How do I install mikes tapered steering head bearings

LDO107

xsleo wrote:

Harley uses tapered roller bearings in their steering heads. In the manual for my Harley, the bearing adjustment is,
#1 Support the bike upright so front end is completely suspended and bike level.
#2 Remove all accessory weight, like windshields, that may influence the way the front end swings. If the clutch cable is routed so it pulls the front end one way or the other, disconnect it.
#3 Place a suitable marking material, such as masking tape over the fender tip.
#4 Install a pointer so the base is stationary on the floor and the pointer indicates the center of the fender. the front end should point straight ahead, how ever the balance point may be off center.
#5 Loosen upper tree clamp bolts and the top nut, lift the upper tree slightly to give room to adjust the tension.
#6 Check bearing tension.
a. tap the fender on one side until the front end begins to "fall-away" by itself. Label this point on the marking material.
b. repeat the previous step in the other direction.
c measure the distance between the marks.
#7 The distance between the marks should be between 1 and 2 inches. Tighten or loosen the bearing adjustment until the measurement is within limits.
a. if the distance is more than 2 inches, loosen the adjustment.
b. if it is less than 1 inch , tighten the adjustment.

The book gave slightly different directions for #5. The way their front end goes together is a bit different, so I changed #5 to better fit our front ends. I did this with mine and it feels very good.

XSLeo,
I just did my neck bearings/races on my 2003 Big Dog Mastiff using the HD 'fall-away' method. You are right on point with that! I did find the setting too loose for me and I tightened it up till the test ride felt good.

Also found that you should tighten it up good and tight to 'seat' the bearings, then begin to loosen them.

xsleo

I figured it would be a good place to start. Mine feels a bit loose now after about 2500 miles. I will check and adjust this week end.

pumps

I'm doing this today. Look at my resto thread. I used a dead blow mallet and it sucked. Had to go back to the ball peen hammer.
650rider.com/index.php...0083#70083

pumps

5twins wrote:

A word on assembling the slotted nuts. If you look at them, you'll see they have a totally flat side and one that's dished out. Assemble them so the 2 dished sides face each other and lock together. They work better this way. They lock together more progressively and with more "feel". This also presents a flat side down to better tension the bearings and a flat side up to better support the upper tree.

My new nuts (sounds funny to say that) from mike are flat on one side and on the other side curved so the edges fall away. Taller in the middle.Is that the dished you speak of?

MAXIM

Question for you. Does this bearing kit fit all years, 70 and up, or is there a starting point? If they don't fit a 70 to 72 what else can a person do ?

yamaman

All the same mate, 1970 on.....

www.mikesxs.net/produc...l#products

Cheers

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