Suitable drift?

[Rilot]

Why do manuals always use this phrase?
Whenever I read those words I know what it really means is that I will be bashing at the offending item with a lump hammer and a screwdriver.

Today's "suitable drift" came in the form of the extension tube for my vacuum cleaner. Worked like a charm for getting the new bearing on to the F650s steering stem.

Just thought I'd share that random thought.

 

[paradigm]

Suitable Drift?

Isn't that what you do around suitably large roundabouts?

 

[DRZ]

Suitable Drift?

Isn't that what you do around suitably large roundabouts?

Its a really old-fashioned phrase but an awesome one. I guess they use it because it is the exact correct phrase for what is required?

 

[[TW]Fox]

Suitable drift is a posh and more acceptable way of excusing poor manufacturing tolerances.

 

[DRZ]

Suitable drift is a posh and more acceptable way of excusing poor manufacturing tolerances.

Not at all. Some things are an interference fit for a reason, either because it is required or because there is some load difference between two points - a bolt through an engine mount, for example.

 

[Rilot]

Yeah, the outer races and inner, lower race on a bike headstock are usually an interferance fit. In this case, they might as well have been welded in place the amount of bashing I had to apply to get the things off.
Blowtorch + hammer + drift soon sorted it though.

 

[thedazman67]

Suitable Drift?

Isn't that what you do around suitably large roundabouts?

yes

 

[Bunka]

Suitable Drift?

Isn't that what you do around suitably large roundabouts?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=qJipdwCm-48

Seemed suitably suitable.

 

[Jonny69]

Suitable drift is a posh and more acceptable way of excusing poor manufacturing tolerances.

You'll find most bearings around your car are an interference fit, they are deliberately pressed in. The ring gear on your flywheel is another good example - it's heated up and pressed on, then when it cools down and contracts it really bites on

 

[Akira]

Suitable drift doesn't refer to tolerances or fit, it means something of the approximate shape of the thing you want to shift and you put it on whatever it is and hit the drift instead. I find it's usually either a bit of wood or a big flat bladed screwdriver. Like Rilot found a hoover tube would fit over his steering stem to tap his bearings into place.