Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech All Balls steering head replacment bearings

Just got the 22-1503 steering head bearing up grade kit. There were no instructions. Alex at "All Balls" said ther were three bearings. One for the bottom and two for the top. He said the VIN # determined which top bearing set to use. Has anyone installed these and did you get instructions? Any installation tips? I'm sure I can figure it out but why reinvent the wheel, Right! Thanks in advance.

Jim,
So, how did you find out about the 22-1503 steering head bearing up grade kit?

For what this is worth:

Peter Verdon’s web page, discussed these bearings AND replacement tapered bearings.
Firstly our headset bearings are

Top: Koyo SAC2647-1

Bottom: Koyo SAC3055-1

The 1995 Honda CBR600RR has the exact same bearings.

The website referenced above list replacement tapered bearing and seals for our bikes (really for the Honda CBR600RR).

Jim, can you confirm this for me please:

Tapered Headset Bearings & Seals
Cross Referenced bearings are All Balls bearings

Top 99-3520
Bottom 99-3519

Cross referenced seals are Clark Seals

Top CSL CY32005X
Bottom CSL CY-32006 JR

I relied on Peter’s measurement for the bottom bearing set as I do not have the bottom set’s cone. (pressed race).

Dimensions
Top Tapered Bearing Set ID=26 mm OD=47 mm Width=15 mm (verified with caliper)
Bottom Tapered Bearing Set ID=30 mm OD=55 mm Width=17 mm

Moe, I believe I read of the upgrade to tapered roller bearings on this website a few weeks ago. I contacted a local MC shop and they called All Balls and got put on hold. Several days later I called all balls directly, asked for parts and a guy nammed Alex sold me the bearing kit. I got it a couple of days later but have not had a chance to measure or install.

If you go to the All Balls web site and go to a parts search for the America or Speedmaster it will give you the bearing set part number.

Did you ever get your forks sorted out? Being as you have an 02 america, our bearings should be the same. The specs above are correct for an 02 pre fire America. Can you post the numbers on your tapered bearings and seals? Thanks!

This is really answering your question too. Of the two sets of upper bearings the set you need to use would be the one that matches the specs I've given.

All Balls site doesn't help much with specific bearing numbers or dimensions.

Nope,not yet. I will try to work on them after work today. Had one of those semi-mandantory company functions this past weekend. I'll post as soon as I get them figured out.

Oops, That number for the All Balls seal and bearing kit was 22-1053. Tried the bearings last night and was disappointed. The seals will work fine, The bottom race might be a couple of thousants tight, but should go in cold. The ID of the bottom bearing is about 0.003 in smaller than th OEM. It might drive on ok after I polish the stem surface real well. Now the top bearing. The race seems like it will go in fine but the id of the bearing is over 0.040 in smaller than the od on the stem mating surface. There was a third bearing in the set. It looks like a sealed ball bearing with a snap ring in a groove in the race. It did not fit anything. I have pictures I'll post later today. I was going to try to verify some of those numbers for you but I got so bummed out I just left it for the night.

The plot thickens. When I go to the All Balls website and look up the America or Speedmaster on their parts fitment guide it brings up the 22-1053 steering bearing seal kit. When I pull up the straight Bonnevilles it get's the same number kit. I know the Bonneville bearings are a lot different than the America or the Speedmaster. I'm going to check all the measurements from the pvd CBR600RR reconstruction and just make sure everything measures up correctly with the All Balls 22-1020 kit he used. That kits fitment is three pages long and their all Honda's. I've always said that a lot of our parts will interchange with other standard part if we can just figure them out. I'll keep you all posted as soon as I get some measuring done.

I would bet Literski's thruxton that these are the bearing numbers that you could ask Alex at All Bearings about after all I stayed at fills house last night and had some of Pat's home brew while visiting him at the Holiday Inn Express... Way too much caffeine. :

Tapered Headset Bearings & Seals
The following crossed referenced bearings are made by All Balls:

Top 99-3520
Bottom 99-3519

The following crossed referenced seals are made by Clark Seals:

Top CSL CY32005X
Bottom CSL CY-32006 JR

June 2007 was the date of my research and now it seems all balls has changed their site/parts.

HERE ARE YOUR SPEC LOOK UP RESULTS FOR: Tapered Bearing (Steering) ID=26 mm OD=47 mm Width=15 mm


Part Name Part Number Inside Dia. Outside Dia. Width Spec Comment
Tapered Bearing (Steering) 99-3518 25 mm 47 mm 15 mm
Tapered Bearing (Steering) 99-3505 25 mm 48 mm 15 mm
Tapered Bearing (Steering) 99-3520 26 mm 47 mm 15 mm
Tapered Bearing (Steering) 99-3511 26 mm 48.5 mm 15 mm
Tapered Bearing (Steering) 99-3522 29 mm 50.25 mm 15 mm
Tapered Bearing (Steering) 99-3506 30 mm 48 mm 15 mm
Tapered Bearing (Steering) 99-3510 30 mm 51 mm 15 mm

The kit I got had All Balls 99-3518, 99-3519, and a 6205-2RSNR (?). The seals were 11-1003 and 33-1001. The seals seemed right. Thee 99-3519 is the bottom and I think it will wirk fine. I'll get with All Balls and get a 9935-20.
Moe, Thanks for your help. I'll let you know how this turns out and post some pictures when I get a few minutes.

I called and talked to Alex at All Balls and he is sending the bearing (99-3520) early tomorrow. I hope to have it this weekend. His measurments showed that the 99-3520 had an inner diameter of 26mm. The 99-3518 25mm. My chart shows that 1mm equals 0.0394in. My measurements showed 0.040 needed, So that ought to work. Alex is looking for feedback so I'll let him know how they work and post it here also. It looks like the bearings will make for a smooth and strong head on these bikes.

I finally got the right bearings from All Balls and got them installed last evening. The bottom is the All Balls number 99-3519 and the top is 99-3520. They fit well if everthing is cleaned up and lubed well. They are smooth and feel very strong. Just be sure to pack the bearings as they are shipped pretty much dry. I'll assemble the forks very soon. I've got the progessive springs from Fast Eddie, the seals from RPM in Dallas and After Shocks in California straightend the fork tubes and checked the triple clamps and the front axle to make sure they were all true. It will be nice to get the America back on the road. I've removed the air box, drilled the slides and went to 145 jets. Using Uni pod filters and I've braced the carbs. I'm building a new battery box and a newer lighter chopped rear fender. It should run more strong and be lighter. When I get some more money I getting the Avon tires and better rear shocks. It's about as much fun as I've had lately in the garage anyway. It's a good thing that I've had the Speedmaster to ride while working on the America. Having two good bikes, five grandsons 3 months - 6yr., "Life is Good".