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I'm just in the process of rebuilding the front end. The bottom bearing went onto the stem with very little fuss after heating the bearing and freezing the stem.

However the stem is too wide at the top to allow the top bearing to fit over it. In my experience this should just slide over the stem. The bearings have identical part numbers SKF 639174, 26,0X52,0X15,0. Whilst I accept I could quite easily drift the top bearing into place I have concerns about how this would affect the adjustment of the head bearings once the forks are installed.

I am contemplating machining the stem to allow the bearing to fit over it. Before I do anything irreversible I am asking for some input from the other forum members

https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1QipM ... OBSGZLSjPV

A check with a micrometer revealed that the Stem was slightly out of round, a lathe and some emery paper fixed things. Forks now installed.

burrs are usually the culprit here and I often need to break out the emery or fine flat file to dress things up. Glad you got things sorted.