Needing yet more advice on my rebuild project. The top yoke has been removed. Looking at the yokes and steerer tube. There are threads on the steerer tube itself which seem to have been flattened off at the one end, where the top yoke was in place. Is this normal, or from the photos would you reckon it needs replacing? I will need to remove the bottom yoke to enable both yokes to be blasted/refurbished (haven't decided what to do yet). Should the steerer just drift out from the bottom yoke? There doesn't seem to be any easy way of removing the lower bearing race.
Can anyone recommend an affordable puller tool for removing the bottom bearing? I found this but way too much ££ https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BGS-Tool...921621?hash=item3634e909d5:g:f64AAOSwEfZbLRhv I did try the Haynes manual method of using two flatblade screwdrivers either side, but that's not happening.
Carefully cut it on both sides with a Dremel or similar and then 'crack' it off. As for the tube, I'd leave it in place but if you must remove it then heat is your friend - the ally will expand faster than the steel.
x2 for Dremel. With old bearings, if you cut a slice out Of the old one, then use it as a drift to press the new one in place and it’ll easily slide off after
Thanks for the replies chaps, I'll give that a go. I'd prefer to leave the tube in place, but both yokes could do with refinishing. I don't know if the bottom yoke could be carefully blasted/recoated with the tube in place.
Mask the tube with tape, it'll be fine for blasting/coating. I certainly wouldn't remove it unless absolutely necessary as it'll be tricky and may cause problems.
That's the one I thought you meant but still the Dremel, being careful not to go through into the tube - don't need to get all the way through the race as you should be able to split it with a chisel once most of the way through.
Find a 1/2" or 3/4" wide sharp wood chisel or a small wood plane iron, clamp the tube securely in a vice, heat the bearing race a bit. Insert the point of the chisel with the flat side against the yoke and give it a clout, then do the same at 180 degrees and do it again. Had to do it lots of times, so many that I have got a bit of a machine shop Eclipse hacksaw blade which is about 2.5mm thick, ground to a chisel point (wear goggles with that method). However, I don't like the look of the stem thread. It looks as though something has worn the threads down, and if the yoke was correctly clamped, I can't see how it happened - and the top nut wouldn't be too secure for my liking.
Yes that thread was concerning me. Best to get a new stem then? I guess that's a Ducati main dealer order.
Thought I'd add some more photos. The top yoke appears to fit fairly snugly onto the steerer tube, and comes to a stop where good threads are visible. There are no signs of thread inside the top yoke - should there be? i.e. is the top yoke supposed to twist onto the threaded steerer tube, as a nut would onto a bolt? I've had to sand the top surface a bit to get rid of some blobs of crusty adhesive. I'll either need to get a top yoke cover (carbon etc) or get the whole lot refinished. I would imagine that etch primer and paint wouldn't last too long.
Thanks again for all the help. I tried using heat but it was just not working. So cutting was the only other option. However, despite being as careful as possible, I've somehow managed to over-cut into the steerer tube. Really pissed off with myself.
