Kmx steering head ball bearings

[Medicinal_Motocross]

Hoping to get a bit of advice for my steering head bearings, firstly do the bigger of the bearings go in the bottom race or does it vary with bike to bike?

My manual states 19 at the top and 23 at the bottom but im hoping and praying its a mis print because fitting the smaller 3/16" balls to the top and the 1/4" balls to the bottom i can fit 23 at the top and 19 at the bottom and no more..

It seems i cant get the yoke/stem 100% flush in the frame neck but could with no bearings installed it made a "clunk", is this normal or should it be completely flush in the frame with bearings inserted?

[Taught2BCauti...]

I remember having this problem years ago, and resolved it by removing all of the balls, and using a blob of Blu-Tack on the top and bottom races.

Put the parts together, then separate them. The Blu-Tack will be squashed, and the thinner piece is where the smaller ball bearings go, thicker piece is where the larger ones go.
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Honda Varadero XL125(V8)
www.TheFutureIsHere.eu

[Medicinal_Motocross]

Did you use the Blu-Tack to make the yoke fit right inside ? Was it a kmx if so do you remember the amount of balls needed ? I'm guessing you used it without any bearings fitted? These don't come with a dust seal so not sure why isn't going in to the neck 100%, the races are where they should be

[Taught2BCauti...]

Can't remember what (or who's) bike it was - it was a long time ago - but definitely not a KMX.

Someone had stripped the yoke down and removed all the ball bearings, before realising there were two different sizes.

I used two balls of Blu-Tack, just a bit bigger that the larger balls - to work out whether the smaller balls went on the top or the bottom.

I suppose you could just go by trial-and-error - if you get it wrong, there will be some lateral movement at the top or bottom.
____________________
Honda Varadero XL125(V8)
www.TheFutureIsHere.eu

[Medicinal_Motocross]

Is the gap between the bearings about right or should there be more of a gap ? Would you be happy with fitting the yoke if there was a gap between it and the frame neck or is this normal? I was told by a bike shop it should be completely in the frame but seems impossible...

Thanks for ur input!

[Taught2BCauti...]

If the ball bearings go back the right way round, they will make equal contact with their respective races - if they go back wrong, only the larger ball bearings will make contact with the race, the smaller ones will be loose and the yoke won't tighten up correctly.
____________________
Honda Varadero XL125(V8)
www.TheFutureIsHere.eu