thats more like it! Thanks
Wheel Bearings
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,221
Likes: 4
From: Annemasse (border of Geneva-Switzerland) facing Mt-Blanc.
In all radial bearing assemblies, final dimensions / tolerances and clean seating surfaces are more important than pure torque. Once the wheel is installed no additional effort to rotate should be felt between snug and torqued conditions.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
I'm planning a 6 week 6k miles trip from the UK to Turkey and back, through foreign countries where there are no Harley dealers. I will not be taking spare wheel bearings! SD is hardly off the edge of the planet......
I bought a new Buell in 08, which needed new bearings with its first new tyres, at less than 5k miles. I think that was during the real low point of HD wheel bearings. If you are concerned about your bearings and have a decent mileage on them, then for peace of mind replace them before your holiday. And have a great trip.
They seem a little biased...
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,928
Likes: 69
From: Near Myrtle Beach, SC
Absolutely, however proper seating AND proper torqing of the axle nuts are important for a correct install. Bearing race tolerances may be damaged by applying too much pressure regardless of how the pressure is applied (when seating the bearing initially or when over-tightening the axle components that transfer pressure to the bearing). So as usual, we have many ways to screw the pooch!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 56,052
Likes: 87,493
From: Western South Dakota
It would be of benefit when the old 9276 was pulled and what years it was on and when the new "A" model was introduced too.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,221
Likes: 4
From: Annemasse (border of Geneva-Switzerland) facing Mt-Blanc.
Absolutely, however proper seating AND proper torqing of the axle nuts are important for a correct install. Bearing race tolerances may be damaged by applying too much pressure regardless of how the pressure is applied (when seating the bearing initially or when over-tightening the axle components that transfer pressure to the bearing). So as usual, we have many ways to screw the pooch!
You can accept a 0.03mm play in this assembly if the spacer tube is longer but not the contrary. This way the bearings have a bit of lateral freedom that you can't feel.
Put your finger in the bore of the bearing; if you feel a vibration while turning it, you have a potential problem.
Last edited by Expat1; Mar 10, 2013 at 12:51 PM.
Novice
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Nunya, South Africa
So I'm pretty sure my bearings were toasted at around 10K miles and not any better at 17K....Just makes hands-free a bitch cuz i like to facebook and play farmville and **** when Im on long boring rides. My girl gots wobbley knees now.
Seriously, I'm a handy guy and have good tools. I'm no master mech, but prefer to do most of my own work with the help of the forums and my shop manual. You all have me second guessing installing my own ABS bearings. Problem is, I dont have faith the shop is going to do much better than me with my own time and love for my scoot. Give a guy a confident pep talk here....I need some words of encouragement to start my wheel project.
Seriously, I'm a handy guy and have good tools. I'm no master mech, but prefer to do most of my own work with the help of the forums and my shop manual. You all have me second guessing installing my own ABS bearings. Problem is, I dont have faith the shop is going to do much better than me with my own time and love for my scoot. Give a guy a confident pep talk here....I need some words of encouragement to start my wheel project.
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,221
Likes: 4
From: Annemasse (border of Geneva-Switzerland) facing Mt-Blanc.
- Remove both bearings and clean their housings + spacer tube.
- Lay the wheel on a flat surface.
- Carefully install the first bearing then flip the wheel to bring the second bearing housing to the top.
- Insert the spacer tube and measure the eventual step between the surface of the spacer and the bottom of the empty housing. You can use the axle to position the spacer using the bore of the bottom bearing as a guide.
If you have no measuring tool you can use the edge of a (new) spatula to visualize the gap by lighting it from behind. Just make sure its blade is wide enough to rest on both sides of the housing; you don't need to be at the center to do this.
If the spacer tube is lower than the height (of both sides) of the bearing seat and you are certain the first bearing was well seated, you have a problem and should use thin shims which are a PITA because they tend to slide out of alignment/position when you bounce the wheel without the axle in place.
Just remember this: a gap seen over the spacer tube will reduce the life of your bearings.
Novice
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Nunya, South Africa
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025
Verdad Gallardo
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,824
Likes: 603
From: Myrtle Beach SC
The Harley service manual says to put the primary bearing first. That's the one the disc is on in the rear, left one in the front. Make sure they are seated fully. Otherwise you will not be able to get the spacers back on the wheel right when reassembling them. Dont ask me how I know this !!!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 11,814
Likes: 5,120
From: SW Ohio
So on the rear the primary bearing (on an abs bike is the abs bearing) gets seated all the way. Flip it over, put in the spacer and install the pulley side bearing until the spacer doesn't have side to side slop.
For the front the proceedure is the same starting on the left side.
Do I have it right????
For the front the proceedure is the same starting on the left side.
Do I have it right????