I bought a set of rims off a 2018 Road Glide Special to install on a 2017 Road Glide. The front rim came with rotors and still had the stock tire on which was new, still had the nubs on it.
The rear rim didn't have a tire.
I brought the rims to my dealer to have the bearings replaced to the non abs bearings. Only thought I needed to replace one on each rim. The dealer told me I had to replace all four bearings to do it right, whatever.
I get the call that everything is done and my bill is $455.10!
Can that be right? 4 bearings, and 1 rear tire, 1 hour labor? They quoted me the tire at $251 before installation.
Then he tells me I still might need a spacer on the rims when installing?
Why would I need a spacer?

 

but it's a harley!
here, shop rate is well over 100 dollars an hour. the mark up on the bearings (not made by hd) is quite high also. when dealing with farmed out work, mc or auto, it is best to get a written estimate and they must call to "OK" any deviation.
yep, i feel your pain and you did get the works without vasoline. at that rate, you could buy a fsm and any tools you needed and did the work yourself with change left over. i could do all the work for less than 100 bucks easy.

 

$75 is what you could of done this for.

 

You could have asked what their price would be before leaving your wheels with them! You can check the price for the bearings and tyre on Ronnies parts website, which only leaves the labour for doing the work.

 

Yeah I didn't do my homework for sure. I know I could of picked up a cheaper back tire but the OCD in me wanted it to match the front.
What's it cost if you don't take the rim off the bike to have a tire replaced? I wont be finding that out!
I'm still confused on possibly needing a spacer any way. I thought by taking both bearings out and pressing them in with would center the wheel. Why would I need a spacer?

 

That'll learn ya.

 

One bearing bottoms in hub on outer bearing ring. The inner tube spacer slides in and the opposite inner ring of the bearing bottoms on the tube inner spacer. On a Harley wheel, that one bottoming bearing always goes in on a certain side called out in service manual. ( That is what puts the caliper rotor in proper place).

That one bearing installed last does not bottom in hub since it would require that inner wall in hub to be next to impossible to control.
It is a press fit but it is not against and shoulder.
When your torque axle nut, it is thru inner bearing rings and inner tube axle. ( Not to outer bearing rings which would destroy bearing)
Spacer dealer is talking about is outer spacer .

 

 

delete

 

Price sounds about right to me. Although I change my own tires and bearings so I would not have to pay for the labor. Although changing bearings require a tool to press the bearing into place and you will need a manual to know what side to install first. Then since you are swapping the wheels, spacers will always be something you will need to change to get the rear brake , rear pulley and tire as centered as possible. I know because I installed 2018 fat bob wheels on my 09 fat bob. Would of cost thousands if I paid a shop to do it but since I did it myself it was much cheaper and I learned **** on the way.
I would most likely charge someone even more than a shop would to do the same job unless they wanted to be hands on and learn as we go.
I would do it for weed then. LOL