SOHC.co.uk Forums > CB500/550

Steering head bearings

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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.

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