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Commando taper roller bearings

Submitted by stephen_froggatt on Sat, 28/03/2015
Forums
Commando

Hello all,

In the process of fitting the taper roller bearings purchased from Andover Norton to my 1971 Roadster. I have successfully pressed in the outer races into the headstock, but when assembling the yokes in the headstock there is a gap of around 5mm between the headstock and the yokes caused by the inner bearing not sitting flush in the outer race.

I have checked and the races cannot be pressed in any further so this is not the issue. They appear to move freely as per normal without any play. My main concern is that this gap will cause water and dirt to contaminate the bearings over time.

Has anyone else fitted these bearings?

Is this gap normal or is there any sealing washers available to protect the bearings?

I had a look on the forum and found another post but this didn't seem to offer a conclusive answer.

Thanks in advance, Steve.

Submitted by john_holmes on Sun, 29/03/2015

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Sealing taper rollers is difficult but not impossible, Triumph added seals to the later OIF taper rollers, on a Commando the 2 sealed ball bearings 6205-2RS work well but if you don't want to change then at least use a water resistant grease for lubrication and clean out regularly.

Submitted by stephen_froggatt on Sun, 29/03/2015

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Previously john_holmes wrote:

Sealing taper rollers is difficult but not impossible, Triumph added seals to the later OIF taper rollers, on a Commando the 2 sealed ball bearings 6205-2RS work well but if you don't want to change then at least use a water resistant grease for lubrication and clean out regularly.

Thanks John, I have ordered 2 seals/covers will give them a try and some HD grease racing type

Steve

Submitted by roger_jordan on Sun, 29/03/2015

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Previously stephen_froggatt wrote:

Previously john_holmes wrote:

Sealing taper rollers is difficult but not impossible, Triumph added seals to the later OIF taper rollers, on a Commando the 2 sealed ball bearings 6205-2RS work well but if you don't want to change then at least use a water resistant grease for lubrication and clean out regularly.

Thanks John, I have ordered 2 seals/covers will give them a try and some HD grease racing type

Steve

Water resistant grease is available from Boat Chandlers. It's used to help seal the propeller shaft from shipping water to the inside of the boat. I would have thought this would suit.

Roger

Submitted by gordon_johnston on Mon, 30/03/2015

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I found it impossible to keep water out of the top taper roller race when I fitted them. They rusted and pitted and didn't last long and I eventually reverted to cup and cone. Best of luck with yours.

Submitted by joe_seifert on Thu, 02/04/2015

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A 1971 Commando should have the "new" forks and use sealed ball bearings 06-7604 with a spacer. The yokes are non-adjustable, i.e. these forks have no stem nut between the yokes to adjust the play in roller or ball bearings.

A much better system than the previous one. My son Tim turned a spacer tube to convert his pre-71 frame to the non-adjustable ball bearing system. The pre-71 steering head and distance between bearings is longer, hence the later spacer cannot be used.

This later system is used in modern motorcycles to date.

 


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