What are you guys doing to tear up wheel bearings so often? Over 59k on the original bearings in my '14 Street Bob, and they still feel like new.
Wheel bearings?
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 3,586
Likes: 889
From: Nowhere
When you say "all new" what year they started doing it?
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,118
Likes: 1,146
From: Directly above the center of the Earth
You tell us! It sucked to pull into the driveway or just going down a friends driveway, etc, and find the wheel is suddenly wobbling or there's a really strange noise coming from one only to get off the bike and see grease leaking out at the axle.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 310
Likes: 31
From: Santa Cruz / Modesto CA.
Nachi makes decent bearings. I use them every day in my line of work. The 6205's shown are often spinning at 1800 or 3600 RPM and we see a low failure rate, until you introduce a pressure washer! Job security for me.....
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,148
Likes: 157
From: Banning, CA
Nachi Japanese bearings ..............
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 27,097
Likes: 4,676
From: Frozelandia, Minnysota
Most of the used bikes I've bought had grit in the wheel bearings, amazing how many people hit plastic seals with pressure washers. One of the reasons I pull the wheels off any bike I buy before putting many miles on them. Wish people would put grease or anti seize on axles, too, water does a job on them also; took a sledgehammer to get some of them out. Hammer an axle out, for sure you want to replace the bearings. If I bought a new Harley, I'd pull the wheels before taking any long rides, check the bearing grease, inner spacer clearance, and lube/anti-seize the axles and spacers, never seen a new bike without a dry axle, and few used ones.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 310
Likes: 31
From: Santa Cruz / Modesto CA.
Me too but I fix electric motors for a living and some of the monkeys "cleaning" processing plants seem to intentionally spray right toward the shaft of an electric motor,.... with a pressure washer. I've seen some pretty expensive bearings wiped out due to water.
Road Master
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 774
Likes: 320
From: St. Louis
Most of the used bikes I've bought had grit in the wheel bearings, amazing how many people hit plastic seals with pressure washers. One of the reasons I pull the wheels off any bike I buy before putting many miles on them. Wish people would put grease or anti seize on axles, too, water does a job on them also; took a sledgehammer to get some of them out. Hammer an axle out, for sure you want to replace the bearings. If I bought a new Harley, I'd pull the wheels before taking any long rides, check the bearing grease, inner spacer clearance, and lube/anti-seize the axles and spacers, never seen a new bike without a dry axle, and few used ones.
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