Removing steering head bearing outer races, wombat

[Roddy boy]

Should I be removing the upper and lower alloy bearing races prior to blasting this frame? If so, how do you get them off? I am worried about apply too much force and deforming them. Also, how do you protect the serial plate from blasting[img][img][/i

[Bullfrog]

The steering head bearing races can be easily driven out with a long drift punch and hammer. Reach through from the top with the drift punch to evenly tap out the bottom race, etc. (NOTE: they are pretty stout, I don't think you can deform them during normal removal . . . so long as 1) no pounding/contact on the race where the ball make contact and 2) drive the race out evenly to minimize the forces involved.

The steering head ID plate is held on with small drive pins. If you are careful, you can get a sharp edge under the drive pin head to pry it up just a teensy bit in order to grab the head with vice grip pliers - or to get the jaws of wire cutter pliers under the head. They can serve as "wedges" to lift the pin - and you can do a bit of levering with the wire cutters -- AND you can pry the wire cutters "up" while the jaws hold the pin.

While the plate is off you can order in some drive pins of the correct size to ready to re-install the plate.
Ed

[hodakamax]

There is a really clever tool for the job that I reviewed in a past Resonator Vol 2 No.18 issue. Almost effortless--I'm spoiled.

Max

[bchappy]

If you are careful you may be able to re-use the drive pins for the ID plate. They have a spiral thread so they turn a little as they go in (and out).