Reuse wheel bearings

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Aug 2, 2023 | 01:06 PM

ronsnighttrain

Thread Starter

5th Gear

Joined: Sep 2007

Posts: 9

Likes: 0

Reuse wheel bearings

I bought an ultima king spoke wheel for my 06 night train. Stock size 21x2.15. I had the bearings swapped for the 3/4" axle. I had the steelership do the swap, plus install the new front rubber. When I picked up the wheel I was told the spacer between the bearings is a little short. I installed it, and now I have a very unnerving ting noise from the front wheel. After rechecking torque and make sure spokes were tight, I figured it is the spacer bouncing side to side inside the hub. My question is if I remove one of the bearings with the proper tool, could I reinstall it. The bearings dont even have 50 miles on them. I would hate to replace it .

Aug 2, 2023 | 01:26 PM

Goose_NC

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Feb 2016

Posts: 8,012

Likes: 6,908

From: NC

My bearing tool removes the bearing by pulling on the inner bearing race. Exerting pressure on the ***** of the bearing. Insertion is done via pressure on the outer bearing race, so no pressure is on the *****.

I think you could damage the bearing upon removal. Is $20 worth the risk? A new bearing should last 20k+ easily.

Also sound like you need the proper spacer for that wheel.

Aug 2, 2023 | 01:30 PM

ronsnighttrain

Thread Starter

5th Gear

Joined: Sep 2007

Posts: 9

Likes: 0

That is why I want to pull the bearing.

Aug 2, 2023 | 06:00 PM

Dan89FLSTC

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: May 2008

Posts: 21,175

Likes: 12,747

From: South Carolina

The removal process cross loads the bearing, it should not be reused.

Aug 10, 2023 | 04:50 AM

Dano523

HDF Community Team

Joined: Jan 2020

Posts: 1,434

Likes: 800

From: Colorado

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronsnighttrain

Lost here,since when shop did replaced the bearings for the 3/4" shaft, should have replaced the inner spacer with the correct needed length from the start (easy to make a new sleeve up on a lathe for the needed length from sleeve stock, or just starting with a longer oem sleeve and shorting it as needed instead).

So now with the axle nut tighten, already have the inner races being forced inward, the outer races as far as they will go in outwards now, bind wedging the ***** between the two races and trashing both on them out to start with.
So now, both bearings need to be pulled and thrown away, the new first bearing installed, measurement taken from its inner sleeve to where the other bearing inner race will sit when its installed, needed sleeve made to length and installed, then last new bearing installed.

Simply, the reason the inner sleeve in the first place, is to seat the inner races the same center line as the outer races installed in the rim sockets, so the ***** are riding center line of the races when the axle nut is tightened and pulling all that together via the outer shim spacers.

Also to point out,since the only way to get the bearings out now, is to press them out via the inner races (are pressed into rim using the outer sleeve surface so not to peen the other race via the *****), this will cause the ***** to peen the hell out of the race faces to destroy the bearing in the processes even more.

So not sure what dealership you had the bike worked on, but would be taking it back to have them replace the bearings and installing the correct needed inner length sleeve at their own cost.