RZ350 Steering head dust seal

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hutcha107
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Location: Milton, Ontario

RZ350 Steering head dust seal

#1 Post by hutcha107 » Wed Apr 22, 2015 1:17 pm

Does anyone know if the dust seal on the lower end of a 1987 RZ350 steering head goes on taper side up (against the ball race) or down (against the under bracket)? The non tapered side of the dust seal has a groove.

RuZty
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Re: RZ350 Steering head dust seal

#2 Post by RuZty » Wed Apr 22, 2015 5:00 pm

If you set the lower bearing into the race in the frame and put the seal against it you might find it only actually seals one way.

hutcha107
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Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2011 9:59 pm
Location: Milton, Ontario

Re: RZ350 Steering head dust seal

#3 Post by hutcha107 » Wed Apr 22, 2015 7:32 pm

From what I can see either way looks to have merit. Such a simple thing to get stumped on. lol

RuZty
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Re: RZ350 Steering head dust seal

#4 Post by RuZty » Thu Apr 23, 2015 5:48 am

Can you post a pic? I had a look and can't see anything with it installed. IIRC, it was essentially a flat disk with a rubber lip around the edge. The rubber lip went more to one side of the disc than the other, that side goes up, away from the lower triple. Then again I could be remembering one from an R6 stem, but they should be similar.

hutcha107
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Re: RZ350 Steering head dust seal

#5 Post by hutcha107 » Thu Apr 23, 2015 10:25 am

Thanks for the help. I've been informed that the taper side goes up. I'd post a pic if I could figure out how :)

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JonW
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Re: RZ350 Steering head dust seal

#6 Post by JonW » Thu Apr 23, 2015 8:41 pm

Thats how Ive always seen them on bikes with their original bearings Hutcha.
80 XT500 Supermoto!
81 RD350LC Resto
82 RD421LC Hybrid
82 RD350LC decapitation project
82 RD250LC JDM '251LC' YPVS
83 RZ350 Resto
84 RZ500 Resto
85 RZ350 F1 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Hybrid

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silverstrom
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Re: RZ350 Steering head dust seal

#7 Post by silverstrom » Thu Apr 23, 2015 9:13 pm

These are the pics Don sent me yesterday. I confirmed that this is the correct installation. You can see why it will only work this way.

RuZty
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Re: RZ350 Steering head dust seal

#8 Post by RuZty » Thu Apr 23, 2015 9:53 pm

That helps, yes, lip always goes to the environment side so stuff can't push past it. The image in my mind was not that seal, possibly an All Balls one I bought for a conversion. Thanks John!

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