Steering bearing removal - replacement

[gwdoiron]

I actually had to replace the steering column bearings on my Xciting 250 early last year.
I was able to remove the upper outer race no problems (you can use a race puller), the lower one (as said here) I ended up using a dremel diamond engraving bit to slot all the way through it (took almost two hours, since going at it agressively destroys them), then putting a pair of short slots to either side of the cut so that I could use needle nose pliers to compress it and extract it.
The innter lower race bearing, I had to slot to remove.  Installing the lower inner was a matter of tossing the fork in the freezer and the race in the over, then hammering the race down using a 1" x 12" NPT pipe.

[szabgab]

The garage would definitely have charged you more than $150

Hi,  not in Hungary,  rates are low,  so are the wages,  so it evens out,  150$ is unfortunately not cheap over here...

[Viper254]

or...  if topping up is a bad idea,  what about removing the damper rod bolt from the bottom, drain oil and fill up from top with fresh oil? I do have an impact wrench on loan,  so that might get the nut back on,  if it spins with hand tools? Or is this another lazy get-around,  that won't work?

I'd be tempted to go for an oil change in the way you say there; drain the oil from the bottom, replace from the top, I can't see why that'd be an issue

[szabgab]

I'd be tempted to go for an oil change in the way you say there; drain the oil from the bottom, replace from the top, I can't see why that'd be an issue

Hi, I ended up topping up as a temporary measure, it is very simple actually, big bolt out, spacer out, spring out, so I might at some point remove the legs and drain them by inverting and pumping (rather than risking f..ing up something royally by removing bottom bolt)