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Suzuki T500K tapered head stock bearings

Posted: Sat Jun 15, 2019 2:54 pm
by malky
Has anyone managed to actually fit a set of these without using a machine shop to modify the stem ? I've had two sets now and neither fit - one of the inners is too big and one too small - they should be both the same size -doing my head in now !!!

Re: Suzuki T500K tapered head stock bearings

Posted: Sun Jun 16, 2019 1:02 am
by Alan H
Here y'go Malky, that info you asked about yesterday.

http://www.kettleclinic.co.uk/kcforum/v ... 262#p24262" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Re: Suzuki T500K tapered head stock bearings

Posted: Sun Jun 16, 2019 5:07 am
by jabcb
The steering stem on the T500 & GT500 are different.
Haven’t confirmed it, but its my understanding that the All-Balls kit for the T500 is incorrect & the kit for the Kawasaki H1 works.

Recently did the upgrade on the GT550 cafe build. Used the kit lower bearing but used a different upper bearing that is thinner.

I needed to do the steering stem mod per the All-Balls instructions. You don’t need to have a machine shop do the work. The existing machined surface is sufficient to position the upper bearing. The bearing just needs to slide down a little further. A grinder can be used if one is careful to leave the machined bearing surface intact. I had a local bike shop do the grinding.

Re: Suzuki T500K tapered head stock bearings

Posted: Tue Jun 18, 2019 3:18 am
by malky
Thanks guys - put the original ball races back in the end - what annoys me more than anything though is the manufacturers stating that these fit the T500K when they are clearly not going to

Re: Suzuki T500K tapered head stock bearings

Posted: Tue Jun 18, 2019 3:45 am
by Alan H
I think it's all balls..... :roll: :lol:

Re: Suzuki T500K tapered head stock bearings

Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2019 3:48 am
by malky
Alan H wrote:I think it's all balls..... :roll: :lol:
I can think of a another word for it lol :mrgreen:

Re: Suzuki T500K tapered head stock bearings

Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2019 8:17 am
by Zunspec4
malky wrote:Thanks guys - put the original ball races back in the end - what annoys me more than anything though is the manufacturers stating that these fit the T500K when they are clearly not going to
I bought a set from Crooks when I was restoring my T500M. Fitted straight in with no mods required.

Cheers Geoff

Re: Suzuki T500K tapered head stock bearings

Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2019 5:07 pm
by joolstacho
All the head bearings I've done, the inner race of the lower bearing is a little larger in diameter.
This is to allow the bearing to slide down to the bottom of the stem, where there is a slightly larger diameter shoulder to suit the larger inner race diameter.

Re: Suzuki T500K tapered head stock bearings

Posted: Sun Jun 23, 2019 5:41 pm
by malky
The two sets I had were nowhere near - the bottom inner fell down the stem and was like a cock in a sock and the top inner would not even go over the threaded part - total waste of time it's bloody annoying that the manufacturers list them as fitting a model when they obviously don't !
Mal