are there any secrets or anything i need to know before i replace it and the new bearing? thanks fellas

 

i have done it both ways hard and not so hard. remove the handle bars and fuel tank, take off the front plastic for easy access. i think i loosened the oil tank and headlight also, that will make things alot easier.

 

ok thanks jeffroe

 

I cannot get mine out. I have everything off. The bottom where the tie rods connect will not come out of the frame.

 

there is a nut under the frame that connects the stem to the pocket it sit's in. loosen that and it will come out the top.

 

I have that off. The stem is loose. I can only move it around so much and thats it. It won't come out of the frame. It's boxed in. When I move the top all the way over to the left or right, it's not enough to manuver it out. The brace for the shocks seems to be in the way. I had to come in and take a break before I broke something.

 

I wrestled with it some more and think I am going to have to cut the stem at the bottom. In the manual it just says to "pull steering column" after you remove the other stuff.
Now that I have my new stem, I am wondering if I should do what some of you have done and take it to a shop and have them switch the stem to cromoly? What would be the point? Stronger?

 

Seems like if you rotate the stem side of the cleat toward front right corner and force it up, it'll come. The stem side came out first, and I had to force the neck toward the tank and push pretty good to get the bottom the angle to pop out.

I walked away from it after 15 minutes. Then went back and it came right out.

good luck.

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Thanks guys, I had to pack it up for tonight. I was getting pretty frustrated and the mosquitos weren't any help.
My cleat is bent slightly and so is the tie rod end. The stem is, too.

 

I had to twist, and try all angles for 20 mins to get mine out. If I remeber right, the new one went in just as tough.