PROJECT COPPERHEAD: F2 conversion

ok i have completely stripped everything from the frame of the 87 vfr700 and i have choose to start on the F@ front end conversion. I am using http://www.hondavfr.org/faq1_5.html as a step by step to get it done. But the problem that i am having is that i am new to motorcycle maintenance and i have the will and drive to do it on my own. but i am having the hardest time following the tutorial. I have the main concept, to switch steering stem from VFR to CBR..okay i got that....but then it goes into "tapping bearing races from headstock", now i have the CLYMER repair manual and also been researching all the words in part fiche and that is only confusing me more. Can some one PLEASE tell me what the heck these terms mean. Please excuse my ignorance, but like i said i have the willing and drive to learn and do the job myself. Just need a little clarification...is the headstock the upper triple or fork bridge or what....and what the heck are the bearing races and how do i tap them out and replace with OEM....

 

The bearing races are the smooth & hardened metal surfaces that your ball/roller bearings ride against to provide smooth steering. After you pull the triple tree off the bike, the bearings should come off with it, but the races will remain in the steering tube ("headstock").

You will need a hammer and about a 8"-12" punch (or something similar) to hammer them out. Take your fingers and find where that greasy race is by feeling around on the bottom. You will notice it about 1"-2" inside the tube. Put your monster punch inside the tube at the top, and "find" that race with the punch and proceed to hammer the shit out of it until it falls to the floor. You should be able to see the top race by looking into the tube. Reverse the setup and repeat for the top race.

As is so commonly said, "Installation is the reverse of removal", except don't use a punch to install the new races...:loco:

 

Okay thank you. that helps a lot. will post pics eventually.

 

As a matter of fact, turn the old races over and you can use them to hammer in the new races. If you're going to the trouble, you may as well get taper roller bearings. I did and it made a surprisingly large difference, to be just bearings. You can still use the old races as cushions for driving in the new taper races. Usually I HATE installed bearing races, but when I did mine I had them tapped in smooth and straight in minutes, thanks to the old ones being such ideal tools for the job.

 

OK, i finally remove the OLD "bearing races" as instructed on hondaVFR.org. So i goes to the HONDA shop and they have no clue as to what i am talking about when i say "bearing races", we pull up the part fiche and the only thing they have that RESEMBLES bearing races are listed as a dust seal. can anyone give me insight on where to get some replacement "bearing races". OR are the "dust seals" what i am looking for? i can not quite make out the part numbers on the back, but i THINK they are SF0649PXI AND SF0581PXI. IF someone has access to part fiche, they are listed under steering stem parts 3 and 4, SO please help me

 

The bearings are parts 11 and 12 on the fiche. Listed as "bearing, head pipe".

However, the Honda parts would be the old ball bearing type; get these instead: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HOND...ryZ35592QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

That's the AllBalls racing set I put in mine, beats the heck out paying $50 for the Honda parts.

 

A small tip, when remowing or putting in new bearings, use a heat gun to warm the steering tube a bit (so much you just can toutch it for some seconds) I easy the instalation werry much. Dont need as much force to hammer it back.

 

thank you all very much, actually they have some for the vfr700 also. so i will get those. thanks.until next time.

 

Put the bearings in the freezer too...