Is there another way to install the steering bearing cups without the factory tools?
The answer is yes, you can replace the cups without special tools if you’re careful. Insert an appropriate drift through the steering tube so that it will reach the back of the bearing cup. Drive the old cups out by gently tapping the drift. Do it carefully and work around the edge so that you don’t get them too misaligned as they come out, otherwise you could damage the inside of the steering head. Tap the new ones in in a similar manner with a soft drift (brass is good) until they’re fully seated all the way round. Be careful to tap them ONLY on the outer edge – not on the concave bearing surface. You’ll know when they’re seated by the sound they make when you tap them. I have a tech article on this. When you assemble the triple clamps, you should be able to tell if everything’s seated as you tighten the center nut down onto the bearings. The nut will come to a reasonably sudden stop. Give it a little extra tweak to make sure all of the bearings are seated, then back it off until the
