This is the deal, I changed my wheels recently, new bearings, spacers etc., all from HD. I have checked all torques, spacers etc., and all seems correct. Certainly the spacers are on the right sides and the correct way around. I put on some polished rotors and new pads while I was at it, and I know there will be a little drag while everything beds in.

My problem is that the front wheel takes some effort to turn by hand. It dosent feel rough, or easier to turn at one point than another.

Itook it out for a 20 mile run at speeds upto 60 mph, and felt around the bearings when I stopped, and there was no heat.

Now I think that when my bike was new the original front wheel was quite hard to turn by hand.

Its almost like the internal bearing spacer between the two bearings is a couple of thou short and the bearing roller ends are rubbibg slightly on the race. With the wheel off I can turn the inner race on each bearing with presure from my finger, and without torqueing up th axle nut it does seem easier to spin by hand. The bearing and spacer kit came with the wheel, and I pressed the bearings in with no trouble. The inner spacer was loose, but after asking on the forum, I increased the pressure on the press and now the bearing inner race is a snug fit against it.

I only have a press and no puller, so my options are either to get new bearings installed at the dealer, or as I am inclined to do just run it and monitor the bearings. Since there is no heat I dont see that the bearing will sieze up on me, but if I messed up the install I dont doubt that the bearings wont last as long as they should. I've had old style bearings go on me years ago and they were fairly progressive in their failure over a 1000 miles or so, caused me no problems and I got em changed when it got bad enough to warrant it.

I am just looking for some ideas from you guys, and perhaps an idea of how much a dealer should charge to replace the front wheel bearings.

As an aside I did notice that the brake rotors on the original wheels from the factory were the wrong way around, with the left on the right and vice versa.

 

Should turn free with ever so slight drag from the seal lips. If you have the brake calipers installed there will be drag from the discs for sure. Are you saying the wheel won't turn freely with the calipers off?
Ron

 

Thats right, mind you neither did the original wheel, although this one is much stiffer.

 

Double check the end play with dial indicator. Could be too many,or too thick of shims installed. A dial indicator is the only sure way to know if yor end play is right. Service manual will tell you your end play tollerence. It's normally just a few thousandths.

 

Took it all apart and used more pressure to seat bearings, put it back together and its perfect. I guess I was a little too gentle with the bearing press, only a couple of thou probably but made all the difference,