Steering head bearings

[Murf]

The cups and cones of the steering head bearings I took out of the frame were not too bad just some slight marks here and there, my feeling is that with new balls they could be used again.  On the other hand I don’t want to spoil the ship for a haporth of tar.  New sets are available at DS but around £60 +
I have seen some mention of tapper roller bearing conversions, but the shallow depth of the bearing housing doesn’t seem like it would give enough room for a tapper roller bearing.  If they are available has anyone done the conversion and if so is it worth while.
Thanks

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I replaced the bearings in my 500 with Taper rollers, pretty sure I used a kit from Pyramid. It cost nothing like £60 - closer to £30 iirc, good make of bearings as well.
I took my time making sure the bottom spacer was not too thick.
I'll update this reply when I check my build log. The 550 might be different from a 500 K1.

My build log shows I used the BR 29 kit, iirc I fitted a 1mm spacer at the bottom followed by the bottom seal supplied in the kit. It was a while back, don't think I used the top seal/washer unit. No issue with the top threads. The PO Bryan had fitted a similar kit, there was some rust due to the bike standing so I just fitted replacements.

[SteveW]

Did my 550 with a tapered set from All Balls Racing, supplied by Wemoto for £37.
Very easy to fit and no issues.

One I used was AC7408.

[Murf]

Thanks guys great info and spot on, I have ordered the Pyramid Br 29 kit which also fits the 550 Ted, no surprise there I guess but it also seems to fit many smaller Hondas from around that period. The kit was £32.94 inc postage direct from Pyramid.  I went for the Pyramid kit simply because I saw Teds post first and started looking for it. I am sure the All Balls kit Steve recommended is equally as good.
Anyway great bit of help, I would much rather change the bearings and I do like taper head bearings.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

To help with the bottom spacer thickness with the inner face fitted you can put the main race in place with your hand, add the bottom seal supplied in the kit

IIRC the thick washer I discarded using a thinner washer, you could see that the bearing was just proud of the bottom. An advantage of having a small spacer at the bottom is you can remove the bottom race undamaged if you have a suitable puller. I used to use my brother in laws puller, I bought my own as it wasn't expensive.

[Bryanj]

The expensive dss set is the original honda races with loose balls

[Laverda Dave]

I fitted the Pyramid set to the 400/4 and they didn't fit. The top race sat so proud of the headstock I could only get two turns on the castellated nut which to my way of thinking is positively dangerous if you were to hit a large pot hole or suchlike.
I wrote to Pyramid to advise them they were selling a potentially dangerous kit. After asking me to send some photos which I duly did. They withdrew the kit from sale. I did ask them to advise me of the outcome but I never heard from them again.
I'm pretty sure this is the same kit as used on the 500/550’s, these may have more depth in the headstock to allow the taper bearing to sit lower but best to check. Personally if it was me I would call Pyramid and ask them if there any reported problems with this kit.
Quite honestly I don't know what advantage a taper kit actually gives over a ball race set up. There's an argument the taper provides more bearing area but does that really matter and can it actually be felt considering the very limited amount you turn the handlebar during anything other than walking pace in somewhere like a car park or in the garage? Most steering input is achieved through lean angle and counter steering even though you may think you aren't actually doing it. If I have the option now I fit ball race replacements, like for like and no issues.

[Johnny4428]

The last 550 I did, I fitted balls and races that’s what fits best in my opinion. I agree Dave!

[Sesman]

Ditto on the pyramid kit for my 77 550 Super Sport. I also tried a taper set supplied by DSS, but they were the same. DSS kindly supplied an original ball and race set, which fitted just fine.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I know a member who fitted a Pyramid kit to his 400 without issue.
Old Chuffer in Wales?

I believe there are caged ball kits available as replacements, no counting & fiddling needed on the 400.

[florence]

I replaced the races and balls, standard type, in 1995.  Still in good order and working well, 30 years later.