| Author | Message | ||
     Jphish |
HMMM - Don't know if folks missed this but...Thetable reports black bearing failure @ 12K mi. Yikes! Just as we thought 'problem solved'. In the approx 18 months they've been used as replacement for the red bearings, this is the first failure I've heard of. However, doesn't bode well for all of us that have switched, thinking this was the 'answer' to BFAS (Bearing Failure Anxiety Syndrome) Guess we'll have to see how the new 2010 3 bearing arrangement works out. I'm inclined to wait for it to "prove" itself, before I drop $500 on the swap out. Anyone planning to beta test the 'improved' version ? | ||
| Florida_lime |
Court is. | ||
| Hughlysses |
I wouldn't rule out the black seal bearings has being "a" fix (maybe not "the" fix) until we know more about this failure. Al Lighton recently posted new factory guidance on installing the bearings, including tolerances for the center spacer (see wheel bearing thread in the New Uly Owner sub-forum linked at the top of BB&D). This info may have not been available when Thetable's bearings were installed. Court already has a new wheel, bearings, and axle on the way so we should have more details on it very soon. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
I'll bet there was a tire change somewhere within those 12,000 miles. Should have added grease since it is so easy to do. Sort of like those lifetime drive belts that came out with the 06' ULYs. Lot's of those have failed for one reason or other too. Any bearing can fail. To forestall that happening, all you have to do is treat it like any other mechanical part and maintain it. Mark my words, the new 3-bearing extra seals wheel will have a few failures here and there. It is inevitable. When that happens, it will be written about here ad nauseam and everyone will be crying that the sky is falling. It is way easier and less expensive to maintain mechanical systems then it is to replace. By the way, my 06' has extra seals on the bearings and I call it Permatex anti-seize. I'm sure Court will help Buell sell a load of those new fangled wheels. I'm darned sure it is better than what the rest of us were provided but I haven't suffered one iota with the original design. To buy a $500 wheel to replace a wrecked wheel is one thing but to just buy one because ya got a hole burning in your pocket is a whole other thing. When and if I get that new wheel you can be assured that it will be attached to a new bike. (Message edited by electraglider_1997 on August 04, 2009) | ||
| Florida_lime |
I added/checked grease at each tire change, and torqued to the low limit of the specs, following the SM. The only times anyone else worked on my rear wheel was at the factory, or during a warrantied bearing replacement. I'm on my 3rd set. Black seals installed the last time. Greasing/checking may help, but it is NOT a cure. (Message edited by Florida_lime on August 04, 2009) | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
I also seal the outside of bearing with Permatex. My belt is original and has 20,000 miles on it and only gets tight when I torque the axle to spec. I rarely ride a passenger as my wife and son both ride there own. Never pressure wash and rarely wash it other than a wipe down. And I agree that greasing is not a cure but it certainly keeps my bearings in remission. | ||
| Jphish |
+1 on the permatex - I did that on the black bearings too. | ||
| Thetable |
Yup, mine failed, and it is being looked into. Unfortunately I was out of town at the time, and didn't take the bike into my regular shop, and the shop I ended up at didn't seem to be real big on the Buell's, with only three on the floor, and when they saw my odometer, they commented that it was the highest mileage Uly they had seen. (Come on, it was only 18.5k when I took it in there.) Failure was not catastrophic, just some play in the rear wheel for a little rear wheel steering action and no noise (at least not loud enough for me to hear through the earplugs.) | ||
| Arcticktm |
Implying someone failed to do a proper job of servicing their bike for not adding grease to a sealed bearing is not right. I popped the seals on my front bearings to check after replacing my rears, but in no way consider that "normal" maintenance on this type of bearing. I am doing the anti-seize coating thing now, and I check to see if that is still intact, rather than popping out the seals each time the wheel is off. A nice inspection of the bearings for any signs of leakage (water or grease) or "notchiness" would be a nice mention to add to the owners manual, though. Never seen this in any manual, but still not a bad idea. You could do more harm than good, since these seals are easily damaged if you are not very careful. After all, they were not designed to be removed. Water intrusion seems to be one of the most common factors in the reported failures (including my near-failure). | ||
| Teeps |
I think that eventually Buell will do the right thing and have a recall, regarding the rear wheel bearing issue; it's just a matter of time. | ||
| Johnboy777 |
""I think that eventually Buell will do the right thing and have a recall, regarding the rear wheel bearing issue; it's just a matter of time.""  |
