Last night I pulled my front wheel, 1988 FLHTC, mag wheels, tapered roller bearings. I installed a new tire and repacked my bearings. On one side there was a shouldered spacer washer under the bearing. When I pulled that bearing out the washer was stuck to it and at first I didn't notice that it was shouldered, that is like a small washer glued to a big washer. I think that the big washer side was towards the bearing and the small washer side was toward the spacer in the hub. I put it back that way. The book says that the shoulder side goes to the bearing. Thing is, I don't know that the heck that means. Help.. Does the big washer side go towards the bearing and the smaller side go inward? If so I'm good. If not I need to pull that wheel back off and flip it over.

And, when I repacked the bearings there was no tire on the rim so, I don't know if that spacer/washer was on the right side or the left side. Can somebody help me out with this? I need to fix it today. Got a big event tomorrow morning. Thanks a bunch.

 

Small side to bearing so there is clearance between the washer and the outer race.

 

I'm going to stop by the dealer on the way home and pick up new grease seals. I need to switch that around. I called an indie mechanic and he said that the the small step goes out to the bearing but, he says: "It really doesn't matter". He said that if the spacing is correct the bearing cage and race wont rub the spacer anyway. Nevertheless, by dinner time tonight mine will be right. I think that it was backwards when I took it apart but, can't say for sure.

 

I just want to note that the indie guy I talked too was bloody wrong on the position of the shoulder spacer. I pulled the wheel and was able to look past the bearing and see which side I needed to pull apart. Behind the shoulder spacer was a paper thin metal shim. It wasn't damaged but, I have no doubt that it would not be able to take a lot of abuse. I flipped the shoulder spacer over, repacked the bearing and reinstalled a new grease seal. It's all good now. The new tires really ride differently. No wobbles now, really smooth ride. I gotta throw big support for balance beads.