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steering head bearings
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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?

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.
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Re: steering head bearings
« Reply #1 on: »
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....

   
 
« Last Edit: November 18, 2018, 08:42:59 am by TimR »
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Re: steering head bearings
« Reply #2 on: »
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.
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Re: steering head bearings
« Reply #3 on: »
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.
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Re: steering head bearings
« Reply #4 on: »
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.
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Re: steering head bearings
« Reply #5 on: »
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.   
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Re: steering head bearings
« Reply #6 on: »
Running tapered on mine with no problems the kit was under £40 and better than the original which only lasted 8000 miles
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Re: steering head bearings
« Reply #7 on: »
Quote from: Rocker on November 23, 2018, 07:44:52 pm
Running tapered on mine with no problems the kit was under £40 and better than the original which only lasted 8000 miles

Hi Rocker, can you remember where you got them & the brand?
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Re: steering head bearings
« Reply #8 on: »
Quote from: littletriple on November 26, 2018, 03:26:53 pm
Quote from: Rocker on November 23, 2018, 07:44:52 pm
Running tapered on mine with no problems the kit was under £40 and better than the original which only lasted 8000 miles

Hi Rocker, can you remember where you got them & the brand?

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.
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Re: steering head bearings
« Reply #9 on: »
OK, leave it there then. Thanks.
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Re: steering head bearings
« Reply #10 on: »
Just want to back up Omeo's statement on lube and seals. Good lubrication is essential and so are good seals, when dust/dirt/water gets into a bearing it creates a grinding paste with the grease and greatly accelerates wear. Also correct tension is very important for taper rollers as any play causes point loading which again rapidly increase bearing wear.
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