steering stem fix

[sticko2]

******IGNORE THIS INFO AND GO TO POST #6 (edited January 2012)*******

i have an idea to fix this steering stem issue

needle bearing and gease zerk

have not tried this yet, it's my plan to test over the winter

thoughts anybody?

[kiwi-craig]

stock stem, to soft, even on a steel stem it will probably mark up.

Add a grease nipple to the stock setup..........

[walty]

belive me it work!!
you can also shim the stock steem with.......aluminum dock tape....i know it sound stupid but it will last abouth 6 months
i did new bushing, aluminum dock tape, grease zert work perfect on my 2008 XC

[5.0fox]

I may have a fix in the works for this issue. The company I work for just got set up to gas nitride treat metal and it will raise the surface hardness of the metal. Ill try mine out and do a rockwell test on it to see how effective it is.

[legros]

mine was a little bend at the top my brother turn it on a lathe and make a stainless steel tube that we press on the steering steem and ad a grease nipple

[Jam]

mine was a little bend at the top my brother turn it on a lathe and make a stainless steel tube that we press on the steering steem and ad a grease nipple

I used two sheap "Made in China" sealed 6807RS bearings for both sides of the upper steering stem support.

They cost about 1,5$ each and fit perfectly without any modifications with only little help from a small hydraulic press.

I have fitted them on 6-7 bikes in the last 18 months and they all still work.

[Liquid607]

Where did u buy the bearings from? Looks like a good idea i think i might try that?

I used two sheap "Made in China" sealed 6807RS bearings for both sides of the upper steering stem support.

They cost about 1,5$ each and fit perfectly without any modifications with only little help from a small hydraulic press.

I have fitted them on 6-7 bikes in the last 18 months and they all still work.

[JDU450XC]

Where did u buy the bearings from? Looks like a good idea i think i might try that?

I know you can get them at some Fastenal industrial supply stores, from grainger online and McMaster-carr online as well. Any of them ship fast and should be fairly inexpensive.

[ctroger24]

I used two sheap "Made in China" sealed 6807RS bearings for both sides of the upper steering stem support.

They cost about 1,5$ each and fit perfectly without any modifications with only little help from a small hydraulic press.

I have fitted them on 6-7 bikes in the last 18 months and they all still work.

There is an industrial bearing supply warehouse near me who only stocks quality japanese bearings. I can get pricing for anyone interested. They usually give me good prices.

[JDU450XC]

There is an industrial bearing supply warehouse near me who only stocks quality japanese bearings. I can get pricing for anyone interested. They usually give me good prices.

Japanese bearings are the way to go for sure. Either that or Made in the good ol USA, either way, they are FAR superior to chinese bearings.

[dirthawg]

Do you have a part or bearing number?

[sticko2]

It's in his post - 6807rs

[dirthawg]

OK, im not always the greatest at these things but I decided to give this a try. I ordered the bearing and removed the aluminum stem mount. I then carefully pressed out the plastic bushing. Now I really can't figure this out because the recess that the bearing would fit into is too shallow for the bearing to sit flush. Also, the other end is too small for that bearing to fit in. When you aded this fix Jam, you mentioned that there was no modification needed. Am I missing something?

This image shows the taper in the mount (I put the bearing beside for comparison)


This Image shows the bearing sitting in the taper, you can see it sits too high. It won't fit.

[sticko2]

Is your bike an 08 xc by any chance? I went to do this yesterday with a 2nd hand xc stem and mount that I picked up. As with your situation the recess is too small. On my 09 sx however the mount is different, bigger recess top and bottom.

Check out some part numbers and see if there is a difference.

[dirthawg]

Yes, mine is an 08 XC. Now What?

[AZ450XC]

Yes, mine is an 08 XC. Now What?

The 08 and 09 mounts are different. You can put the 09 mount on a 08, I swapped mine when I went to the Walsh stem. I think they are about 25 bucks.

[dirthawg]

The 08 and 09 mounts are different. You can put the 09 mount on a 08, I swapped mine when I went to the Walsh stem. I think they are about 25 bucks.

Just my luck. The new mount is $35 - I'm just going to order a couple of new bushings. $9

Now, here's a dumb question. Is the steering stem suppose to have a slight bend in it at the top?

[sticko2]

Just my luck. The new mount is - I'm just going to order a couple of new bushings.

Now, here's a dumb question. Is the steering stem suppose to have a slight bend in it at the top?

1- no stem is meant to be straight.

2- get the mount and put the bearings in. I bet you put in new bushing and stem will still be loose. Bush does not wear, but the stem does. Do the bearing before its too late and you need a new stem

[AZ450XC]

Just my luck. The new mount is - I'm just going to order a couple of new bushings.

Now, here's a dumb question. Is the steering stem suppose to have a slight bend in it at the top?

Check here, they usually have good prices

http://www.cyclesportscenter.com

[dirthawg]

Check here, they usually have good prices

http://www.cyclesportscenter.com

Yes, Much better prices. Thanks!,
Im going to order a new stem too because of the bend. I cartwheeled the bike last spring but didn't realize the steering column bent. It actually has a hairline crack in the groove where the grommet sits. Glad I noticed this before something worse happened.