XCiting 300iR, steering column bearings change

[Ruffus]

My XCiting 300 started to behave slightly like a maverick when it came to narrow bends. Also on the center stand there was a light stoppage feeling, at middle position on the handlebar.

Both signs of worn out steering column bearings. I pushed this work for month ahead of me, knowing it being complex and annoying (pls see pics with comments)

BUT: for safety reasons DO NOT POSTPONE IT!
-stabilize the scoot in the middle
-screen off
-front inclusive headlights and dashboard off
-both mirrors off (steel in alu tread!)
-handlebar cover off (four #screws)
-30mm nut off
-mudguard, brake calipers, speed sensor off (watch the tiny shim/s)
-wheel out
-shocks out
-lift handlebar
-32mm nut and castlenut off
-shock carrier and bearings out
TBC...

[Ruffus]

..next step was to remove
-all clamps which hold brakelines and cables
-pull off handlebar, put it aside, wrap with rug, DO NOT unclamp brake lines (little space but enough)
-do not stretch E-harness towards indicator, start button, etc.
TBC....

[Ruffus]

..coming to
-lower runner (Dremel with blade and split with a chisel)
..there is no rim where you could lever any tool to push it out
-upper runner (easy out from below with a long chisel) (cutted 'em and split though)

ALL this done, clean properly, put new runners and bearings in and refit.

As seen in pics, this small ball pittings cause all this trouble. The handlebar as a lever in a ratio of 1 to 50 makes you feel them as if there would be holes of a millimeter.
AND, the scoot starts swaying in bends.

All in all five hours of unpleasant work which I would have loved to avoid.

[Iahawk]

All in all five hours of unpleasant work which I would have loved to avoid.

Great writeup, Ruffus! This should be a sticky! I can't imagine what a shop would charge to do that....heck, I wonder if you could even find a shop to agree to do that around here (in the US), for any price!

[Ruffus]

Txs hawk, funny thing is the ridiculous €34,- of material costs for this bearings.
Here too, more and more shops have to charge around €70-100 per hour, clients are frustrated and let it worsen. But it's really not fun to do this job.