'76 steering head bearings questions

[Track T 2411]

My '76 (19k miles) has some pretty significant vibration in the handle bars when decelerating from highway speeds, as well as a pronounced 'clunk' when passing over sharp bumps at slower speeds. I'm assuming it's the steering head bearings, and rather than just servicing them, I figured I'd replace them. I've read through a few threads concerning the changes between '76 and '77, but I'm not really understanding the added washer/ seal/ height issue. I believe I've also read somewhere in the past that the change happened some time during the '76 model run, but can't find any clarification of this. I just don't want to dig into this project and find I have the wrong bearing set or get it half assembled and have to back track. Any pointers? (I have replaced steering bearings on my 1100's before.)

[Whiskerfish]

It has been a good while since I did one but as I recall I had to leave out a washer. There was not enough height to the stem to get the big nut on properly. I never heard anything other than "mid year production change" to define which ones were effected. Hopefully someone else can provide some better insight.

[Track T 2411]

Aha! Found it... here's a post by roncar from this thread viewtopic.php?f=1&t=31344

From what I can find there was LOTS of changes made in the 76 production year. For the steering bearings, frame numbers thru 2040165 and all LTD's had the ball bearings. Frames 2040166 thru EOP had the roller pin bearings identical to the 77-79 models and were all destined for markets outside the US.
DK General Export (KPH)
DM General Export (MPH)
E England
ED European Direct Sales
F France
G Germany
U Australia

Indications are that there were some 1100 76's with the same steering bearings as the 77-79 models and the neck dimensions of the 75-76 are the same as the CX500's of around that time.

pin bearing part numbers
75-76(originally with ball bearings): All Balls 22-1011, Pyramid BR 29-5063, S.C.I. 31-5830, Z1 Enterprises KL 31-5380

77-79: All Balls 22-1020, Pyramid BR 30-5064

It sucks that one has to post to get the 'similar topics' window. And it's crazy how I can remember this kind of stuff but not remember if I took my vitamins this morning,

So reading through this, it looks like all the '76 models with taper bearings were not sold in the US...

[Chainman]

Aha!

...

...

Track,
I'm sorry for this off topic question, but how did you quote from a separate thread into this thread?

[Whiskerfish]

hit the quote button the coppy that screen and paste in to this thread

[Chainman]

Thanks

[rockyhayes]

I'm working on the 75, attempting to replace steering stem bearings with the All Balls 22-1011 kit. As provided from All Balls, it does not work.

If I use the thinner of the two washers at the bottom (2.90mm thick), I can only get one rotation of threads on the retainer up top. If I install the lower tapered bearing with no washer, the bottom of the stem makes contact with the frame - no joy there. My original ball bearing assembly measures 17.5mm tall. The All Balls bearing with the thin washer is 19mm tall. The All Balls Bearing by itself is 16.10mm tall.
Up top, I am using the All Balls washer that fits inside the underside of the retainer - it is basically flush with the stamped ring on the retainer, which allows it to sit flush against the All Balls upper bearing seal. The seal itself is negligibly thick.

So, I'm ready to just go back to a ball bearing set up. But the originals are complete toast - and, it looks like I face a real challenge finding the ball bearing components. Has anybody had any recent luck in sourcing a whole OEM ball bearing kit ? If so, where did you buy them?

[Track T 2411]

Rocky, I just looked on partzilla.com (they don't list a '75 goldwing for whatever reason) and all the components show as being available. They do not list a kit. You might try to cross- reference the part numbers and see what comes up elsewhere...

[rockyhayes]

Indeed, it does look like all four races, the ball bearings, and the lower washer are available from Partszilla or Bike Bandit. The lower grease seal is NOT available at any of the online sites, at least not that I can find. Because I seriously damaged the washer and lower seal when removing the lower race, I had already pitched them. Trash man has come a few times since, so there's no hope to retrieving the old seal to see if it is somehow salvageable.

Any chance anybody has one of these seals out where you could take a few photos of it and post them here? I may be able to fabricate a solution, but don't know what the darn thing looks like...

[rockyhayes]

Correction - Partszilla does have ALL the components listed to replace the Ball Bearing Steering Stem assembly for 1976. (I used the Original Honda Parts Manual to ensure I picked the exact part numbers for my 1975.) I have ordered everything, and now am just crossing my fingers that they don't send me a sad face email, informing me that a part (or parts) has gone obsolete.

Oh, and it ain't cheap: $115.97 plus tax for the seven components. (37 bearings required @ $1.19 each)

Anyways, now holding breath...

[pidjones]

And yet, the All Balls roller bearing set for the '78 includes both bearings and the grease seals.

[Track T 2411]

And yet, the All Balls roller bearing set for the '78 includes both bearings and the grease seals.

As does the AllBalls '75-76 set. I've seen a couple of posts concerning problems with the AllBalls kit mentioned above. IIRC, they seemed to be isolated to the '75. I suppose I'll find out when I decide to tackle this project on my '76. I may just hold off til spring, as the bike could use a new front tire and some cosmetic loving as well.

[Gowing]

I bought a set of all balls steering bearings. They showed a fit for my75. They fit.
Paid a shop to do it. To much for mei thought at the time.

[rockyhayes]

As is typical of my timing, I found a much better price for the OEM ball bearing assembly - AFTER - I already bought and installed the components from Partszilla.

Maybe this roughly $75 option for a whole kit will come in handy for others:
https://www.davidsilverspares.com/GL100 ... rt_155749/

[rcmatt007]

the 75's are different than the later years