Bearing failure
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Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 602
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From: Durban South Africa
Bearing failure
I have done15 k miles on my Dyna and the rear wheel bearings colapsed. Lucky the wheel didnt lock up. Another 2 k and my front wheel bearings start rumbling. So I changed those out.. I bought from a recognised bearing supplier for the new ones. What is the story with Harley bearings
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 66,126
Likes: 51,457
From: Niles Canyon Ca.
I have done15 k miles on my Dyna and the rear wheel bearings colapsed. Lucky the wheel didnt lock up. Another 2 k and my front wheel bearings start rumbling. So I changed those out.. I bought from a recognised bearing supplier for the new ones. What is the story with Harley bearings
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 21,736
Likes: 17,577
From: Driftless Area
Only this...
While the dimensional specifications are probably spot-on, you have to realize that the chemistry of the materials used isn't even close. The components that make up that part are based on literal garbage. This is the difference between Made in USA and Made out of melted down dogfood dishes and toothpaste tube China. I mentioned global regulatory requirements in that Lead Solder thread, and those of us still making things in the U.S follow them. China claims to, but they don't. It has been proven by A2LA accredited labs here. THAT'S WHY IT"S CHEAPER...it's made from crap. If CEOs were truly as smart as they want us to think, they would figure that out, and maybe with some accountability, also realize that it doesn't save them anything if they have to keep replacing it.
Apologies to TwiZted...it's just something that frosts my ***, 'cuz I see it everyday.
While the dimensional specifications are probably spot-on, you have to realize that the chemistry of the materials used isn't even close. The components that make up that part are based on literal garbage. This is the difference between Made in USA and Made out of melted down dogfood dishes and toothpaste tube China. I mentioned global regulatory requirements in that Lead Solder thread, and those of us still making things in the U.S follow them. China claims to, but they don't. It has been proven by A2LA accredited labs here. THAT'S WHY IT"S CHEAPER...it's made from crap. If CEOs were truly as smart as they want us to think, they would figure that out, and maybe with some accountability, also realize that it doesn't save them anything if they have to keep replacing it.
Apologies to TwiZted...it's just something that frosts my ***, 'cuz I see it everyday.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 44,904
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From: PNW
They're plenty smart. Just not ethical.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 11,814
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From: SW Ohio
Harley knows the average HD rider won't put 13k miles on a new bike in 5 years. Not under warranty, not their problem. In many cases, a five year old Harley has had two owners. So the first owner bears some of "fault" in the current owner's mind when the failure happens.
Before everybody jumps in here and corrects me on how many riders here put in more miles than 13k a year, (as I do on just one of my 4 bikes) keep this in mind. Most of the folks here aren't the average; we are the rabid. We breathe, eat and sleep motorcycles. The majority of HD owners are just that, owners. You can put ANY cheap non performing part on a bike that goes 2k miles per year and get away with it. The rest us? We have to correct those mistakes if we want to ride.
Before everybody jumps in here and corrects me on how many riders here put in more miles than 13k a year, (as I do on just one of my 4 bikes) keep this in mind. Most of the folks here aren't the average; we are the rabid. We breathe, eat and sleep motorcycles. The majority of HD owners are just that, owners. You can put ANY cheap non performing part on a bike that goes 2k miles per year and get away with it. The rest us? We have to correct those mistakes if we want to ride.
Last edited by Campy Roadie; Sep 28, 2013 at 08:56 AM.
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 76
Likes: 4
From: Indiana
Guys, not looking to hijack the thread so please don't flame me, but how do you keep an eye on bearings while riding ? Just replaced my tires, right @ 30,000 miles on bike. Wonder if I SHOULD have just changed bearings at the time .
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 6,508
Likes: 169
From: WPB, FL
This is an old problem, but, the bearing problem that everyone is aware of is with the late model (09 year on up I think) bearing change when MOCO went from a serviceable assembly to the 25MM sealed units. These have a way higher rate of failure.
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 16,320
Likes: 306
From: Boynton Beach, FloriDuh
The MoCo moved away from serviceable bearings back around 2000 when they went to 3/4" & 1" sealed bearings. The 25mm bearings came along in 2008, which was followed by the switch to using imported crap Asian made 25mm bearings in 2009.