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After replacing front wheel bearings on a '14 Road King, should I be able to turn the inner races/spacer with my finger (while the wheel is off the bike)?
I see a lot of controversy about this and I'm not sure what to believe. I definitely don't want to dork this up.
Yes, but I have seen several new wheel bearings that do not turn easily out of the box. They can be a little tight when new, but I suspect some of the grease had solidified over time. If you turned them before installing, were they smooth then? If that is the case, they should get easier to turn after a couple of rotations. If they don't, I'd be curious about the spacer between the bearings being correct.
Many people remove the seal and find there is little grease initially and add more before installing them.
After replacing front wheel bearings on a '14 Road King, should I be able to turn the inner races/spacer with my finger (while the wheel is off the bike)?
You should be able to rotate the bearing with your finger.
Did you follow the proper sequence for installing the bearings (some tool instructions have the process backwards)?
Left side first, press outer race in until it contacts the shoulder in the hub.
On the right side: pusher will press the outer and inner races at the same time, the right-side bearing is not pressed all the way into the hub, it is only pressed in until the inner race makes contact with the inner spacer.
Remember .. one bearing bottoms. And be sure to get it on the correct side. Then the other inner race bottoms on the spacer which bottoms on the other side .
That way caliper is centered on rotor. Axle torque goes thru inner races and spacer. Not on bearing in the races.
When it's all together, usually it will all turn when you turn one side. But it's smooth and free.
If you don't quite bottom inner race when you press second bearing in, it will when you torque axle but it's better to do it on the outer race .
Last edited by Jackie Paper; Aug 29, 2022 at 01:29 PM.
If it's a little snug I wouldn't worry but if they are hard to turn, I would.
If you used an aftermarket wheel bearing installer. There is a good chance you may have forced the to bearings too close together and put too much side load on the bearing..
If you look at the installer pics, a lot of tools have a ridge that presses the bearing on too far. I've gone in and machined the lip off. The kent moore kit that HD uses does not have the lip.
Just flip the installer side of the tool so the flat side is against the second bearing during install. That will allow you to feel the inner race contact the axle sleeve. That's when you stop.
As BW said, if you can't turn it with your fingers, I'd start over.
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Front Wheel Bearings - Turn by finger or not?
