I need new rear wheel bearings at 34,000km

[gronk62]

I couldn't believe it today when I pulled my rear wheel off to fit a new tyre and I checked my wheel bearings only to find they felt a teensy bit "rough".

I assume this means they gotta be replaced but damn! I've only travelled 34,000 km (21,000miles).
I thought these new sealed bearings are supposed to last around 100,000km (60,000miles)
Whats up with that????

Anyway I rang the dealer and was quoted $78 EACH and that doesn't include fitting. :yikes

I tried to match them up at a cuppla local bearing shops and was told they aren't available and must be a special HD part :doh

So I won't be buyin' them down here in OZ!
I'll hafta find a dealer in the USA who'll sell 'em to me coz I assume they'll be about a third the price over there.

I assume the old ones can be removed without a special HD tool. I was gunna get a local engineering shop to do it as my "local" dealership is over an hours drive away.

[Takingabreak]

I would have them checked, but it don't sound right.

Unless you do a lot of dirt road riding.

[gronk62]

I would have them checked, but it don't sound right.

Unless you do a lot of dirt road riding.

No dirt riding except for my driveway.
They are sealed anyway.

[stevo]

We're gettin a lot more mileage than that on the Twinkies up here... I think we've only replaced a couple of sets... and they were on high mileage dressers

and our roads are probably about as bad as they get...

Might be worth gettin ya local engineering shop to give an opinion on 'em

[toe]

Is there a number on the bearings?

Can you measure them?


I'm sure the bearings are out there somewhere.

[stevo]

They're a special size .... made for HD...


Not unusual a lot of different manufacturers do it...



Although I am testing a sealed bearing to fit earlier style wheels with the Timkins....

It apears to be holding up well at the moment

[toe]

A 2004 still had the 3/4" axle.

So the inner diameter could also be 19mm. With a number and/or measurement you may find them.............


Check www.mcmaster.com to see if they might list them

[toe]

Found some on ebay..........

# 4644441250

3/4" ID
21mm wide
52mm OD

BTW, don't know anything about seller good or bad............

[gronk62]

Thanks for the replies :)

These are the numbers and letters stamped on the bearings..

T 12 04

INA 45

F - 390598

H-D 9267 <-- this is the listed HD part # at the dealership

I haven't got very good verniers (crappy plastic ones:o ) but these are the measurements I got. It was a little hard to measure the width.

3/4" or 19mm ID

52mm OD

"About" 20 - 21 mm wide.

So it looks like the ones you found on ebay, Toe, are the right ones.

I've already sent an email to H&M HD asking if they have the OE ones in stock and how much they cost. If they are a reasonable price I'll go with them but if not I'll follow up those on ebay.

I got close to 100,000 km on my first Sporty before I sold it and it was fitted with the older style tapered roller bearings which I'd inspect and repack with grease every rear tyre change.
Those bearings where still in good condition and I would expect at least that much milage outa these new fangled ones.

[toe]

If you can get them cheap, you might want to consider 2-sets.......... (front tire)

[gronk62]

If you can get them cheap, you might want to consider 2-sets.......... (front tire)

Thats a bloody good idea!
Saves on 2 sets of postage.

[gronk62]

I've been out to the shed again after sleeping on this issue and checked the bearings again.

The bearings will turn smoothly in either direction for as long as I keep turning them in that direction.

But when I reverse the rotation and turn them back and forth I feel a tiny bit of "roughness" which when I think about it may be just the rolling components realigning themselves each time the direction changes.

Once I start to continuously turn them in the one direction they smooth out again.

Any opinions on this?

[stevo]

sounds normal ....

That's why I suggested getting ya local engineering shop to have a look as I tink ya might be being a bit over cautious..


try loading the wheel sideways a bit with the axle in there and see what it feels like against the load...

It should be smooth under load..... a bit of a "roughness" with no load 'specialy back and form may just be the cage movement


Sorta hard to tell from here tho

[gronk62]

sounds normal ....

That's why I suggested getting ya local engineering shop to have a look as I tink ya might be being a bit over cautious..


..a bit of a "roughness" with no load 'specialy back and form may just be the cage movement
Over cautious is a good thing when it comes to some things.

I've already experienced total rear wheel lock up at freeway speeds on one of my jappa's and it's not somethin' I'll forget or ever wanna experience again:o

After sleeping on it I kinda figured the "roughness" may have somethin' to do with the cage and/or other moving bits inside.

The wheel is back on now and I'll just keep an eye and ear on things.

[stevo]

I had one of my VF's collapse a rear wheel bearing...

Started rear wheel steering.... made for an interesting few seconds at 140 :D


and I don't know about HD's claims of 100K miles between bearings...... I reckon 100,000 kays would see me replacing 'em... even under normal use... and I'd be checkin carefully from 50,000 on....

[jack82]

But when I reverse the rotation and turn them back and forth I feel a tiny bit of "roughness"
Any opinions on this?



Phil..............Seeing as your checking for "roughness" It might be a good idea to check your head as well............:eek:

[toe]

Just so there wasn't any sort of side-play in them........

[gronk62]

Phil..............Seeing as your checking for "roughness" It might be a good idea to check your head as well............:eek:
:roflblack :roflblack


Garn!! http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v341/gronk62/smileys/nanana.gif

[Lynk]

Dunno if Zanotti's ships out of country, but they've quoted US$19.59 each and US$54.85 to ship to my addy. If you need someone to ship 'em to you, Gronk, give me a shout.

[gronk62]

Dunno if Zanotti's ships out of country, but they've quoted US$19.59 each and US$54.85 to ship to my addy. If you need someone to ship 'em to you, Gronk, give me a shout.
Thanks Michael :)

If I get screwed around by H&M HD I'll take you up on the offer.

Cheers :)