Steering Head Bearings

[Gorilla]

Here's something to keep an eye on. The wife's 08 stallion (406) 60,000 miles started steering very hard. Looked at the front tire/wheel all looked good. I had rebuilt the front wheel bearings and pads 6 months ago. Looked at the linkage between the steering wheel and the steering box looked good. Disconnected the arm from the steering box to the triple trees and found that the trees moved very hard. Took the trees/steering head apart and found that the lower steering head bearing was completely destroyed (Rusted) the upper bearing was dry and rusted. There was very little grease at all in the whole assembly. Lower race in the steering head was rusted. Taking the steering head/triple trees apart replacing all the bearings and races is just like any other motorcycle just on a large bases.

Be careful with the threads for the nuts that pulls the bearings into the races. The top thread can be flattened real easy. I packed the new bearings like one would for a trailer axle. I also packed the steering head to keep water out. Steers fine now.

[trikervet]

That one must not have gotten any grease at the factory. Thanks for the info, that's a new one. I will have to check mine out.

[tomg]

Here's something to keep an eye on. The wife's 08 stallion (406) 60,000 miles started steering very hard. Looked at the front tire/wheel all looked good. I had rebuilt the front wheel bearings and pads 6 months ago. Looked at the linkage between the steering wheel and the steering box looked good. Disconnected the arm from the steering box to the triple trees and found that the trees moved very hard. Took the trees/steering head apart and found that the lower steering head bearing was completely destroyed (Rusted) the upper bearing was dry and rusted. There was very little grease at all in the whole assembly. Lower race in the steering head was rusted. Taking the steering head/triple trees apart replacing all the bearings and races is just like any other motorcycle just on a large bases.

Be careful with the threads for the nuts that pulls the bearings into the races. The top thread can be flattened real easy. I packed the new bearings like one would for a trailer axle. I also packed the steering head to keep water out. Steers fine now.

Ted, you are quickly becoming the the end to end Stallion repair Guy!! When are you going to open up a shop so we came come visit and let you do those general maintenance repairs for our Stallions !! haha-- nice work & good info!!

Tomg

[rocket1lf]

Better yet, when are you going to make up a service manual?

[Ed Hobgood]

Thanks Ted for the info, you are the "go to guy " on the Stallion.

[Gorilla]

One thing I left out by mistake is the top steering post bearing was to snug to fit over the steering post and completely sit. I took my Dermal Tool with a grinder wheel and took some metal off. Took a little work but once on it works great. Steers better then when it was new as far as we can remember. Also if your front pulls one way or the other this might also be the fix. We had a slight pull which is now gone.

[growl4708]

I am building a front engine mounted v8 trike, I would appreciated any information or photos of steering interface my email is growl4708@aol.com. Thanks Papa Don El Paso Texas