Bearings
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 161
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From: Montreal, Canada
Bearings
I've seen a few threads concerning, what I would consider, early bearing failure. I'm going to have my bike pretty much pulled apart this winter, so now would be the time. It's a 2012, so not out of neccessity, but out of expediance. What are your thoughts on stock steering head, wheel and swingarm bearings? What would be better replacements?
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 217
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My ,08 started this low moan when ever turning at 35K. I replaced with a set I got from JC Cycles.Its my understanding that the Harley ones dont have enough grease in the sealed portion of the bearing. I paid an Indie an hours labor to do both wheels (of course I pulled the wheels) and that moaning went away. The selling point of doing this was the guy in Atlanta whose bearings siezed on the interstate. I have enough problems with the cagers without that happening.
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 161
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From: Montreal, Canada
That's what I'm thinking Ed...........Put in some quality while things are easily accessible, before I'm forced to do it from scratch. With all I read about Moco wheel bearings, and the steering head problems, I'd rather spend a few bucks ans a few hours today problem free than wait for a bigger more expensive problem to come along.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2012
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From: Centennial, CO
Well, yours being relatively new, I don't know how much thought I would put into it. The issues I remember seeing were in the '08-'09 models. I suppose you could go to a bearing distributor and see if they have something better as far as wheel bearings are concerned. The swingarm I believe uses bushings. Which is something I should look at myself.
50k on rear wheel bearings with no issues. Changing them this winter for piece of mind and because I have the wheels out for powder so the old had to come out anyway. Steering head was same. Changed them out last winter when I installed the new trees and bars, but the OEM were in fine shape. Haven't put a though to the swingarm bushings yet, maybe I'll check em while she's in pieces.....
Mine is an 05 though, maybe the old bearings were better made........
Mine is an 05 though, maybe the old bearings were better made........
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2012
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From: Montreal, Canada
Machinistmate, not sure about the '04, but the'12 uses bushings and bearings. Certainly not old enough for concern, but seeing as how I'll be right there anyway, I figure if there is a better quality bearing out there, might as well do the switch now.
JReichart, I tend to feel everything older was made better than it is today, lol. Same as you, I'll have the wheels off anyway, so again, now is the time to upgrade if better quality bearings are available. As far as the steering head goes, it seems a lot of people have mentioned the need for tightening down to often. I seem to remember a thread about how the factory has upped the torque a couple of times in their bulletins. Right or wrong, I'm thinking that a better quality bearing there might not be a waste of money......
JReichart, I tend to feel everything older was made better than it is today, lol. Same as you, I'll have the wheels off anyway, so again, now is the time to upgrade if better quality bearings are available. As far as the steering head goes, it seems a lot of people have mentioned the need for tightening down to often. I seem to remember a thread about how the factory has upped the torque a couple of times in their bulletins. Right or wrong, I'm thinking that a better quality bearing there might not be a waste of money......
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From: Centennial, CO
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Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2012
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From: Iowa
On my 2010 Deluxe my rear bearings started howling at about 3500. When my indie went to pull them one had broken into 3 pieces that he needed to weld back together to pull and the other was just about seized. My two cents - if in doubt change them out. Oh and as an additional heads up, my guy told me that alot of the failure is due to over tightening the axle.
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My 02 has 75K on the original steering aead bearings without issue. Make sure to grease them regularly. I changed my swingarm about 10K miels ago although they were still fine. I avhe ahd 4 sets of wheel and never had an issue with the bearings in any of them. Guess I'm the lucky guy.