Front Wheel Bearings on Ultra Classic

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Jul 15, 2012 | 02:03 PM

#11

blue flht

Road Captain

Joined: Nov 2010

Posts: 667

Likes: 195

From: huntersville nc

Quote:

Originally Posted by EricD10563

If I had paid attention to what the grease marks meant I would have caught it sooner instead of it looking like this. You can see there are no ball bearings left in the upper cup. I could hear a scraping sound but couldn't figure it out until it was too late, I had stock pipes I'm sure I wouldn't have heard it with louder pipes. I don't remember if I felt anything prior to what was almost total failure.

This was at about 11k miles

That's how mine looked at 17000 miles, was making a chirping sound and then felt it in the bars. Was on a road trip out of state in Tenn.

Jul 15, 2012 | 02:26 PM

#12

Dionicio

Outstanding HDF Member

Joined: Dec 2007

Posts: 2,803

Likes: 11

From: El Paso, Texas

Still have the orginal bearings (front and rear on My 08 UC) 46K, 3rd set of tires. Knock on wood! Update: 50K, still no Problems!, But will be checking the bearings.

Last edited by Dionicio; Dec 15, 2012 at 11:20 AM.

Jul 15, 2012 | 02:43 PM

#13

dc1450

Road Master

Joined: May 2005

Posts: 1,121

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From: Mass.

Mine on the '09 went at 10K but what you're describing sounds more like tire wear.

Dec 15, 2012 | 11:08 AM

#14

Rattler77

Novice

Joined: May 2010

Posts: 24

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From: north Al

I went in for a front tire yesterday at 36K and both sides of the front wheel bearings were shot. Hate to say this but is seems pretty premature since my last two bikes were will over 100K and never had front wheel bearings replaced. If you have the wheel off, take a rag and stick your fingers into the inner sleeve (where the axle goes through) and twist the bearing back and forth, should make no noise, my sounded like some one using a file on an iron plate.

Dec 15, 2012 | 02:04 PM

#15

2black1s

Elite HDF Member

Joined: Nov 2010

Posts: 3,846

Likes: 173

From: Simi Valley, CA

I'd agree that it's probably the tire you're feeling. Although bearing failures have occurred as evidenced here and in other threads, at your mileage it's not rally all that common. I think you'd also hear/feel it going straight, not only in turns, even though it may be more pronounced in a turn.

You could simply lift the wheel and rotate it to check the bearing. It should feel smooth and no noise. If you remove the wheel it's really easy to check... The bearing should feel somewhat tight and perfectly smooth when you rotate it.