all balls bearing kits

[jonny500]

as many of you know i am part way through an kx500sf project. as a matter of course i renewed the head stock and linkage bearing. i ordered all balls bearing kits for both as they come with all seals ready too fit. i have used these kits in the past and have been happy with them. how ever this time i noticed the linkage bearing needles would fall out if i let them and the outer shells were very thin where they would be pressed into place in comparison to the ones that came out. i aslo noticed that when the pivot pins were pushed in and rotated the needles skided and did not rotate the way they should. the head stock bearings went in ok but when it came to taking up the slack in the head stock the head stock is either lose or to tight very hard to get right. many of you probably know what is coming next. i took a look at the packaging and bearings and noticed  the name KML, i had not heard of that company so i looked them up on the web and yes you guessed it china. i have used these sets before and never had a problem is this a new thing that they are made in china and can any one tell me if the oem needle rollers are fixed in the race not like the pic below. what are pivot works like

[sandblaster]

Hello.
I do not know about the stock bearings but I have the same kit as you and the bearings are loose.
Grease them good before you install 

[jonny500]

they are in all ready, i put plenty of grease in with them. i dont think its gone be long before they break up. i will have to make sure they dont damage anything else. i am thinking about changing the head stock bearings for some japanese as failure could hurt 

[martinfan30]

I had an All Balls steering stem bearing kit, and when I installed the upper race(with a driver), it chipped.

[Motorrad]

Funny you mention that I looked at those very close and found out the china part so no go for me..  

I just got back from the local bearing house returning my FAG bearings that I thought were German.  Till I got home and noticed "Korea" on them.  Stewart was running Skf explorers. I now have some USA made nsk bearings in my hand...  

The scary part!!  The weight difference between all 3 I had in my hands...  I have the weights written down at home and will post up once there..  It's spooky

[jonny500]

i have done some research and all the bearings and seals came be sourced from simply bearings for aprox ?40 . the pivot pins would have to be oem and would cost aprox ?35. this kit cost ?55. so i know where i will be going next time.

i sent the company that supplied them an email as follows

i have recieved the bearing kit thanks. i noticed when instaling them they are of very low quality and on further research found that kml is a chinese company, to be honest i would not give them 3 hours due to the play in them and the soft material they are made of. i have fitted them already. just wanted to know your views on this
best regards
john

[Motorrad]

I was talking about main bearings... Sorry. Was on my phone and didn't realize it was linkage bearing

[DoldGuy]

Johnny,
KXPegger posted regarding this isssue.
Check Here:

http://www.kxriders.com/forums/index.php/topic,8081.msg62573.html#msg62573

DoldGuy

[jonny500]

thanks doldguy and pete. i took a look around and i think when these fail (trust me they will) i am going to try some of these. they look like a cross between the 2 pete talks about in his vidio. the needles are held in the race with a cage. this is the site http://simplybearings.co.uk/shop/advanced_search_result.php?categories_id=31&1_10=8262_1&21_210=8262_21&22_220=8262_22&23_230=8262_23&extra_field_filter=1&x=18&y=11

[alward25]

That is funny,  I have used a lot of these bearings in atv and motorcycle apps and have had great luck.  I have never used the main bearings, just everything else.
They get good abuse up here in the great white north.

[RoostDaddy]

I've used the AllBalls wheel bearings with great results.  Makes me wonder now if they are going to skimp on quality for price.  Have only ever used pivot works for the linkage.

[martinfan30]

Well.... I have the all balls crank bearing/seal kit in mine. Guess we can use mine for a longevity test!

[flyingfitz]

Did the entire frame, swingarm and linkage in all balls last year and they have held up so far...


Fitz

[Friar-Tuck]

 I found the Drawn Cup Needle Roller Bearing 20mm X 26mm X 16mm  (HK2016) is also available with either one or two nitril seals.
   HK2016RS (Rubber Seal) and the HK20162RS  (2 Rubber Seal) at Timken

 I had to write to timken and am waiting for a response for authorization to buy online direct from them.
   I'll let you all know what the price's look like. 
  Tuck\o/

[jonny500]

i saw those tucko. so you could have the rs bearing along with the conventional exterior seals to give double protection. like i said up the page i could use the oem pivot pins, that would give a very high quality linkage kit with german bearings for about ?75 for us in the U.K and even cheaper for you guys in the U.S i should think