Front Wheel Bearings '96 RK
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,614
Likes: 6,440
From: Honah Lee
Back in the 60's I went to a class, as an engineer on a design team that was engineering a gear box for a 7' deep penetration drilling application for pipe penetrations in a reactor on board of a submarine. It was brought out that it was normal to preload a tapered bearing in an oil bath application. However, in a greased application, the norm was not to preload and longer bearing life would come from as little as .0002 end play which would prevent the bearing going dry in a vibrating and non rolling application such as transportation applications. They had discovered this when GM started shipping their cars by railroad. In the field, .0002 would be a silly statement and I think Harley's upper loose tolerance is pretty extreme. I know if you preload the tapered fork bearings much over the fall off limit, it will cause them to clack on bumps which is opposite of what I would have thought would happen.
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Mar 27, 2014 at 07:56 AM.
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 214
Likes: 1
From: PENNSYLVANIA
I agree Texashillcountry...I searched all over for detailed information like this, to explain in simple terms what end play is and how to adjust it....now I can add yet another task to my list of things NOT to go to the dealer for! I called around to 4 dealers in my area, got prices to just pull old and put new races in....range was 40 to 120 bucks.....one tried to tell me the dealer HAD to set end play and would be 1.5 hours labor......YIKES!
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 214
Likes: 1
From: PENNSYLVANIA
Well I bought a new dial indicator and magnetic base to set up my end play, took me a little bit of time to get my end play set within the 0.002-0.006" spec. I ended up at between 0.003-0.004" after putting everything together and taking back apart 5 times. I could have gotten it right at the 0.002" but the dealer did not have any 0.002" shims, so I only had a 0.004" to put in. I am extremely happy with the way it felt today when I finally got out for a good ride. All the other things I did to the front end really made a huge improvement. My old bearings were not horrible, but I did see some wear, and now I can feel the difference with all new in.....tracks much better.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 7,736
Likes: 1,524
From: Coromandel Peninsula New Zealand
1.5 hours is about right for setting end play, assuming that it doesn't go right first go.
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 214
Likes: 1
From: PENNSYLVANIA
When I did my front wheel end play, it was the first time I ever did it. I understand now why a dealer would quote 1.5 hours......it took me probably longer to get it just right. I am sure if I had to do it again, I could shave that time in half.
Was well worth the experience to do the job right and at home!
Was well worth the experience to do the job right and at home!
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
When I did my front wheel end play, it was the first time I ever did it. I understand now why a dealer would quote 1.5 hours......it took me probably longer to get it just right. I am sure if I had to do it again, I could shave that time in half.
Was well worth the experience to do the job right and at home!
Was well worth the experience to do the job right and at home!