggested that the top and bottom frame races are different however the part numbers are the same 34805 and they are identical i am sure Hitchcocks are correct in this??


Appreciate the support

Bob