[oelhunden]

Hi,

today I took apart the steering head, to check the bearing.
I have had them replaced twice on the warranty, but the warranty is gone now, so I decided to check them, just in case.

And there had been water in there, but happily the bearings were still fine, so I repacked them and put it back together.
It looks like the water comes in at the topseal.
I cant use silicone on the seal, since it turns with the handlerbar.
So, anyone got an idea/fix, on how to seal this properly ?

 

[segue00]

Looking at the parts list and assembly drawing, I see a bearing cover and a rubber washer to seal the upper bearing. Unless they neglected to put the washers on correctly, I don't see how water can accumulate from up there, unless moisture condensation is prevalent. Packing it with enough grease should keep the moisture out and prevent water accumulating from condensation. I'd even try a waterproof axle grease on that if you're in high humidy weather. Type of grease they use on boat trailers than they submerge in water.

 

[jim schmidt]

I've heard about this on the FZ6 a number of times. Its an odd flaw to find on a modern bike. I feel sure there must be a service bulletin about it by now.

 

[jim schmidt]

It just dawned on me that you may want to stretch an condom over it. No, I'm not kidding. It would go under the top triple, over the cup, with a hole for the stem. You could probably do something similar to seal the bottom as well.

If this makes you say ewwww, use a baloon. But you're just being a sissy :lao and a condom would work better.

 

[segue00]

I don't know, but a condom with a hole will not work!! I learned it in sex education class. nfloor

 

[FZ1-KEP]

It just dawned on me that you may want to stretch an condom over it. No, I'm not kidding. It would go under the top triple, over the cup, with a hole for the stem. You could probably do something similar to seal the bottom as well.

If this makes you say ewwww, use a baloon. But you're just being a sissy :lao and a condom would work better.

Petroleum based lubricants destroy the integrity of latex and eventually dissolve it.

 

[oelhunden]

Looking at the parts list and assembly drawing, I see a bearing cover and a rubber washer to seal the upper bearing. Unless they neglected to put the washers on correctly, I don't see how water can accumulate from up there, unless moisture condensation is prevalent. Packing it with enough grease should keep the moisture out and prevent water accumulating from condensation. I'd even try a waterproof axle grease on that if you're in high humidy weather. Type of grease they use on boat trailers than they submerge in water.

You should think that, but since it has been replaced twice, and many other in here have had problems with it, I think there is a design flaw.
I know the machanic that replaced it as a friend, and he has done a good job replacing them.

On other bikes there is a cover above the seal, that goes over the steering head like an umbrella, so that it is no possible to have water lying on top of the seal.
And since the seal is moving, I think that it cant be totally watertight, when the thin layer of grease there is room for, between the seal and the head, is gone after a couple of rainy days.

 

[crx81]

Just out of curiosity, how difficult of a job is it to do yourself?

 

[segue00]

How about an undersized o-ring over the seal? If it's the right size, you can position the o-ring to cover the crack opening around the bearing washer.

 

[oelhunden]

How about an undersized o-ring over the seal? If it's the right size, you can position the o-ring to cover the crack opening around the bearing washer.

I dont know how it should be fastened.
I am thinking about making a stainless round plate, that covers the seal and a little more, to shield it.

Then tighten it with the to nuts that you use to adjust the bearings with.

 

[segue00]

I was thinking that you can just easily slip on an o-ring over the diameter of the tube over the crack of the washer from the outside. Your idea is much better but involves machining the part.

 

[KevinTheCake]

Go to your local boat dealership and get a tube of marine grade grease. It will prevent the bearing from rusting, and it will be impervious to water. I use it on my boat all the time and it sticks to everything.

 

[oelhunden]

Go to your local boat dealership and get a tube of marine grade grease. It will prevent the bearing from rusting, and it will be impervious to water. I use it on my boat all the time and it sticks to everything.

thnaks, I´ll use that next time.
but that wont solve the problem, that it is not watertight.
but maybee it is not easy to make it that.

 

[oelhunden]

I was thinking that you can just easily slip on an o-ring over the diameter of the tube over the crack of the washer from the outside. Your idea is much better but involves machining the part.

I am not sure what crack you mean ?

 

[segue00]

By "crack", I mean the space where the water can go through. Maybe even dab some clear silicone sealant around the opening. Like what they use for sealing/weatherproofing windows and bath tubs.

 

[jim schmidt]

Petroleum based lubricants destroy the integrity of latex and eventually dissolve it.

http://www.ripnroll.com/supra.htm ... or maybe sheepskin? nfloor

 

[oelhunden]

By "crack", I mean the space where the water can go through. Maybe even dab some clear silicone sealant around the opening. Like what they use for sealing/weatherproofing windows and bath tubs.

ahh ok.
I cant do that, since the crack is very small, hardly visible.
The "crack" is between the topseal and the steering head on the frame.

It is part 11 on page 4-60 in the workshop manual.
I cant use silicone, since the top seal must be able to move when the handlebar moves. it is this movement I beliece is the reason why water can get in, since it cant be totally sealed when it is able to move like that.

Many other bikes have something to cover this seal, but on this bike it is out in the open.
I am considering more and more the marine grade grease, I am having doubts it can be sealed completely.

 

[segue00]

I wonder if water is going through from the front of the steering head? I haven't looked at it closely, but it's not a full tube, is it? There are tamper-proof fasteners and there's a compression slit/gap all along the front of the steering head vertical . By the looks of it, the upper bearing is covered by the triple clamp from above and should be roofed well enough. Water needs to go up and seep underneath the upper triple clamp to get in. The steering head has a compression slit I think. Might be able to seal the entire slit gap with tub/tile caulking or something..

 

[Pilgrim69]

Crack filler

You could always use the silver hvac tape, that stuff sticks to anything, and it looks like chrome :lao

 

[jrevans]

Replace with tapered bearings

As seen in this thread:

http://forums.sportbikes.net/forums/showpost.php?p=2022815&postcount=10

AllBallsRacing has a tapered bearing set for our bike.

I'm thinking of installing a set myself, just because I'll have everything apart to do the R6 fork swap.