head bearings

[bernardofeio]

helllo


I'm trying to remove the head bearings from the main frame. (R100GS)

beside "oficial" bmw tools is there any way to remove them?

thks

 

[(RIP) Tibs]

If they're the same set up as the earlier bikes then make a series of careful cuts into the bearing race with a dremel cutting disc and then attack it with a sharp cold chisel. It should crack and drop out in chunks. Just be careful not to damage the frame haedstock with the cutting disc.
Tibs

 

[cobbster]

Just to give you a method that I got involved with -

I helped remove head bearings on a frame, my part was to put some weld on the outer race, this gave the drift something to catch on to help tap them out.

I put two small welds opposite each other, then tapping on each side the outer bearing slowly came away.

The weld did break off a few times as the bearing is hardened but I guess the special tool to do this job, if there is one, was not about.

 

[ollek]

I made myself a puller with a valve of an engine of truck.
I searched for a valve with a diameter slightly larger than the bearing and the stem long enough. Recess with a a grinding wheel about 2 / 3 of its diameter to introduce it into the bearing and headstock tube. I sharpened the remains of the original edge to hook in the narrow channel.
Hit the stem slowly, turning one third each time.
Zero cost in a junkyard or a workshop ...
Sorry for the speech (Google translate).

 

[bernardofeio]

hello

thanks for your replays!

I think I will first try the dremel solution. (I don't have a truck valve available - only series land rovers and R100s- and my welding performance is not all that good!

BTW: I remove the head bearing inner race from the steering shaft using a welding method in a friend workshop. just put some weld around the race and with the heat and weld contraction it come lose.

 

[VAL. H.]

helllo


I'm trying to remove the head bearings from the main frame. (R100GS)

beside "oficial" bmw tools is there any way to remove them?

thks

I haven't looked myself, but if there is a little lip of exposed bearing inside the steering tube you could try a piece of steel tubing.

Cut slots down the tube (two cuts vertically down at 90o to each other) Splay the tube out so it's a bit wider than the steering tube and push it up inside so that the splayed part sprigs out over the edge of the bearing inside the steering tube. You should be able to hit the top of the tube with a hamer (so remember to make it long enough) and knock out the bearing.

One of these

Val.

 

[Kenny]

Obviously use a little heat as well, can't do any harm. I also used that superb freezing spray on the outer case of the bearing...but it failed miserably, although others have had some success. Dremel and chip out is a good un but so is the spot weld to get a drift purchase onto it

 

[(RIP) Arkwright]

If you've got access to a MIG welder the run of weld round the outer race is the easiest, they then contract and come out with a gentle tap! Simples

 

[Rob Farmer]

Www.cycleworks.net and look for the head bearing tool. Probably not viable if your only doing one set but if you have a few mates with bmw's it's worth chipping in. I've had plenty of use out of mine.

 

[Kenny]

Www.cycleworks.net and look for the head bearing tool. Probably not viable if your only doing one set but if you have a few mates with bmw's it's worth chipping in. I've had plenty of use out of mine.

Hmmm... wonder if Vern could muster some of these up ?

 

[Rob Farmer]

Hmmm... wonder if Vern could muster some of these up ?

Dan at cyleworks is a really decent bloke. Wouldn't be right to rip his ideas off.

 

[ChasF]

The little expanding wedge thingy shown in the BMW club journal seemed like a good idea to me.

 

[Kenny]

Dan at cyleworks is a really decent bloke. Wouldn't be right to rip his ideas off.

Fair do's...just that I saw he was in US of A !!

 

[brassmonkey001]

Dan at cyleworks is a really decent bloke. Wouldn't be right to rip his ideas off.

He is a decent spud all right.

 

[mavis cruet]

i used the technique in the old motobins catalogue and drilled two holes per bearing (opposite each other) in the headstock just above/below the bearing so that you can slide a drift in and knock out the race. easier to do once you get the bearing out that first time as its easier to line up the hole. but from then on, doddle.

 

[bernardofeio]

Hello

Can you please be more clear? Looks like a good idea… if you have photos, sketch’s would be nice

Yesterday I tried with the dremel and I still didn’t manage to remove the F#$”#& bearings!!

 

[(RIP) Arkwright]

i used the technique in the old motobins catalogue and drilled two holes per bearing (opposite each other) in the headstock just above/below the bearing so that you can slide a drift in and knock out the race. easier to do once you get the bearing out that first time as its easier to line up the hole. but from then on, doddle.

That's a Scriminger technique when he was at Motobins before he set up SED! He welds them now!

 

[Smug]

Dremel out a small depression inside the headstock on opposite sides just large enough for the punch to locate against the inside of the bearing race. Gently tap punch a little bit at a time on each side. Keep the bearing square by changing the punch from side to side.

 

[VAL. H.]

Dremel out a small depression inside the headstock on opposite sides just large enough for the punch to locate against the inside of the bearing race. Gently tap punch a little bit at a time on each side. Keep the bearing square by changing the punch from side to side.

Is the bearing that close to the steering tube. Is there no lip at all/ Surely there must be some lip? Seems odd that BMW would deliberately make it so difficult, even for their own mechanics to get the thing out.


I saw the guys at the last Airhead weekend trying to get the thing out of the young lads 80 g/s and wondered why it took so long.


Val.

 

[Benjamin M]

Is the bearing that close to the steering tube. Is there no lip at all/ Surely there must be some lip? Seems odd that BMW would deliberately make it so difficult, even for their own mechanics to get the thing out.


I saw the guys at the last Airhead weekend trying to get the thing out of the young lads 80 g/s and wondered why it took so long.


Val.

In hindsight I should have mentioned it before hand and politely asked Mr. Farmer if he'd bring his CycleWorks bearing puller, but then I didn't know that he had one! We had a bit of trouble getting the weld to take, just add gas and it was fine A couple of the others had tried drilling through the headstock before hand but had some difficulty getting the placement right if I remember correctly. As you say though, there is no lip at all, hence why any of above methods must be utilised. I'd imagine that the puller is going to be the best way to go though


P.s, thanks to everyone that helped btw, much appreciated