[ctluba]

Looks like the bearing sizes are

top
35 x 55 x 14

bottom
35 x 55 x 14

My opinion is to have the 636 stem turned down so that you can use a 30 x 55 x 17 bottom and a 25 x 47 x 15 top. or press your original stem in to the 636 triple.

chg, could you explain these sizes to me. Are you saying I need to call a bearing place and order this size bearings to fit this stem to my neck?? How did you come up with these sizes?? Have you done a similar conversion on a CB??

Thanx

 

[sporty_drew]

I'm loving the bike and that front end is just icing on the cake right there!

 

[cage]

Its possible to change the lower race and use the 636 bearing, but the top is going to require machining. Is the stem hollow? If it is then I would have the top turned to to 30mm and use a 30 x 47 x 15 conversion bearing.

 

[Fight Everything]

ctluba, there are bearing charts out there that show the upper and lower bearing sizes and what bikes use them. As for the dimensions, the first two are going to be the inner diameter and the outer diameter, and the last is the thickness.

To make the front end a bolt in piece, it looks like you'd need a 35x55x17 bottom and 35x47x15 top.

 

[whiteknucler6]

What the hell did I get into now!!!

Gee, that was easy!!! Just kiddin, only mocked up.

Ok whitknucler6, I know you put a front end on your bike and had to order bearings. Any tips for me??? The stem fits right in the neck and I almost thought it was going to be a friggin bolt together job. But the bearings on top of the neck are the wrong size to seat all the way down on the stem. The bearings on the bottom of the stem dont fit up into the neck. So it seems if I can buy some bearings that are big enough inside diameter to fit around the stem and small enough outside diameter to fit in the neck I can bolt this thing up!! Tips / advise.

Also, can anybody ID this front end. The seller on ebay said he thought it was off a "97 kawasaki 900". I looked at some photos of 97 zx900r and they dont have USD forks. Anybody ID them?? Cant find any numbers or markings anywhere. Thanx

Allballsbearings.com, once you id the front end positively go to there website and punch in your bike and it will pull up all the compatable bearings they make. If the bike that your front end is off of is on the list you are in luck. If not get ready to machine or swap stems. It will look bitchin BTW

 

[ctluba]

This bearing shit is very confusing. I went to the all balls racing web site and they have a conversion chart. I have determined that the front end that I have is from a ZX636. That bike is not on the list. All the ZX6Rs and the ZX9s have the same size bearing conversion.

top 25x47x15
bottom 35x55x14

They reccomend this size bearing for the front end conversion for just about all the kawasaki front ends ZX9 ZX6 several years. So I ordered a set in this size. We will see.

If anybody has any other info or web sites blast away, I'm listenin!!

Thanx for all the info.

 

[cage]

I did a little research for you and this is what I have come up with. The best solution for you is to swap the stem from the cb into the 636 triple its going to require some welding/machine work but you will be able to use stock bearings. This is the other option: is requires a 35 x 55 x 14 tapered roller bearing, you will need to press the stem out and have the upper bearing surface turned down to 30 mm, then you can use a 30 x 47 x 15 conversion bearing available here http://www.twfracing.com/images/zparts/steering_head_bearing_lg.jpeg

 

[ctluba]

Ya, I will call them in the am and cancel that order.

 

[RatFighter]

I should have spoke up sooner, but, I have found with all my swapping over the years that changing out the steering stem is 100% the most effective and easiest route possible. Grind off the weld on the bottom of the triple, take it in and get it pressed out if you can't do it yourself, have a collar machined for the smaller stem in the bigger triple and get it all welded back together. Easier said than done, but effective none the less.


Hope that helps ease the frustration of this all. Did it with Zed and going to do it again with my XR500.



-Rat

 

[ctluba]

Thanx Rat, that lloks like the route I will be going!!

 

[M357.5]

Mine has a custom machined stem, woulda been a bit cheaper to just swap stems but I'm happy with my setup. I'm running 05 ZX636 forks on the KZ.

 

[ctluba]

I should have spoke up sooner, but, I have found with all my swapping over the years that changing out the steering stem is 100% the most effective and easiest route possible. Grind off the weld on the bottom of the triple, take it in and get it pressed out if you can't do it yourself, have a collar machined for the smaller stem in the bigger triple and get it all welded back together. Easier said than done, but effective none the less.


Hope that helps ease the frustration of this all. Did it with Zed and going to do it again with my XR500.



-Rat

Ok Rat, I ripped the front ends apart and I am going to take the triples and stems to a fabricator I was referred to. Sounds pretty straight forward. As a complete novice looking at this situtation the only thing that pops into my mind is that the CB stem and triple appear to be steel parts. The 636 parts appear to be aluminum, I could be wrong. If this is the case can the steel stem be welded to an aluminum triple????

 

[M357.5]

Thats a big no, cant weld steel to aluminum...thats why ya need a colar machined to press the stem into then press that into the tripple.

The lower triple has a tapper, a press fit is all ya need, it cant pull all the way through.

 

[SEBSPEED]

Looks like the bearing sizes are
or press your original stem in to the 636 triple.

This. Fo sho.

 

[RatFighter]

Thats a big no, cant weld steel to aluminum...thats why ya need a colar machined to press the stem into then press that into the tripple.

The lower triple has a tapper, a press fit is all ya need, it cant pull all the way through.

This.



I've heard of press fit collars being used on everything from your factory sportbike to land speed holding streamliners. It's quiet the common practice to fit a more logical fork set to a desired chassis.

I managed to luck out with Zed and my XR being all steel parts. I tend to forget they make bikes out of lighter materials.

 

[ctluba]

Roger that. Already in the works to get this thing together.

Thanx for all the info guys!!!!:shocker:

 

[SEBSPEED]

ps - I never figured you for a bling type... but the forks look great against he flat black background...

 

[ctluba]

Technically its not bling...is it?? I could black them out, but like you said, with the black bike the front end is a nice contrast.

Anyway, color schemes are least of my concerns right now. Have the motor comin in this week, have to hold my breath and see how the gixxer carbs work out, have to get this stem / triple issue worked out, gonna have to figure how to hang my guages and what headlamp will work and then maybe get to take a friggin ride when it is all together!!!:nuts:

 

[M357.5]

You still over on DTT much CT ? I havent been on there in months.

Ya I'd say the forks are a nice contrast. Black out the headlight and hide the gauge, but leave the anodised legs...jmo

 

[ctluba]

I have not been going to DTT. It is a cool site but I mainly hang around on CB1100F.NET and around here.