Welding around the steering head

[Jules]

Hi all, I know this must be getting boring, but I'm not out of the woods yet with my steering head. I've been waiting for a job shop to remachine the top bearing housing to square it up to the bottom one (its worn and the bearing wont sit in square) - I think I've found another guy to fix the top bearing housing BUT he is suggesting that he "just" mig welds around the inside of the old housing and remachines it parallel and square to the bottom housing. Sounds simple but I know its not, AND I seem to remember you guys saying NOT to put any heat into the steering head because it will distort it badly..........whats the thinking about this approach, I'm getting desparate!! thanks 

[fido]

MIG only heats a small area so you get less distortion than with oxy acetylene. You do need to be sure that there is adequate penetration of the welds though, or the new metal could flake off. If the welder knows his stuff with both the welding and the machining you should be OK.

[bsa-bill]

Hi all, I know this must be getting boring,

Nope, even an oil thread will get some attention, and your thread is not a common one so continue to keeps us in the frame

[Russ]

Jules I will send you an email with the details of Ken Phelps in Traralgon, which is 2 hours from Melbourne, who is a Vincent man and an excellent machinist. He may be able to fix your problem. I highly recommend his work and suggest the two hour trip would be worth it.
Russ.

[Jules]

thanks all, appreciate the feedback and I'll follow up on the ideas, partic. I'll call your man in Traralgon Russ, cheers

[Jules]

Hi All, success!! thanks for all your inputs    ....
Thanks to Greg Ditchfield of Manx Classic Spares in Ballarat I now have a frame with a working steering head AND tapered roller bearings, a great outcome!
He is a lateral thinker when it comes down to repairs and managed to fit new taper roller bearings with a little hand reworking of the upper (damaged) mounting face, a turned up sleeve for the yoke to bearing inner, some selective fits on bearings that he has specially made up, and some bearing loctite, all done while my wife and I "explored" Ballarat (went for a good long lunch actually!)....
So now onwards we go to the next problem, thanks again for your ideas/suggestions, cheers