HELP!... Wheel Bearings
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Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 30
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From: Charleston, IL
HELP!... Wheel Bearings
Hey all,
I have been a long time lurker around here just never post much. I recently had my wheels cut and chromed off my 2005 Fatboy FLSTFI. Anyhow, the chroming house removed the bearings and inserts(shims/spacers) and sent them back separate from the wheels. I now need to install everything. I just got the message that the stuff is at home so I have not seen it yet. I got a run on Saturday and really need to get this thing back together tonight after work.
Anyone have a diagram of how the spacers and bearings go back into the hub? Not having much luck finding anything online.
and yes, I got new bearings at home as well. Just not sure on the spacers and such?
I have been a long time lurker around here just never post much. I recently had my wheels cut and chromed off my 2005 Fatboy FLSTFI. Anyhow, the chroming house removed the bearings and inserts(shims/spacers) and sent them back separate from the wheels. I now need to install everything. I just got the message that the stuff is at home so I have not seen it yet. I got a run on Saturday and really need to get this thing back together tonight after work.
Anyone have a diagram of how the spacers and bearings go back into the hub? Not having much luck finding anything online.
and yes, I got new bearings at home as well. Just not sure on the spacers and such?
just look at the spacers, you can see where the bearings seat or even use a towel and put that where the bearings go, drop in the spacer and find the one that would sit flush once the bearing is seated... then all you have to do is get new bearings... let them sit in the freezer for a few hours and pop them in... done and done! (ususally the back wheel spacer is shorter, but not always)
Banned
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,706
Likes: 7
From: Woodstock, Ont , Can
Measure the distance from the inside of one pocket to the other in the wheel. Check to see if the inner race of the bearings is at the same level as the outer ring. If they are this dimension will be the actual spacer length. You want the spacer length to be a few thou longer than the actual measurement to not load the bearings during axle torquing. .002-.005 is plenty. This is where the shims come into play. Mix and match to get the correct total required spacer needed. Never go exactly or less than the pocket distance or we will be reading about your bearing failure. Never trust what you took out was right either, and if you had them chromed it definately won't be the same dimension unless they masked it.
Ron
Ron
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,223
Likes: 3
From: Peoria, AZ
Dunno if I'm just misreading, rbabos, but what you're talking about sounds like setting tapered bearings end-play but not the sealed-type as for a 2005 [with no inner shims]? There should be just the bearings and an inner sleeve-tube for the wheels and then the correct outside spacers to set the wheel/brake calipher offsets. The rear wheels inner sleeve-tube should be the longer of the two since it's a thicker hub and the bearings just press right (do rotor side first) on, no fuss! Just put one bearing in first then try each one; wrong & right will be evident! I've heard that "freezer trick" but never tried it here where it's usu. 100 deg. out so they stay cold for about a second! LOL The outer spacers should be easy enough to get right by looking at spaces between hubs & forks with wheel in with axle in but no nut & seeing which one goes best where...
HDF Community Team
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,394
Likes: 2,596
From: NC USA
Saw a thread some time back, he had a tire changed at a shop that put the axle spacers on reversed... can you believe it?
I think the one post is addressing the tapered bearing, talking about shims. I think the 2000 and later have the sealed bearings and the spacer just sits in there. ??
I think the one post is addressing the tapered bearing, talking about shims. I think the 2000 and later have the sealed bearings and the spacer just sits in there. ??
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Road Master
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,223
Likes: 3
From: Peoria, AZ
I thought it sounded like the ole tapers & shims! Had a buddy had a tire changed at Mother Road in Kingman and rim almost fell off the bike week later after axle locked and adjusters broke off! Then they would not accept responsibility but gave him "discount" for new rear swingarm + parts. Hell, while we were in there, a guy had to bring his back in because they gave him a front tire, when he asked for a rear plus the rotation arrow was backward! Nice, huh? I usu. don't rag on dealers but posts made me think of this.
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Banned
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,706
Likes: 7
From: Woodstock, Ont , Can
Dunno if I'm just misreading, rbabos, but what you're talking about sounds like setting tapered bearings end-play but not the sealed-type as for a 2005 [with no inner shims]? There should be just the bearings and an inner sleeve-tube for the wheels and then the correct outside spacers to set the wheel/brake calipher offsets. The rear wheels inner sleeve-tube should be the longer of the two since it's a thicker hub and the bearings just press right (do rotor side first) on, no fuss! Just put one bearing in first then try each one; wrong & right will be evident! I've heard that "freezer trick" but never tried it here where it's usu. 100 deg. out so they stay cold for about a second! LOL The outer spacers should be easy enough to get right by looking at spaces between hubs & forks with wheel in with axle in but no nut & seeing which one goes best where...
Ron
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