replace wheel bearing with tire change?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,198
Likes: 3,087
From: NW AR
Sure, you can wipe the grease off and see if it returns. And then you will need a new bearing, grease and seals instead of just some grease and seals.
"The right" tools are under ten bucks at HF, or you can use a big screwdriver and a socket or piece of wood dowel.
"The right" tools are under ten bucks at HF, or you can use a big screwdriver and a socket or piece of wood dowel.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,402
Likes: 2,605
From: NC USA
wjl24 - On or off the bike???
In a previous post I stated they didn't have genuine wheel bearing at the dealer any longer and that it was actually Amoco Super Blue. That was a slip of my memory - it's Kendall Super Blu. Getting hard to find in any amount less than 120LB drums... but they still make it
And I just called around - they DO still offer it
HD part# 99855-89
In a previous post I stated they didn't have genuine wheel bearing at the dealer any longer and that it was actually Amoco Super Blue. That was a slip of my memory - it's Kendall Super Blu. Getting hard to find in any amount less than 120LB drums... but they still make it
And I just called around - they DO still offer it
HD part# 99855-89
Last edited by t150vej; Sep 10, 2009 at 01:36 PM.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,402
Likes: 2,605
From: NC USA
Yeah, I don't get to go town very often.... I also found out that Kendall is now part of ConocoPhillips so maybe we can find it at a fuel stop somewhere...
Last edited by t150vej; Sep 10, 2009 at 01:37 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 5,699
Likes: 15
From: Qualicum Beach, B.C. CAN
What he said...
off the bike after bearing replacement (if necessary)
Also, how to test if there is too much play with wheels still on the bike.
symptoms, visuals etc
off the bike after bearing replacement (if necessary)
Also, how to test if there is too much play with wheels still on the bike.
symptoms, visuals etc
HDF Community Team
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,402
Likes: 2,605
From: NC USA
Heat swells the alloy wheels a good bit and if they are too tight, they'll get extra hot from the lack of clearance and cook out the grease. If too looses, ill-handling will result.
Unless you have a lot of (recent) experience, it's near impossible to "feel" such small clearances so... you need to put a magnetic base and dial indicator onto the brake rotor with the indicator resting on the axle and wiggle the wheel without turning it and read the play. .002 - .004 for the front, .004 - .006 for the rear.
Good rule of thumb - if it's been running, say the life of the tire, they are likely OK, clearance-wise. But don't let the front go without service that long as a front can easily go 30,000 miles+ on a 16 incher. The rear you can jack up and you should be able to "feel" a tiny bit of play but not enough to flex the lip of the seal against the spacer. If you can feel that much in the front, I'd investigate it...
It's when you replace bearings it gets critical to follow precedure. Can't find that old post so reckon I'll spell it out again.....
With the new races installed, insert the spacer and shims including the special shoulder washer into the bore. Using a long enough 3/4" bolt and nut, or a piece of all-thread and 2 nuts, use the axle spacers on each end and tighten the arrangement against the clean and dry bearing to 60 ft/lb. With the magnetic base on the brake disc and the indicator against the "axle," push and pull and read the end play. Again, you have to be care to not rotate the make-shift axle (bolt or all thread) because the end is likely not flat and will foul the reading. Or you can place one end of the bolt (or whatever) in a vise vertically and move the wheel up and down to check also.
Unless you have a lot of (recent) experience, it's near impossible to "feel" such small clearances so... you need to put a magnetic base and dial indicator onto the brake rotor with the indicator resting on the axle and wiggle the wheel without turning it and read the play. .002 - .004 for the front, .004 - .006 for the rear.
Good rule of thumb - if it's been running, say the life of the tire, they are likely OK, clearance-wise. But don't let the front go without service that long as a front can easily go 30,000 miles+ on a 16 incher. The rear you can jack up and you should be able to "feel" a tiny bit of play but not enough to flex the lip of the seal against the spacer. If you can feel that much in the front, I'd investigate it...
It's when you replace bearings it gets critical to follow precedure. Can't find that old post so reckon I'll spell it out again.....
With the new races installed, insert the spacer and shims including the special shoulder washer into the bore. Using a long enough 3/4" bolt and nut, or a piece of all-thread and 2 nuts, use the axle spacers on each end and tighten the arrangement against the clean and dry bearing to 60 ft/lb. With the magnetic base on the brake disc and the indicator against the "axle," push and pull and read the end play. Again, you have to be care to not rotate the make-shift axle (bolt or all thread) because the end is likely not flat and will foul the reading. Or you can place one end of the bolt (or whatever) in a vise vertically and move the wheel up and down to check also.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 8,852
Likes: 2,493
From: Decatur, Alabama
Anybody have a copy of service bulletin M-1013? I can't find it on the internet and the "harley hog.uk" website doesn't list it anymore due to a threat from harley.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Banned
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 3,569
Likes: 624
From: deland,florida
we clean & inspect all parts,with wheel off,assemble all bearings(dry with no seals),center spacers and have made spacers so just the threads are left on axle,torque to spec.take a magnetic base indicator,put on rotor and indicator on end of axle,the indicator will show exactly the end play,we use 4130 chrome moly for center spacers and machine to proper fit,much better than useing the shim spacers that distort over time(make sure you pack bearings when all done)
kirby
kirby