Lambretta steering bearings -"loose or caged ?

[al pushpak]

Hi, need renew my fork steering bearings on my series 1 & just wondered if anyone has fitted the ball bearings loose as recommended by some people & if so is it a real improvement & do you just fit the top ones loose or the bottom aswell ? thanks for any info

[Solid Air]

I use loose but only in the top and feel that they are a touch smoother (use loads of grease when fitting to hold the bearings in place) Also, you can't accidently crush the cage by over-tightening because you haven't got one

Hope that helps

Mark

[jacktheripper]

ive done a couple now on series 1 and i had in cage but main thing is do not over tighten and use plenty of locktite on top holding nut

[Jim Rose]

The new tapered bearing are the best you will get, and the do a chrome ring one now

[Fast n Furious]

As Jim states:- Taper roller conversion is best. (Fit and forget basically) albeit a tad expensive unless you make your own version of it.
Just beware if you are replacing the original bearing races with like for like....... Some of the pattern / after market ones out there don't have a deep enough groove in the race, which leads to no end of trouble when trying to set the pre-load.

[Feersum Injun]

I changed mine last year for loose bearings, top and bottom. I could be wrong but isn't the theory you get more bearing balls in the track this way? The cage is usually the first thing to go meaning there is too much slack between bearings causing the 'wobble'. Loose bearing will therefor last a lot longer. Probably cheaper as well!

[Fast n Furious]

There's something very wrong if you manage to disintegrate the cage of a steering bearing. Galloping corrosion perhaps? In which case the steering would be awful anyway. Cageless ball conversion, or better still, taper roller conversion is definitely recommended for scoots with good front brakes because of the extra load bearing capacity they offer.

[HxPaul]

Would I be right in saying that you cant buy off the shelf lower tapered roller bearings,I've looked everywhere and there these bearings are load bearing.If you want taper rolling lower bearings you have to make them.

[Phil D]

Would I be right in saying that you cant buy off the shelf lower tapered roller bearings,I've looked everywhere and there these bearings are load bearing.If you want taper rolling lower bearings you have to make them.

Small trailer wheel bearings???

[HxPaul]

Its not the bearings themselves,but the outer bearing races that are not available.

[Phil D]

Its not the bearings themselves,but the outer bearing races that are not available.

Taper roller bearings come in two pieces inner & outer.
Do you mean a housing to seat the bearing in at the bottom of the fork tube?
I seem to remember Taffspeed do a kit??

[HxPaul]

The only one that I can find is the top bearing.

[Fast n Furious]

That's right. Only the top taper roller bearing conversion is commercially available.
So the bottom conversion is something that has to be done in-house.
A wheel bearing from a typical trailer is what I used. (Sorry I haven't the bearing number to hand) 30mm ID.
You need to make up a bearing cup to take the loose tapered outer race, on a lathe, to replace the Lambretta ball bearing one.
Grind off the old inner race from the forks.
You no longer need the domed dust cover cos the taper roller bearing has its own oil seal.
You also need a removable solution to the steering stop tag on the forks if you want an easy way to remove the bearing in the future.
Saying that though......... The conversion should easily outlive you...... and you could just grind the tag off, replace the bearing and re-weld back on if you had to.

[Phil D]

Thanks F&F I remember you explained it on another thread.
I wasn't sure if the bottom housing was readily available.
Does 30206 ring a bell.. 30id x 62od x17.25w.

[Fast n Furious]

I think I used a 32006 which has a slightly smaller OD. and width.

[Phil D]

I think I used a 32006 which has a slightly smaller OD. and width.

32006 is used on the steering of hundreds of jap bikes 30×55×17 .

[Fast n Furious]

Yep.
I just looked through my records and it was indeed a 32006 SKF. Priced at £15 which isn't bad.

[TED CRUD]

Where do you get a replacement dust cover for the top bearing ?

[dickie]

Where do you get a replacement dust cover for the top bearing ?

Not sure what you mean, there's no dust cover on the top bearing. If you mean the top part of the upper race, I'm sure SR do them. I've also probably got one in the garage.

[TED CRUD]

The Dust cover on the tapered head bearings set up