Prepping Scarlett for new Steering Head Bearings

 Got home yesterday, Monday, and after unpacking the VRRV, set about disassembly the bits that needed to be removed or displaced to access the steering head on Scarlett, my sidecar rig.

Overall, not too difficult though I did run into some issues that I was able to work though with RichardM's help along with other people I consulted via text and email.

First was the removal of the front wheel and front fender so that the forks could be lowered.  Also the detaching of the brake caliper and securing it off to the side.

Please refer to the below pic for parts as I list them, if interested.

image source: Ural.com

Part #16, Tightening Nut for top of the forks.  Right one came off easy, left one...not so much.  Ended up having to use a 36 mm socket and 1/2" drive breaker bar to break it loose.  Cause: whomever installed it back in 2014 during the assembly of the bike really buggered it up, causing cross-threading/damage.

Along with Patrick's (oldest spawn) help, I then lightly tapped on the top of the fork tubes and the assembly slid out and we put it out of the way. (Even without the wheel, it's heavy)

I moved the handlebar back onto the gas tank; which I protected with a fender cover cloth.

Let's see, that allowed me to remove the top of the triple tree, part 1.  Before I did so though, I removed the right and left hand covers, parts 2 and 4, and moved all the wiring in the headlight bucket area over to the side and out of the way.

View from front, all wiring off to the side as you can see, exposing

the steering head (black tube in center of pic)

My second "chance to excel" came with the tightening nut pictured below which secures the steering stem to the top of the steering head.  It was jammed solid.  I even went and bought a 42 mm/1-5/8" socket and a breaker bar with 3/4" drive to try and loosen it, all to no avail.

After a somewhat restless night, I woke this morning and while sipping my morning coffee decided on a different approach.  I would get my Dremel tool with a cutting wheel (something suggested by RichardM yesterday) and cut a slot into the nut above in order to pry it off.

Once the cutting was finished, I was then able to rotate the nut using the aforementioned 42 socket!  Off it came finally.  I'll be replacing the cap and the tightening nut of course.

Here's what the top bearing assembly looked like before I lifted the roller bearings out.

Here's what the top roller bearings looked like.  Not good.

Next was the removal of the pressed-in outer race.  This proved to be challenge #3!  Again, I ended up using the cutting tool to break it and then was able to pry it off with a large screwdriver.  The photo below isn't good enough to show it but there was much "brinneling" on the surface.  That's when the roller bearings repeated impact the outer race's inner surface, causing dents eventually.

I did cause some minor damage to the steering head itself but I think it'll be fine to use.

Next, I again used the cutting tool to cut apart the lower bearing located on the bottom of the triple tree.  Same tool was used to remove the inner race of the lower bearing which had been pressed on by the factory.

Last step was the use of the cutting tool to cut out the outer race for the lower bearing pressed into the bottom end of the steering head tube.  I'd gotten pretty good by this time with the cutting tool and didn't do any damage to the steering head.

So, I emailed the local Ural dealer in Denver and asked him to get me replacement parts 16, 33 and 34.  I already have the new bearings which I got from Amazon: SKF 32006 X/Q.

I got everything cleaned up a bit, put away my tools and now will await the delivery of the parts before installing the new bearings.

A slow weekend, putting around for a few more Fall Colors shots

 Over the course of yesterday and today, rode Yagi, the Yamaha TW200 Dual Sport only.  I really need to get the steering head bearings replaced on Scarlet, the Ural Patrol Sidecar rig, soon!

I stayed within a 5 mile circle of the campsite, exploring all the trails, even finding a new one....or at least, one I didn't remember riding!

End result was some satisfying slow trail riding, watching the weekend campers depart ever so slowly and spotting a few more spots of Fall Colors which have developed.

Though seven camper rigs departed, three more showed up and set up further up the hill from my campsite.  Just as well Sunday is my last night here, have to go home and replace the water pump on the RV; which has finally failed after having been a bit unreliable the last few weeks.

Luckily, I had ordered a replacement from Amazon and its waiting for me to get home.  I hope to also replace the steering head bearings on Tuesday of this week.

I hope you liked the Fall Colors postings over the last week or so, not sure I'll go out of my way to seek more Fall Colors unless I spot a large collection of reds.....

Uraling for Fall Colors

Friday, September 24

A great day for riding, not too warm and barely any winds.

I rode Scarlett, my 2014 Ural Patrol Sidecar Rig, towards Marshall Pass but turned off of FR202 onto FR204.  Soon enough, we'd made our way to a sub-trail: FR204A which leads to a dead end onto a fence of private land.

There was some Fall Colors at the beginning of the FR204A trail:

Emerging back onto FR202, I went pass O'Haver Lake for this view before returning back to camp:

Back at the Poncha Pass BLM area, I found many more campers and their rigs as the weekend began.  Nonetheless, was able to pose Scarlett with the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range in the background.

The valley below the ridge where I'm boondocking had turned yellow with Fall Colors seemingly overnight over the last 24-36 hours.  So I took Scarlett into the valley looking for a spot that presented an Aspen Tunnel in its Fall Coloration.

Friday's Sunset:

T-Dub'ing to find Fall Colors on the road to Marshall Pass

Wednesday, September 22

Now boondocking at my favorite site in the BLM area just southwest of Poncha Pass, Colorado.

Though camping at just over 9200 foot, there was no evidence of Fall Colors anywhere in the area.  I'd been hoping to catch Fall Colors by now but none were to be found near camp.

Thursday, September 23

Today I rode Yagi, my Yamaha TW200 to Marshall Pass, still seeking Fall Colors.  As you will see, it's only beginning to show such colors overall; but I was able to find several spots where Fall Colors were in full bloom so to speak!

Stand by for imagery overload:

Found a public use cabin along FR 200C, apparently one can use it free of charge.  Three cots and a couple of chairs and table within make for rustic accommodations but hey, it's free.

Then, Yagi and I rode slowly back down from the pass summit and stopped where appropriate for pictures of her.

Due to the "scarcity" of Fall Colors throughout (give it another week or so and it will be in full peak I think), I would also wander on foot into the Aspen copses, trying for more pics:

Last show is of O'Haver Lake, a campground run by the US Forest Service I believe.  It didn't look full.

I drove to the junction of US50 and US285 to get gas for Yagi and some groceries for myself.  I then slowly ascended the 7 miles to the summit of Poncha Pass and thence to my campsite.

Spent the rest of the afternoon, over which the clouds had formed almost a solid overcast, expecting rain but not seeing it yet as evening arrived.

I think I'll take Scarlett exploring tomorrow.  I hope you liked the Fall Colors I did manage to find.