| Author | Message | ||
     Bubba113 |
my original post was for dog vs footrest support/got it welded,then i skimmed through some other posts about belts & bearings.I just got back back from a trip&these things kinda hovered over me.The belt is no prob. but a wheel bearing could be ugly,is this an instant lockup the wheel or gradual noise first? | ||
| Hughlysses |
I think all the failures have been gradual. The problem is that sometimes it gets to the "catastrophic" stage before the rider notices. I haven't heard of a lock-up, but there have been several destroyed rear spacers. There have been at least a couple of ruined rear wheels, swing arms, and axles as well, caused when the bearing seizes and the race spins in the wheel. If you check your bearings every time you replace the wheel, and make a visual inspection of the seal area every time before you ride, you should be OK. The bearing seems to eat the seal and start spitting metal well before it gets to the lock-up point. | ||
| Jlnance |
Bubba - I've never heard of one locking up. They just fall apart, but the wheel will still spin on the spacer/axle. | ||
| Bubba113 |
thanks for the info. so far this bikes been a tank that corners like a rollercoaster. | ||
| Adrian_8 |
I have had two rear bearings destruct, there is an audible clicking sound at low speeds especially when just starting to move the bike.. The seal will be blown out... | ||
| Treadmarks |
Mine went at 20k on my 06. The 08 we just rented in alaska had the rear wheel bearings give up on us at 5k after 4 flats. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
Belt at 9k, preemptive changes now, Bearings at 17k preemptive changes @ 35K service. If you ride the bike only on the pavement your results may vary . | ||
| Whitj |
Any one found a way to introduce fresh grease to the bearings on the rear? Seems like this could help prolong the life w/ each oil change. Ideas anyone? Treadmarks... HELP? | ||
| Florida_lime |
Lots of threads on this already; but... Basically you remove the seal with a small pick, than inspect/repack the bearings with the grease of your choice, and replace the seal. Works best to do this at every tire change. | ||
| Bigkuri |
7000 odd miles, and I'm on my third set of rear wheel bearings, and my second belt. Bike is only on pavement. At least the bearings last about the same time as my rear tyre...  | ||
| Cityxslicker |
Lost the belt last nite. 17500 last change 25300... right on time. Good thing I ordered a replacement for the spare I carry two weeks ago.... That will teach me to ride her off road  | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over while expecting a different outcome. Bigkuri, There is something wrong with your spacer/bearings/axle torque relationship or you are pressure washing water into your bearings. Also next time you need new bearings, new or not, pop seals and add extra grease for peace of mind. Another thought: How tight is your bike's drive belt? Or maybe it just rains too much in London. I only go on about this because folks looking to buy a ULY see your post and run when most of us have no problem with the bearings ( given proper grease maintenance regimen, which I personally don't think is out of line. Every tire change or before a long tour, you just check and grease, only takes an hour and a 1/2 total time or less and you are good to go. I'm sure trashed bearings take up much more time when the bike is kaput because of them.). | ||
| Adrian_8 |
I really think the bearing problem is related to the wheel being torqued too tight....Somewhere around 40 lbs might be better...the belt has to be tight but cramming the bearing to 52 lbs seems excessive. | ||
| Florida_lime |
Other than the original factory installation (and when the bearings were replaced during a road trip), I did each rear wheel removal/tire change. I have never torqued the rear axle to the factory spec in hopes of preventing a failure. Obviously, it didn't matter.  | ||
| Bigkuri |
Bike is serviced by the UK's premier expert on Buells, so no problem there. Never jet washed (actually never cleaned...) Never off-roaded Not over torqued Use a Free Spirits belt tensioner Used rain, hail, snow (no sun as I live in bloody England...  ) Pointless questions as I don't care about it - it is a throw away part, cheap, and absolutely no hassle to have fitted. Basically zero labour and the part is worth FA. Maybe as Electra says there is something wrong with the geometry - a good point indeed. BUT, I don't really give a hoot about bearings - causes me no hassle, every time I go through a tyre (2k to 3k) it is checked by any good mechanic - so no problem. The belt was more of a problem - but replaced for free, and I do ride the bike hard, but that was not great - I was left stranded which is never nice. | ||
| M_singer |
I have no idea how much the swing arm lengths vary from one Uly to another. Just a thought though...a swing arm at a length on max tolerance might add enough of a belt tension increase to shorten belt/bearing life. | ||
| Krowbar |
Bigkuri Have you cooked any bearings or belts after installing the Free Spirits tensioner? Thanks | ||
| Bigkuri |
er - yes, all of them... The FS tensioner has been on since new. Just one of those things - not something that I really worry about. The belt had a lot of abuse- wheelies, fast riding, sustained high speed. | ||
| Alchemy |
Adrian_8 regarding torquing rear bearing. I had new tires front and back installed by a local independent shop who typically does good work. About 1500 miles later (I think) I had a nail flat on the rear tire. I had more time and went to remove the rear wheel. I had a bar and socket with the bar about 12 to 14" long. I bent the bar around the socket but could not loosen the axle. I took it back to the shop that installed the rear tire and he had to get a bar about 2+ feet long to loosen it. His comment was that they torqued to "about" 100 ft lbs for rear axles. I have properly torqued the axle when reinstalling the axle and ridden a thousand more miles or so and not had any problems. The bearing seemed ok when I looked at it meaning no water or rust visible. I did not remove the seal. I did smear some anti-seize over the seal when reinstalling. So I am hoping the over-torqueing is not what causes the bearing failures. I have about 18K on the original bearings. | ||
| Jphish |
Hey there 'Florida' - John here. Never torqued to factory specs ? What do you torque to ?? 50# here. Hope your rain has subsided ! j | ||
| Florida_lime |
John, IIRC, Factory is 48 -52. Way back when the bearing failure theories started, over-torqueing the rear axle was suggested as a reason. I went with 44 -46 #s, figured the pinch bolt was going to prevent any problems with anything loosening up. The ride side rear still gave out 575 miles into a 750 mile ride anyways, at 13,000 miles. Very little significant rain this week, even with a hurricane to the left, and a tropical storm to the right, etc.  What showers we have getting are pretty small, and blow through quickly. Hannah might bring a little more rain on Friday, but Hurricane Ike is the one that could be a problem early next week.  For reference: I do ride in most weather conditions, with an occasional dirt road thrown in. |
