Wheel Bearings
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 5,072
Likes: 104
From: Prescott, AZ
Wheel Bearings
for those that have had them start to leak - will this leak be something easy to spot? Meaning will the leak spread out from the turning force of the wheel??
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 2,283
Likes: 4
From: nebraska
i saw no warning leak . i was doing a pre-ride safty check and spotted the seal from the front wheel bearing pushed all the way out onto the spacer you could see dry bearings. i repaked them and took to dealer to have them replaced . exstended service paid minus $50 deductable
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 132
Likes: 1
From: South Carolina
Tell me more about this chattering.......
I just noticed a slight chattering when applying the front break on my 2010 Ultra, 24k miles. It just started and i haven't been able to locate what is causing it and the wheel bearing never crossed my mind.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Strange things Harley wheel bearings! My 1990 FLHS still has the original front tapered rollers, but when I had the first new tyres fitted to my 2007 Buell, at 7k miles, the 'sealed' ball bearings were shot! WTF! The tapered ones are protected, but not with an integral seal, the later bearings are bigger and should last forever.
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 132
Likes: 1
From: South Carolina
just my experence
Taper roller bearings will last forever with a good seal and proper pre load. A ball roller bearing however has much less friction but does a poor job under heavier loads. I haven't had my front wheel off the ultra yet so I'm not sure what is in there, I expect ball bearings as 900lbs isn't exactly a large load nor do I see a way to set a pre load. I read somewhere HD farmed the wheel bearings out to china. That's got me worried. Another few thousand miles and the front tire is coming off. Maybe it will last till then.
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: Wichita, Ks
I had the front ones go bad this last Oct. Bike was about 17 mos old, about 16-17,000 miles. Seemed strange to me that they would go bad so quickly. I had just had the front tire replaced also. I was not a happy camper as I was 300 miles from home when I realized what was going on.
Advice:
If you think your bike feels like the front tire is low but isn't check the front wheel bearings.
my 2 cents
Advice:
If you think your bike feels like the front tire is low but isn't check the front wheel bearings.
my 2 cents
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Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 132
Likes: 1
From: South Carolina
no warning signs?
I had the front ones go bad this last Oct. Bike was about 17 mos old, about 16-17,000 miles. Seemed strange to me that they would go bad so quickly. I had just had the front tire replaced also. I was not a happy camper as I was 300 miles from home when I realized what was going on.
Advice:
If you think your bike feels like the front tire is low but isn't check the front wheel bearings.
my 2 cents
Advice:
If you think your bike feels like the front tire is low but isn't check the front wheel bearings.
my 2 cents
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Club Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,678
Likes: 3
Mine never leaked, they just disintegrated on my 2007 SG. The bike had less than 20K on it. One minute it was fine, then the rattle started and then they went out. Pulled the bike over on the side of the road and the rear wheel was all wobbly. Luckily I was only going about 30 mph when they died. One of the bearings was sheared completely in half.
