Honda-SOHC
SOHC.co.uk Forums => CB350/400 => Topic started by: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on February 07, 2021, 09:10:06 PM
-
Does anyone know if the steering race ball bearings are a standard size or can you buy a complete kit DS want 29pence each for them?
-
Check out the local industrial estate for bearing supplies.
They should have loose balls.
If you will pardon the expression
Get them to mic them for size
Sent from my SM-A750FN using Tapatalk
-
Also try push bike shops.
-
Please forgive me if I've missed something obvious, but if you've gone to all the trouble of dismantling the front end, surely it's a lot less hassle just to replace the whole lot with a set of taper roller bearings. From the way I've read it, it gives the ipression that you are leaving the old races in place and just renewing the balls?
-
If taper bearings were a straight fit that would be great but from what I have read it isn't and you end up with not much thread when you fit the top nut unless someone has made a conversion kit. Naturally I would replace the races if badly worn. It appears the top race bearings were more corroded on mine. Does anyone know the size as a don't have a micrometer as yet.
-
I understand most of the wear force sits on the lower bearing so am wondering if a hybrid arrangement is more practical - taper bearing at the bottom plain at the top ?
Then again for my likely low summer mileage perhaps original is more straight forward ?
-
I found the problem is if you use a thin spacer the bottom yoke came up against the frame and thinest spacer i found was 1mm.
Possibly you could grind some off the frame at bottom but not tried that
-
According to the parts diagram and the manual there are 37 ball bearings, 19 in the top and 18 in the bottom, they are called #8 ball bearings which according to the web means 1/4".
Like these.
https://simplybearings.co.uk/shop/product_info.php?products_id=38916&vat_inc=true&gclid=Cj0KCQiA34OBBhCcARIsAG32uvPGEh1MrUYLnvlT3sG_BtrNgFn62NT0DsiaJaeC6kmnygPfawxXsMwaAi_OEALw_wcB
£4.33 for 50.
Thanks for the link I have ordered some. I'm probably stuck with DS for the upper & lower races I think it works out at almost £70 for the pair!
-
Please forgive me if I've missed something obvious, but if you've gone to all the trouble of dismantling the front end, surely it's a lot less hassle just to replace the whole lot with a set of taper roller bearings. From the way I've read it, it gives the ipression that you are leaving the old races in place and just renewing the balls?
Having priced up the parts from DS I'm looking again at your suggestion to fit taper rollers they do seem a cheaper & better option. I've found these on e-bay after a search. What's the catch probably do not fit!! The lower race has a larger OD than the upper one.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Steering-bearings-taper-roller-Honda-CB250-350-400-450-500-550-650-750-super/153984339007?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649
And a spacer https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-CB-400-F-Four-75-79-Headstock-Steering-Taper-Bearing-Spacer-OE-324005/184349619747?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-CB-400-F-Four-1975-1979-Headstock-Steering-Taper-Bearing-Top-OE-324803/184340453514?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649
Clearly I need to get my calipers on the old races.
-
I've found what sounds like a supplier that will sell me a pair of bearigs with a spacer to suit. Currently out of stock in the cheaper option for my particular model of Honda but the dearer option is £30.00.
As & when the bits arrive I will update with details of my fittment experience.
-
I have seen these advertised may be a solution
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AFTERMARKET-HEAD-BEARINGS-CUP-AND-CONE-SET-HONDA-CB500-CB-500-K-71-74-NEW/274677015189?fits=UKM_Make%3AHonda%7CUKM_StreetName%3AFour&hash=item3ff406a295:g:JyYAAOSw8j1dY654
-
I have seen these advertised may be a solution
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AFTERMARKET-HEAD-BEARINGS-CUP-AND-CONE-SET-HONDA-CB500-CB-500-K-71-74-NEW/274677015189?fits=UKM_Make%3AHonda%7CUKM_StreetName%3AFour&hash=item3ff406a295:g:JyYAAOSw8j1dY654
But 30% less balls.
-
I have seen these advertised may be a solution
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AFTERMARKET-HEAD-BEARINGS-CUP-AND-CONE-SET-HONDA-CB500-CB-500-K-71-74-NEW/274677015189?fits=UKM_Make%3AHonda%7CUKM_StreetName%3AFour&hash=item3ff406a295:g:JyYAAOSw8j1dY654
These are not listed for for the 400/four they are not advertised as taper rollers.
-
i think all 70s hondas from 250-550 used same bearings, my thinking was they would be nearer in depth to the original rather than the taper rollers.
-
I have measured my steering shaft & steering column top & bottom diameters as best I can with my Aldi Calipers they come out as follows.
Bottom bearings are 50.00 mm OD, steering shaft diameter is 26.7? mm. ( not sure until I remove the bottom race if has a wider shoulder at the bottom where the race seats)
Top bearings are 48.50 mm OD, 26.00 mm ID.
As best as I can measure the original bottom ball bearing has a thickness of 13.50 mm.
This leads me to thinking that the bottom spacer needs to be the difference between the taper & roller bearing thickness plus any washer (if there is such a thing) that sits between the normal lower bearing race & the dust seal.
Any comments on my calcuations welcome please,