The weather today stopped me going to the allotment. This gave me space to deal with the welded on bottom steering head bearing. I got the work mate out along with the angle grinder and assorted hammer and chisels. I cut into the bearing with the grinder on a diagonal line so as not to hit the soft Aluminium yoke with the disc. The bearing was very hard material as you would expect. I tickled away at the cut for a couple of minutes checking all the time to make sure the yoke was not touched. When I judged I was half way through I put the yoke on the floor, selected a small and narrow cold chisel, positioned it carefully on the edge of the cut and after a few tentative swings gave it an almighty whack. Instantly I could tell something had given. I looked carefully and saw a hairline crack along the face of the bearing. Another gentle tap confirmed the bearing was broken and loose. It was an easy job the remove what was left of the bearing.
Next I had to clean up the yoke. It was stained with burned on grease an oil from when I tried the heat the bearing to release it. Fifteen minutes with the wire brush and wire wool brought the Aluminium up as bright as new. The next step is to get the new bottom bearing on the steering pin. I remembered to fit the dust seal first. I oiled the pin and inside face of the bearing and dropped the bearing over the pin. It just dropped down the bearing location for the top steering head bearing. It was not a push fit i had hoped for. I got the hammer out again and a flat drift. I gently tapped the bearing down the pin with and hammer and drift. I started tentatively but got progressively forceful. Just then the bearing was over the top bearing location and slipped down the pin to just above the bottom bearing location. More tapping with the hammer and drift brought the bearing home. Next off, a good dollop of grease onto the bearing and work it into the rollers. I got the top bearing and smothered that in grease too. Now I have two greased up bearings and fingers covered in grease. I push the bottom yoke the pin through the head stock Now then, there is nothing the hold the yoke into the steering head so one hand has to keep the upward pressure whist the other drops the drops the top bearing over the exposed top of the pin. Then cones the top dust cover then the securing nut. The top bearing does not want to push onto the seat so the nut has to be cranked down to push the bearing home. Not so bad if the nut was a conventional hexagonal nut. This "nut" is a disc that needs a "C" spanner. I have one but not of the correct radius. With some extra dexterity I get the bearing all the way home. As I said before too much force damages the bearing. I get away with it. The steering head is complete and it feels right. No slop and over free movement. Another job down.
