Barnburner
Coast to Coast
I am working on an old Aermacchi/HD two stroke that uses the following ball bearing cup/race slip fit into the top and bottom of the frame's steering neck.
I would like to swap out the front end on the bike for a super clean CB160 front end that I got for very cheap. This gives me a very similar look to stock but with Honda-level availability for replacements plus an 18" wheel with a nice 180mm brake (stock was 17" wheel with 120 mm brake). Amazingly, the steering stem is the same diameter and very close to the same length (a spacer may be needed but I'm not worried about that now).
My issue is that the CB160 uses a larger diameter race that fits in a cup that welded to the neck. So, I can't just go buy a CB160 cup. I also don't think I can turn down a race to fit. Finally, I've come to find out that you can't exactly make a custom bearing race easily because of the need to grind it.
My proposed solution is to have new cups turned with one end the correct diameter to slip fit into the Aermacchi neck, and the other end wide enough to press fit the tapered race pictured below from an All Balls tapered steering bearing kit for the CB160.
To summarize - the tapered bearing would ride in the tapered race that would be press fit into the custom turned cup that is slip fit into the neck.
I'd appreciate a machinist's opinion on whether this should work. If you'd be able to make it for me for a fair price I'd be happy to hire you. My apologies in advance for your time if I'm missing something obvious here and it won't work. Here's a hot chick next to one of Roland Sand's trackers to make up for it.
Sent from my iPhone using DO THE TON
I would like to swap out the front end on the bike for a super clean CB160 front end that I got for very cheap. This gives me a very similar look to stock but with Honda-level availability for replacements plus an 18" wheel with a nice 180mm brake (stock was 17" wheel with 120 mm brake). Amazingly, the steering stem is the same diameter and very close to the same length (a spacer may be needed but I'm not worried about that now).
My issue is that the CB160 uses a larger diameter race that fits in a cup that welded to the neck. So, I can't just go buy a CB160 cup. I also don't think I can turn down a race to fit. Finally, I've come to find out that you can't exactly make a custom bearing race easily because of the need to grind it.
My proposed solution is to have new cups turned with one end the correct diameter to slip fit into the Aermacchi neck, and the other end wide enough to press fit the tapered race pictured below from an All Balls tapered steering bearing kit for the CB160.
To summarize - the tapered bearing would ride in the tapered race that would be press fit into the custom turned cup that is slip fit into the neck.
I'd appreciate a machinist's opinion on whether this should work. If you'd be able to make it for me for a fair price I'd be happy to hire you. My apologies in advance for your time if I'm missing something obvious here and it won't work. Here's a hot chick next to one of Roland Sand's trackers to make up for it.
Sent from my iPhone using DO THE TON
