A bit of project work - advice required please

[CptBlack]

Hi,
I have a few questions for some work I plan to do over the next week or 2.

Replacing the rear wheel, what grease should I use on the axle and where do I get it from? I've searched the likes of Halfords and Motorworld but they have no 'grease' - online at least.

I have a bike for spares and I want to take the head bearings off of that and put on mine as there is a notch when pointing forward. Is it okay to use the same grease on the bearings as on the axle? Also what do I use to undo the steering nut - the big round nut with notches in it?

I had a day's training the other day and the instructor pointed out my clutch was very loose, so he tightened it at the lever but I'm thinking of taking the plates out of the spare bike and seeing if they're good enough. What should I be looking for to see if they're up to scratch?

What sort of time frames should I allow for these? Could be done over a weekend?

Cheers,
Chris

edit: sorry for the double post!

[Vincent]

Chris,

not a great idea to swap head race bearings over, although if they're new and you can get them off without damaging them, it would save a few pennys I suppose.

You'll need to get yerself a micrometer or a decent set of vernier gauges to measure the clutch plates, then you find out how thin they can get before replacement is recommended, (tolerance - wear limit), from a workshop manual.

Inspct the plates for "glazing" (shiny bits), and look inside the tangs of the cluch basket for grooves worn by the plates.

If you're new to working on your own bike, I can't stress enough how useful a workshop manual can be.

[CptBlack]

Fair enough,
If I loosen the head stock nut, will that extend their life a bit? Can I hang it out til around Christmas?

Cheers re plates

[neil.]

Lithium grease is ok on bearings and the axle. I have used the spray type 3-in-1 stuff.

With regards to the clutch, do you have an extra adjuster down the cable, near the engine? Basically reset the adjustment at the lever and then adjust the in-line adjuster which will give you room for adjustment at the lever in future.

Never done head bearings myself, apart from adjustment, but I know it's a fair bit involved and you pretty much dismantle the whole front end (take wheel, forks, lights, instruments etc off) and then have to remove the existing races and bearings which can be very tight. I don't know if it's a good idea or not to reuse them off another bike - someone else more experienced will probably chime in soon - but I personally would buy new ones, preferably tapered rollers rather than balls, which should last ages longer.

You may want to try adjusting them first before replacing to see if you can make the notch less noticeable and buy more time/an MOT pass.
____________________
CBT February 2008 | A2 June 2008 | Yamaha YBR125 (written off) | Honda CBF125 (current)

[Vincent]

In times of poverty, I've had to wait quite a while to fix headrace bearings. Adjust them properly, (a lot of them, are knackered through over tightening), and keep an eye on them getting worse. Worn headrace bearings will affect the handling & can cause wheel wobble at high speed which can be very worrying if you havn't had it happen before.

[Robby]

A set of head race bearings should cost under 30 quid on ebay or similar, and removal tends to knacker them. Re-using the ones off the other bike isn't really an option.

If the clutch is fine when adjusted then don't opening the engine up to look at plates. They last a good while, and you run the risk of overtightening a bolt on the clutch basket and breaking a tower.

I would use any of the general purpose greases for the things you mention. Usually CV joint grease, which is a decent grease for bearings and axles. Copper grease for non-rotating parts that will be done up for a while, and lithium grease for under the throttle twist tube, springs etc in low temp areas.

[Damon]

I take it the spare bike is exactly the same as your current bike?

If not, I'd be suprised if anything readily fits. I definately wouldn't reuse the headbearings from the otherbike. As stated elsewhere in the thread, the bearings are usually damaged as they get removed. I would be inclined to leave it as it is and save up for a new set.

I tend to use lithium grease for anything moving and copperslip for anything else that isn't threadlocked.

[CptBlack]

Cheers, multipurpose lithium grease now obtained.
The other bike is the same model.

I'll leave the head bearings for the time being then, what's best to adjust them in the mean time? I take it the correct nut is the notched ring?

I will readjust the clutch, there is a clamp on top of the case which looks like a ring spanner and attaches the clutch cable to the arm protruding from the casing - is it okay to undo this and rotate it a bit to get a better feel at the lever?

Cheers for all the advice.
Chris