Need A Custom Bearing...

[kuhlka]

Ok, so I took the entire front end apart in preparation for taking the bits to the machinist to get measured and made and found out that the bearing and top part of the steering stem is a different diameter than the GSXR.

Stock 03 S3 bearing is ID-25mm, OD-52mm
05 GSXR 1k bearing is ID-30mm, OD-55mm

SO, I need to find a company which would offer a bearing with ID-30mm and OD-52mm. I've heard on T595.net that there is a tapered roller bearing that works, but haven't gleaned any details on there. Anyone know of a good company which might have such a thing? I'd rather not have to get the top of the frame machined 3mm larger if I don't have to and the stock bearing won't work with the larger GSXR stem.

Oddly enough, the lower bearing IS in fact identical to the roller tapered bearings I ordered so I'm good on that end. The stock Triumph bearings are tapered rollers, the stock GSXR bearings are 3-piece ball bearings, but the rollers fit on there with a good whack.

HELP! Hoping my machinist buddy will know where I could find a special bearing if no one on here can.

[crashmasterd]

Get out your yellow pages and look up "Bearing Supply". I'm sure there are several in your area. My local supply house is "Applied Industrial" and there is also "King Bearing" and a couple of others. If you can, take the two bearings in and show them to a salesman. Tell him what you want, but with the new dimensions. He should be able to look in his book and find the right bearing.

The good news is that bearing numbers are universal and international. He may have to order in the right one, but I'm also sure that it's available. Insist on high quality bearings, like SKS, Timken, or Fafnir. It shouldn't be expensive. $20 or less.


As a word of warning, don't tell him what it's for right off. If you tell him it's for a motorcycle conversion project etc, etc, he might clam up and tell you they don't have that. If he thinks it's for an industrial project you'll be better off. Don't lie, just tell him "I want this to fit this."

Good luck!

[kuhlka]

Well, I tried Motion Industries and they said they don't carry anything with a 30mm ID/ 52mm OD. I'm going to go back out the garage and double check the stem to make sure I didn't inhale some gas fumes or something.

[crashmasterd]

Pick up a cheap micrometer for your measurements, and like I said take the bearings in to the counter and show the man. You'll have better luck.

Another option is to find something with the right Inside Diameter and a slightly small Outside Diameter and have a machinist make you bushing to fit. Or versa/visa. Use Locktite bearing mount when installing the bushing permanently.

[kuhlka]

I just shot an email off to Steve of Racecomp, who I bought the lower spacer kit. Hopefully, he'll have a part number or description of what I need.

[littlefield]

You can access bearing dimensional data on the Internet, also. Good news is the lower bearing is the one that takes the axial load, the top one just needs to make sure there is no slop and carry some side to side load. You may be able to find a ball bearing setup that will work similar to what's on the Suzuki.

[kuhlka]

I checked back on the Motion Industries website and it seems there IS a ball bearing that'd work, but its like $69 and I could get it for less from Steve at Racecomp so I'm just going to wait for him to ship it with the lower spacer kit.