Oh my aching shaft...a who done it
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 887
Likes: 133
From: Upstate NY
Oh my aching shaft...a who done it
I have been working on my fatty changing the tires.
I pulled my rear tire off and it is extremely difficult to get the rear wheel bearing to even turn. When I can budge them they feel real rough. So...in my estimation I am either a victim of Chineese HD bearings or the last tech that worked on my bike and installed the bearings seated them in too tight against the middle spacer. Thank God for the anti seize that was on the shaft. The wheel must have been rotating on the inner races lubed by the anti seize for about 6000 miles. The shaft is discolored in the bearing area but when I took my mic to it I cannot see any wear or feel any ridge. Now I don't know if maybe the spacers could have gotten worn down too. It looks like there are some rub or wear marks on the outside of the spacers. I would mic them but not sure what the measurements should be. So now the questions is should I replace the whole shooting match or just go with new bearings. I really don't want to use the HD bearings again. I am tainted on them now.
Does anyone know what the bearing spacer length should be on a 2008 fatboy rear axle?
Also, someone had posted on here about some Japanese precision bearings that were a replacement for the HD bearing. I can't find the post now.
I was thinking if there was an aftermarket shaft that has a left hand nut thread so I could install the shaft from the right without the concern of it loosing it something like this every happened again. Not sure if I would have had a problem if the shaft was installed from the right with this bearing issue.
Thanks guys
I pulled my rear tire off and it is extremely difficult to get the rear wheel bearing to even turn. When I can budge them they feel real rough. So...in my estimation I am either a victim of Chineese HD bearings or the last tech that worked on my bike and installed the bearings seated them in too tight against the middle spacer. Thank God for the anti seize that was on the shaft. The wheel must have been rotating on the inner races lubed by the anti seize for about 6000 miles. The shaft is discolored in the bearing area but when I took my mic to it I cannot see any wear or feel any ridge. Now I don't know if maybe the spacers could have gotten worn down too. It looks like there are some rub or wear marks on the outside of the spacers. I would mic them but not sure what the measurements should be. So now the questions is should I replace the whole shooting match or just go with new bearings. I really don't want to use the HD bearings again. I am tainted on them now.
Does anyone know what the bearing spacer length should be on a 2008 fatboy rear axle?
Also, someone had posted on here about some Japanese precision bearings that were a replacement for the HD bearing. I can't find the post now.
I was thinking if there was an aftermarket shaft that has a left hand nut thread so I could install the shaft from the right without the concern of it loosing it something like this every happened again. Not sure if I would have had a problem if the shaft was installed from the right with this bearing issue.
Thanks guys
I've had shitty luck with HD bearings myself. Just did the 30k service on the train to include neck bearings; went with Timken this time around. The neck bearings were kicked and I was getting a high speed wobble around 85-90 mph. Hope this solves that issue.
Had a brand new set of HD bearings fail on my front wheel after I prematurely replaced them in order to avoid such an issue. I had the same think you're describing on the shaft, replaced the axle during the 30k service I just did. Haven't gotten a chance to really ride it because of the weather here in CT, but the wheel spins more freely now.
Had a brand new set of HD bearings fail on my front wheel after I prematurely replaced them in order to avoid such an issue. I had the same think you're describing on the shaft, replaced the axle during the 30k service I just did. Haven't gotten a chance to really ride it because of the weather here in CT, but the wheel spins more freely now.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 13,061
Likes: 12,988
From: Texas, USA
After reading the title of this thread, I was expecting the gist of the text to be somewhat different. I may be the only one to admit it. My answer was going to be "a self-inflicted injury".
I think Gitarded planned it that way. Just sayin.
I think Gitarded planned it that way. Just sayin.
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 887
Likes: 133
From: Upstate NY
My point was if the wheel got hung up and the shaft did spin it would not spin the nut off. It would get tighter.. but maybe that would be bad too.
And Bone...it's all in the marketing. LOL
And Bone...it's all in the marketing. LOL
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 887
Likes: 133
From: Upstate NY
Yes mine has the e-clip. The argument for MoCo installing the shaft from the right is that if the nut comes off the pipes would stop the shaft from coming all the way out. I was thinking if the shaft was installed from the left (so you don't have to take off your pipes if they interfere) when you change your tires, if the nut was a left handed thread it would be the same as a right hand thread installed from the right. Make sense?
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 100,455
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From: Centennial, CO
I understand. Up til about 1970, cars had left hand lugs on the right side to keep that from happening. I know many have done what you're talking about without trouble, though.
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From: Fort Worth, TX
No worries about flipping the axle with the stock hardware, with proper torque on the nut and the e-clip you will be fine. Get a new set of wheel bearings (we use All ***** Racing or Timkens), install them properly and be done with it. No need for a new crush tube or spacers unless there is damage to your current ones, just clean yours up and use some good grease on the axle.
