Steering stem bearing wont fit!

[Antifaith]

I'm pretty much done rebuilding my 400EX, been waiting on my steering stem bearing and i finally got it today.

I tried to install it and it won't fit no matter what i try. I can't heat the frame to enlarge the hole because it's freshly powdercoated. Do i need a specific tool for this? I tried to make some custom puller with some stuff i had laying around, but it bent and the bearing did not move at all.

Any tips for this?

[BigFish]

prolly need to grind out the p/c, thats the usual culprit.

[rooster300ex]

If there is powercoating inside where you put the bearing your gonna have to somehow get it out and clean it up real nice till it fits. There is also a circlip that has to go in there. If there is powercoating in there your gonna have to get the circular notch cleaned out so the circlip will snap into place.

http://www.planethondaracing.com/cgi-bin/hondaparts/results_parts_details?mv_session_id=NJKCxCwM&mv_pc=209&se=pg_d_id%3d669%20and%20pg_my_id%3d130

[Antifaith]

I have all those parts already, including the snap ring.

There is no powder coating inside. There was a little bit on the edges, but i sanded that down and it's completely gone.

I guess I'm going to grind the inside until it fits or something... Is it supposed to be a very tight fit though?

[NacsMXer]

Bearings are a tight fit by nature. Try putting the bearing in the freezer for about an hour and then try to install again.

[Antifaith]

Great idea, will try it tomorrow, thanks.

[Pipeless416]

Originally posted by NacsMXer
Bearings are a tight fit by nature. Try putting the bearing in the freezer for about an hour and then try to install again.

thats what i did and it helped, but i also had to find a socket that was the same diameter as the outside of the bearing and i pounded on that to get it in.

[rooster300ex]

Mine tapped in perfect. When I replaced mine. It was a 300ex though. Very similair though. Hope ya get er in.

[Antifaith]

Got it in. What i did was put it in the freezer for the entire day and then used a custom puller i made today at school during my lunch hour.

Put the bearing on top of the hole, set up my puller, put my ratchet on it and 2 minutes later the bearing was seated right where it should be.

Here's 2 pictures of the puller, in case anyone ever has trouble with that bearing and needs an idea on how to get it in there:

Picture1:
http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/211/img0435zr6.jpg

Picture2:
http://img394.imageshack.us/img394/5941/img0436wm0.jpg