Wheel bearings
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 265
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From: Mandeville, Louisiana
Wheel bearings
I just got my stock RK Custom front wheel back from the powder coaters and I have a question about the wheel bearings. The service manual says you should be able to check the bearings by sticking your fingers in the hub and rotating the bearings. Either my bearings aren't rotating or I am doing something wrong. The powder coater said he did take them out to do the coating and that the bearings are OK. Can anyone provide me with some feedback on this? I want to put my bike back together. It's a 2007.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 276
Likes: 1
Well, don't know how many miles you have on your scoot but the bearings should be sealed. If the manual says you should be able too, then you should. food for thought, I replace my non-sealed bearing on my 98 every other tire and repack every tire. Had one go out once, a potential VERY bad experience. On my sealed bearings 06 street glide I am replacing about every 10k. Cheap insurance.
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 265
Likes: 0
From: Mandeville, Louisiana
I have 13K on the bike. I have to take it to the dealer to balance the wheel so I will ask them about it. Can they replace the bearings with the rotors installed? I was going to install them this evening and take the wheel to be balanced tomorrow AM. Thanks for the input.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,999
Likes: 55
From: Bay Area
By doing what the book says you are feeling if the bearing is spinning smoothly, with no drag or unsmooth action. If your bearing is not turning something is wrong. I know when the pc they sand blast and use some kind of chemical cleaner, I know when I get my stuff back I have to run a thread tap thru the threaded holes because if feels rough like it was etched or blasted.
Also the pc process gets upwards around 400+*, the grease may be gone or greatly reduced, when I had my wheels chromed, I removed the bearing myself even though they said they would do it. The book shows the bearing being removed with the rotor on because of the type puller they are using which uses a flat surface to push against when the bearing is being pulled out, that puller is about $150. Someday I will get one.
If you feel you will need to replace the bearings and you dont have a puller, you may get lucky with a punch by catching the inside edge of the bearing at the spacer and drive it out. then the second one is easy. If you have a welder put a small bead on inner race and drive it out that way. Its about $150 for a frt/rear set of bearings.
Also the pc process gets upwards around 400+*, the grease may be gone or greatly reduced, when I had my wheels chromed, I removed the bearing myself even though they said they would do it. The book shows the bearing being removed with the rotor on because of the type puller they are using which uses a flat surface to push against when the bearing is being pulled out, that puller is about $150. Someday I will get one.
If you feel you will need to replace the bearings and you dont have a puller, you may get lucky with a punch by catching the inside edge of the bearing at the spacer and drive it out. then the second one is easy. If you have a welder put a small bead on inner race and drive it out that way. Its about $150 for a frt/rear set of bearings.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 265
Likes: 0
From: Mandeville, Louisiana
WOW $150.00!!! After looking at it, although the SM says it should rotate, I think it may be a sealed bearing. I bought the bike back in March and although the P.O. gave me service invoices from the dealer perhaps they replaced the regular bearings with sealed bearings. If they are sealed bearings would I still be able to rotate them? I have no experience with this.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 4,999
Likes: 55
From: Bay Area
If its an 07 it has sealed bearings, the original owner may have rode in harsh enviroments or used a psi washer and f'd up the grease pack. Yes its about $75 per axle for bearings. Steel especially machined, is an expensive commodity these days
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Tourer
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Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Atlanta, GA
If you decide to replace your bearings, buy some good ones online and pay for the labor to have them installed. All ***** and the Drag Specialties bearings are about the same. They might be the same. IMO the stock Harley Wheel bearings are cheap Chinese junk.
Last edited by atrain68; Sep 17, 2010 at 07:58 PM.
