front end removal, what should I expect?

[rsoffar]

So tonight I get to take my bike into the shop and we are going to pull the frame off to get a nice pc. Just looking for advice before i get in there to tackle it, am I going to encounter any spots where I need special tools? (other than what would be found in a standard shop) and can I pull the front end off the frame without taking all of it apart? (I guess I picture being able to pull off the top triple and such and slide the whole front end down out of the steering tube all in one piece)

any tips (or links to a guide, searching has proved less that fruitful) anyone can think of would be greatly appreciated

[Nomad]

I  may be corrected here, but if you're going to remove the whole front end, you're going to need some new steering head bearings for when you put it back on.   It's very helpful to have a race remover http://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/p/43/-/171/989/-/13986/Park-Tool-USA-Steering-Race-Remover/STEERING+STEM+BEARING+REMOVAL+TOOL   to get that out.  If you don't have a press to get them back in, expect to spend a lot of quality time with your hammer.

[rsoffar]

that park tool piece you posted the link to, is that motorcycle specific? or is that a bike tool that does the job for us as well? hopefully the latter because i have a full set of all those tools for my bicycles

[suzyj]

I just finished painting my frame.  See http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=56614.0. It's pretty involved, but there's no need to remove the pressed in bearing races unless they're worn.

The sequence I used was:

• Support bike. I used chassis stands with long M10 bolts into unused threads in the horizontal cylinder, plus a large block of wood under the rear suspension pivot.
• Remove seat and tank.
• Remove battery box, airbox and throttle bodies.
• Remove front wheel.
• Slide top triple up off forks.
• Undo top steering nut and slide forks down through steering tube. The forks stay connected to the bottom triple.
• Remove wiring loom.
• Remove pivot on top of rear shock.
• Undo bolts holding rearset to frame.
• Undo main engine mount bolts, and lift frame off engine.

You'll invariably forget something, that you'll only realise when you go to lift the frame off the engine.

When I painted my frame, I simply taped up the bearing cups for the steering, and put old bolts in all the threads.

[Nomad]

that park tool piece you posted the link to, is that motorcycle specific? or is that a bike tool that does the job for us as well? hopefully the latter because i have a full set of all those tools for my bicycles

The ones for bicycles will work for motorcycles I believe.  But, if you don't have to touch it don't, big time PITA.  Listen to suzyj, she is a tiny god of motorcycle mechanical genius.

[rsoffar]

thanks guys! thats a great thread suzy, def going to bring this into the shop with me for reference.

[corey]

bearings aren't that hard. i did it with a chunk of a 2x4, a brass drift, and a BFH. if you're in there, and you have the tools... may as well replace the bearings.