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I'm doing a trike conversion on my wife's 2007 Softail Deluxe. Since the bike is 15 years old, I decided to replace the transmission main shaft bearing, side door bearings and seals while doing the conversion. Got the transmission out of the case and took it to the local Harley dealer to replace the side door bearings since I don't have the tools to do this. Went to pick it up yesterday afternoon and upon inspection, noticed that the side door bearings are installed into the side door with the lettering stamp to the inside and not the outside of the side door as the service manual states. Spoke with the head mechanic, and he said that's the way that they install them, and it isn't a problem. On my way home, I stopped by my local indy who has done work for me in the past and whom I trust. He took a look and said he that although would have installed the bearings with lettering to the outside per the service manual, it shouldn't be a problem with the bearings installed they are. Your thoughts?
I`m thinking that a ball bearing has no "thrust side" so to speak.
But I do see that the number side appears to have an extra "cage"
Have no idea if this is an oil retention device or ?
In this application, it doesn`t matter, the bearing is the same on each side.
Maybe if you made them replace the bearings and install them correctly, they would start using the service manual (remember, the bearings must be replaced if removed).
Some bearings are not the same on each side, and it is common to have the marking on the bearing face the assembler when installed.
On jet engines there is often a puller groove on one side of the bearing, and it really sucks when you install it backwards...Don`t ask.
Last edited by Dan89FLSTC; Nov 3, 2022 at 06:05 AM.
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Transmission Side Door Bearing Replacement
