| Author | Message | ||
     Sfarson |
Still putting fun and early miles on a '09 Uly bought new this past June. I'm not in the mood to think about a bearing failure stranding me in the middle of nowhere, or opening up the wallet to buy a '10 wheel. Can any of you chime in with how the bearings have not let you down and that you've cranked out more than a few miles? | ||
| Swimmonkey |
Not many but 12,500. A lot of hard riding. A lot of dirt, creek crossings and mud. All is good. | ||
| Sanchez |
Over 30k on mine (black seal) | ||
| Thegibbon |
I can't say I've had no failure but my first set lasted 24k, and failed very soon after a winter of driving around on salty roads rusted them to death. | ||
| Hangetsu |
13K and no problems yet. | ||
| Panhead_dan |
"I'm not in the mood to think about a bearing failure stranding me in the middle of nowhere, or opening up the wallet to buy a '10 wheel" Just knowing the potential is enough to keep you from being stranded in the middle of nowhere. As I recall, that's where you live isn't it? Colorado?  (I saved some of your most excellent pics as wallpaper). My point is that if you check the bearings at tire change time you will be ok. To answer your question; I've got over 20,000 miles on mine but I did have the rear bearings replaced just before the warrenty ran out and I have a spare set in the garage. I believe that the 2010 wheel would have been the fix but it would have needed a couple of years to get the bugs worked out. Too bad. | ||
| Xbimmer |
'06 Uly built 10/05, purchased 05/06, original red NTN's replaced this past summer at 50K+ because I thought it was time and the seals were hard with two torn. Replaced with the black Buell KBC's because that's what BMC was telling us was the cure for the problems although I'd had none. I have been regreasing my bearings for two years or so after 20K or so, at each rear tire change, both front and rear. I slather anti-seize on the axles and torque by the book. I do NOT believe it was solely a bearing problem at all. YMMV. | ||
| Buellerxt |
That's encouraging, Xbimmer! Very cool. Have you ridden in rain quite a bit? I wouldn't think rain would get to the bearings much though. Stream crossings or power washes? Just curious. You took proper care upon hearing of problems and that diligence served you well. Cool. Ths. | ||
| Dmmblaze |
Panhead_Dan, What do you mean by the 2010 wheel fix needing a couple of years to get the bugs worked out? I wonder how many bearing problems were the result of over loading the Uly on long trips. The load capacity is around 450 pounds on the X and 415 on the XT. Going 2 up with a lot of gear could surpass those numbers pretty easily by some I would imagine. | ||
| Panhead_dan |
"Panhead_Dan, What do you mean by the 2010 wheel fix needing a couple of years to get the bugs worked out?" First of all I have to say that I've thought the fix was a 3 bearing wheel all along. That said, I think Buell was on the right track. Not having any experience myself with the new wheel I don't know of any problems with it but from reading about it I'm left wondering things like "how does the new axel function to slack the belt like the old one"? "Is there a drain hole in the wheel" and a few other random, ignorant thoughts. I wish I had the coin to find out! | ||
| Xbimmer |
Have you ridden in rain quite a bit? Stream crossings or power washes? Rain, in 2007 a LOT, and two up. Stream crossings, I very rarely cross anything other than flooded streets or puddles. Power washes, probably 1/2 doz in 3+ years and NEVER at the wheel hubs. That being said, when I replaced the rear bearings there was condensate in the hub, not running out but drops on the inside. The left rear bearing inside outer race was rusted, I'm assuming due to side stand angle, the right side looked like new. I drilled a weep hole into the wheel hub to help evaporate anything that may get past the KBC's. Since it looks like I'll be getting exceptional mileage out of my new RoadSmarts I'll be checking the bearings at 5K, long before tire replacement. Cheap and easy insurance. | ||
| Dio |
2010 axle is same as pre '10 as far as hourglass shape for belt purposes, and there is no drain hole. The seperate seals will take care of water incursion. | ||
| Paul56 |
Original bearings failed at around 40k miles. Never pressure washed or dunked in stream crossings, just ridden in the rain. Just installed second set as a precaution at 69k miles. Will clean and repack used ones and keep for spares. Also considering drilling a small hole into the hub void to allow drainage. I would seal it up with a dab of silicone and open it up periodically to see if any water was in there like at the first failure. | ||
| Buellerxt |
Is it common for hubs with sealed bearings to have a drain hole? Seems like it would be an 'entry' point for water. | ||
| Invisible_monster |
I just replaced the original bearings (orange seal)in both wheels after 10500 miles. They all felt smooth except for one (a front) that had a slight notchiness to it. This is on a 2008 Uly XT that has spent most of it's time on asphalt in dry weather. | ||
| Idaho_buelly |
09X w/8500 miles and orange seals,no problems yet, but plan on changing both sets at the 10,000 mile service,just for the piece of mind....I checked the rear when new tire was installed @ 6500 mi.Appeared to be fine..I'm going to treat them as a regular maint.item to be replaced every 10,000 miles ..Happy Trails! | ||
| Sfarson |
Appreciate the testimonials and thoughts everyone. Will ride with a little more peace of mind and just get them looked at or taken care of at major intervals. And yes Panhead, CO is the place, and getting lost on the Uly is always on the agenda! | ||
| Blk_uly |
I've over 20,000 on my 08 uly with the orange seals. Every tire change I pop the seals off and add a little grease to them just to bee sure. When spun by hand the bearings always feel terrible but once they are re-tourqued they are nice and smooth. I do ride in the rain quite often but I never pressure washed them. I learned not to do that on a previous bike... Come to think of if, I haven't even washed my poor uly at all since May of this year.  but now that our rainy season here is over, I just might wash her this weekend. | ||
| Babired |
I have over 20,000 on my 2007 I haven't taken it off road no bearing failure. I had them checked before I went to Colorado this year | ||
| Bienhoabob |
I had 52,000 miles with the original red/orange bearings on in the front. Rear I replaced at 30,000 miles. Went with the black update. I took EC97 advise and covered the outside of the seals with anti-seize. No stream crossings or power washes, but lots of rain and 1,000 mile days. | ||
| Jphish |
Question on regreasing wheel bearings: Some folks warn against mixing grease with different kind of bases (lithium vs moly vs sulfide etc) I'm not a lubrication chemist, so don't know if this is a concern or not. I've just been using Mobil 1 full synthetic. Any cautionary notes from the 'asylum' on this ?? | ||
| Sweetfish89 |
I have 21,xxx miles with no bearing problems in front or back wheel. | ||
| Jammin_joules |
nearly 20,000 on 2007 XB12X, no failures, been riding in snow, rain, mud, crap, dust, dirt, mountains, Moab, rocks, boulders, Boulder, drag raced it, toured with it, hit 131mph with it... (Message edited by Jammin_Joules on November 11, 2009) | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
About 24,000 miles and no failures. Why change out good orange sealed bearings to black sealed bearings? I think Buell snookered everyone by changing seal color while they developed and tested the 3 bearing wheel. That black sealed bearing may have different grease and different colored seal but I don't believe they are any better than the original bearings. Except maybe the grease. Me and others just add more (different) grease and go. Sure, if you blow water into the bearings at the power washer place or submerge your axles then you get what you get. Hope that 3 bearing wheel is worth it. Wouldn't mind having it but my original has caused me zero grief. | ||
| Kurbennett |
About 24k on my 06, no issues. | ||
| Etennuly |
My original rears made it 33000. The hub had about 4 oz of water in there. Installed new orange ones just before the black ones came available. Now have a grease fitting and a grease filled hub. The bike is now at 44100 miles. | ||
| Mark_weiss |
'08 X. Just passed 19k miles. Original orange-seal bearings. No powerwashing, little rain riding (hey, I'm in Arizona), no deep water crossings. Checked the bearings by feel at 10k, will do the same at 20k. Almost all of my travel is solo, generally carrying light cargo. Mark SE AZ | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Etennuly, Explain the procedure for us in regards to filling that hub with grease. How did you know when to quit filling? OR did you do it without the bearings in place? | ||
| Redshiftquasars |
2008 X 22k mi. orig bearings, socal rider, single rider during week and 2up on weekends. always lube/anti seize during tire change. (Message edited by redshiftquasars on November 11, 2009) | ||
| Firstbatch |
Front motor mount failed at 12,000....wheel bearing still going strong at 15,000 I think EG has had more motor mount failures than wheel bearings |
