Pressing on tapered steering head bearing...

[TAftonomos]

Gotta do this again, last time it was a fiasco/disaster.

The hot plate/frozen stem didn't do the trick, so I need to press it on now.

What do you guys do, make up a tool?  Is there one available to purchase or rent from someone?  I don't mind making one, but I don't have the material handy, so it's going to take a week to get it, find the time to make it, blah blah blah.

I'm assuming you can ONLY press on the inner shell of the bearing, and not put the outer shell on and press the entire thing.!?!

[ducpainter]

Yes, only on the inner race.

I've used the old bearing and a hammer and punch.

Ideally a piece of tubing/pipe the same od as the race od is what you want.

[1KDS]

+1 I've used an old bearing upside down, and move the force around the circumference after every hit or two

[brad black]

i have the ducati tool for the 916 style, but if i didn't have the tool i'd get a piece of pipe the right id, machine the end to reduce the od at the contact face to the same as the bearing inner so i didn't damage the cage (if you are using the tapered rollers that is, if using the ball things there's no race there) and then if i was really flash with time i'd make a plug for the hitting end to make sure i got a nice go at it.  then reach for the big hammer.

you could put it in the press if you really wanted to i guess.

[TAftonomos]

Off to lowes to see/hope they have the right size of pipe.

Got a whole bunch of goodies yesterday for the Ohlins SBK fork project, can't wait to get them mounted up.

[Speeddog]

I've got an old inner race that's split, and a piece of pipe.
I use a press, as I've got one....but you can hammer it on.

Make *sure* you support the bottom end of the stem when you do it, do not have it sitting on the triple, as you can bend it that way.

[Raux]

a large socket is what i used under the stem

[Rameses]

Yeah, I think I used a socket under my stem when I pressed mine on too.

[TAftonomos]

I found a rear wheel spacer, turned it to fit in the lathe, and then used a large piece of brass pipe to press it on. 

Front end = it's on now

[Raux]

I found a rear wheel spacer, turned it to fit in the lathe, and then used a large piece of brass pipe to press it on. 

Front end = it's on now

no it's not.  cause there are no pictures

[TAftonomos]

shut.....

I have crappy cell phone pics, will that work?

[Speeddog]

Some cellphone pics are pretty good.

[junior varsity]

Yes, only on the inner race.

I've used the old bearing and a hammer and punch.

a piece of tubing/pipe the same od as the race od is what you want.

This is what I do and it works really well. I have two pipes: one for the old skinny stem, and one for the newer style, fatter stem.