Busy day in the garage with the 07. Head bearings, fairing stay, wheel bearings etc

So I took advantage of the bad weather today to lock myself in the garage and finally get some work done on the RWB.

With the propane heater running full blast I might add as it was nasty outside.

I've been gathering parts for quite some time in preparation for a front end ho-down. My lower triple was tweaked so it had to be replaced and I figured that I would do the head bearings while I was at it. I also had a new fairing stay to install and forks to swap out so it was a full monty type of deal. I already had the front end off so the day started looking something like this,



The first step was to support the front end so I could pull the triple and steering stem out. With the back end held by the pitbull it was as simple as placing the floor jack under the header pipes with a piece of cedar in between and pump. No worries and it was stable. I bent back the lock tabs on the back up nut and it came off by hand. The lower nut needed a tap and them it too just spun off as is usually the case.



The assembly dropped out without issue and then came the outer races, which I tapped out using a long punch. This is the upper. Honda did a nice job leaving some exposed race that you can easily get at with a punch.



The next challenge is getting the lower inner race off the steering stem. This can be a PITA because there isn't usually much to pry on or attach a puller to. Luckily there was one spot where you can catch the edge and voila it was off. Now I did cheat a bit as this was an e-bay part that was a bit corroded and I suspected that the race would be on their good so I soaked it in penetrating oil and them sat it in front of my heater to bake a bit. I used an infrared thermometer to make sure it wasn't too hot to pick up. I was so careful for the picture and then ten minutes later I grabbed the brick it was sitting on with my bare hand! :crazy:





So the next challenge was to get the new bearing pressed on which I did using the old inner race as a driver.



Outer races were then installed like so,



and



I then greased the bearings and installed the assembly in the steering head and set the tension on the bearings using the lower nut. After, I installed the locking plate and the back up nut finishing by bending the tabs. I then loosely installed the fork bridge, the forks, clip-ons and the axle. I tightened the axle first to ensure the lower ends of the forks were held square before torquing the lower triple, the bridge and finally the clip-ons.

This is the axle with the spacers and bearings installed so it would clamp up properly. Normally I would have used the front wheel but at this point I hadn't installed the bearings in it so I improvised.



Then on went the fairing stay, instrument cluster, wire harness, upper fairing, side fairings and eventually the front wheel! In the end I fired it up and stood back to see this,

 

Wow! Nice paintjob!

 

She is a beaut isn't she! Makes me want to go in the garage and give mine a hug.:yo:
OBJ

 

Holy smokes izzat a Matrix Concepts workshop floor mat I see? :shocked:

Saw them the other night on the Solomotoparts website.

I soooo want one of those in Red. :frusty:

 

+1. Looks mint and thanks for the instruction for the bearing replacement!

 

Wooooo Hooooooo
Great write up :thumb: about time jethro :wink:
Thanks for sharing bud

 

Good write up. Easy to follow instructions. Great pics.
Those white wheels keep calling my name.

 

+1. The detailed instructions and the pictures are awesome. Thanks for sharing. The bike looks great and the white wheels fit the color combo very nicely..

 

I'm not sure exactly what brand it is. We saw it on the chuck out cart at Canadian Tire last summer for $20 and my daughter insisted that we grab it. It kind gives the bike a spot to call home.

 

Bike looks spectacular, nice bit of tech writing as well. Hope to
See you on the road by early April