Head Bearings

Teabag_Terry2

Teabag_Terry2

Teabag_Terry2

Associate
Joined
18 Aug 2014
Posts
208
Hi guys,

My DRZ400, I am pretty sure, needs new head bearings. I know how to do it, and can get the parts.

Problem is, if you mess it up, the bike is trashed.

Anyone have any idea how much I should be paying a mechanic to to do the work if I supply all the bearing etc?

Cheers.
 
I think its pretty hard to mess up... I mean its not an easy job but you'd have to do something really special to damage the headstock.
Worst case you damage the new races and have to get some more.

Long strong screwdriver with a hammer, knock out the old races, freeze the new races, then on the old race, dremel or angle grind a notch out of it, and with a socket that fits over the face of the old race then hammer the new ones into place.
Steering stem is the most difficult, sometimes they will come off with some screwdrivers prised underneath, and other times you need to need to dremel a notch into it diagonally and then use a hammer and chisel until it snaps, always careful not to hit the stem.
 
Fireskull said:
I think its pretty hard to mess up... I mean its not an easy job but you'd have to do something really special to damage the headstock.
Worst case you damage the new races and have to get some more.

Long strong screwdriver with a hammer, knock out the old races, freeze the new races, then on the old race, dremel or angle grind a notch out of it, and with a socket that fits over the face of the old race then hammer the new ones into place.
Steering stem is the most difficult, sometimes they will come off with some screwdrivers prised underneath, and other times you need to need to dremel a notch into it diagonally and then use a hammer and chisel until it snaps, always careful not to hit the stem.
Click to expand...

Exactly how I would do it.

Just make sure you gently tap them as evenly as you can. I guess kind of shuffling them out. when putting the new ones in, load the headstock with masses of grease. Delboy's Garage did a video about doing the bearing, to dos/don'ts etc... very good to watch to get an idea. I think he did it on a Ninja, but its the same principle. :)
 
I recently got a quote to have mine replaced and my local place quoted 2 hours labour.

He had the bike in for servicing anyway but decided they didn't need replacing.
 
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