Failed front wheel bearing
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,071
Likes: 109
From: LA - (Lower Alabama)
In 6 years I have washed my bike maybe 20 times. It spends so much time in doors I just wipe it down w detail spray after rides, and rarely ride in the rain. I wash all my bikes 2 or 3 times a year. Just don't get them that dirty.
Big Kahuna HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 20,530
Likes: 2,305
From: texas panhandle
Just out of curiosity, was the right bearing the only one that was running rough, or was the left also bad. Which bearing has the sensor in it for abs.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 27,097
Likes: 4,676
From: Frozelandia, Minnysota
I pop a seal on every sealed bearing I buy; many have very little grease, certainly not enough for a wheel bearing. If it's translucent, like vaseline, I clean it out and put quality synthetic grease in it. Never had a bearing failure on a car or bike that I'd put the bearing in. Not just cheap Chinese bearings, either, seen the same in some expensive aircraft bearings. I suspect many of these Harley failures are more to do with inadequate grease than the bearing itself.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,956
Likes: 75
From: CA
I pop a seal on every sealed bearing I buy; many have very little grease, certainly not enough for a wheel bearing. If it's translucent, like vaseline, I clean it out and put quality synthetic grease in it. Never had a bearing failure on a car or bike that I'd put the bearing in. Not just cheap Chinese bearings, either, seen the same in some expensive aircraft bearings. I suspect many of these Harley failures are more to do with inadequate grease than the bearing itself.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 27,097
Likes: 4,676
From: Frozelandia, Minnysota
Used to use a solvent sprayer, don't have access to one of those anymore, so just wipe out with a rag, get some more with a tiny screwdriver, and sometimes a Q-tip. Gets about all of it, then force grease through one side, wiping the excess off the other, till there's no sign of original grease. Then I wipe some out on both sides, give room for grease to move out when the bearings force a tunnel through the grease - you want room for that after the seals are popped back on. You can see how that works just hand turning it before you put the seals back.
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,956
Likes: 75
From: CA
Used to use a solvent sprayer, don't have access to one of those anymore, so just wipe out with a rag, get some more with a tiny screwdriver, and sometimes a Q-tip. Gets about all of it, then force grease through one side, wiping the excess off the other, till there's no sign of original grease. Then I wipe some out on both sides, give room for grease to move out when the bearings force a tunnel through the grease - you want room for that after the seals are popped back on. You can see how that works just hand turning it before you put the seals back.
Thanks though, I'll take a look when I do the front bearings in the near future.
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From: bklyn,ny
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Joined: May 2013
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From: Home
Simple. By making the bearing holes oversized and out of round.