| Author | Message | ||
     Motorbike |
Guys, my beloved 08 XT let me down yesterday near Woodbury, MN, 75 miles from my home in Byron. The drive side wheel bearing let go at 7300 miles and ended my beautiful day of riding. I guess it could have been worse. I had just pulled off a major highway, I-94, where I was traveling at least 70-75mph. Fortunately I heard and felt something was not quite right and was able to stop before any major damage was done. I limped it about 1/4 mile back to the nearest hobby farm and the owners were home. They were very kind and let me relax there while waiting for a ride. My brother was able to drive my pickup up after he got off work and pick me and the bike up. Made for a long day. I'm also glad it did not fail the day before when I was on a benefit ride for the Ronald McDonald House for kids who have cancer. There were 1530 motorcycles in that ride and we raised over 133,000 dollars for the home that day! Does anyone know if the 2010 rear wheel kit is available in black, for the XT? The bike is under warranty but I doubt the dealer will replace the wheel since it is not damaged yet. I may just replace the bearings but I would still like to know the 2010 wheel availability, if I should go that route. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Shouldn't of failed with only 7300 miles but I'll bet you never did any bearing maintenance and that is why it crapped out. Yeah, maybe you feel that you shouldn't have to mess with sealed bearings but on these bikes yo sho enough do. Maybe you had someone install a new rear tire and they over torqued the bearing? Maybe you did everything right and shiite happens. Hope it doesn't happen to me on my up coming Sturgis trip. | ||
| Froggy |
Yes it is available, how long you will wait for it is another question. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
Do you suppose Erik Buell Racing will someday be offering hubless wheels that'll fit the ULY? Those hubless wheels seem like some darn good engineering. Aren't they the first with them (hubless with spokes, that is)? (Message edited by electraglider_1997 on July 26, 2011) | ||
| Timberwolf |
Still under warranty? Have the dealer fix it. They should use the improved black seal bearings and then you can plan on upgrading to the 2010 wheel if it fails again after warranty. | ||
| Johnboy777 |
...Orrrrr, ride the hell out of it now, destroy the wheel and get the dealer to upgrade to the 2010 wheel under warranty. at EG, Hubless Wheel:  | ||
| Nobuell |
My replacement black 2010 XT wheel arrived 3 days after the order was placed. Hopefully it will be the same for you. Make sure that you check the swing arm for damage. Mine was destroyed but, my bearings failed at 80 MPH. Good luck! | ||
| Motorbike |
Thanks for all the replies! I'll bet you never did any bearing maintenance and that is why it crapped out. You are right, I did nothing to the bearings. Buell should have put grease zerks on 'em. ...Orrrrr, ride the hell out of it now, destroy the wheel and get the dealer to upgrade to the 2010 wheel under warranty. Problem is, I would probably crash and destroy me and the bike at the same time. Maybe you had someone install a new rear tire and they over torqued the bearing?The rear wheel has never been off. Funny you should mention it as I have a new Pirelli Angel setting in my workshop right now. Yesterday was going to be my last ride before I swap the tire out. Didn't quite make it home though. I called my dealer's service manager already and asked if they would upgrade the wheel by any chance, since my wheel is still good. He said he would call H-D and get back to me..... | ||
| Nobuell |
Motorbike HD covered the 2010 wheel and swing arm under warranty. I told them that I wanted the new wheel and kind of forced the issue. I would push it with them since I doubt the 2010 wheel costs HD anymore than the old one. As a matter of fact, why would they continue to have an obsolete wheel manufactured when they have a improved replacement? The extra cost would be the new axle and spacers needed for the new wheel. Perhaps you could offer to pay for the new axle to off set any added costs if the first refuse. The new wheel is definitely the way to go. Opening the sealed bearings and applying new grease is a stop gap measure at best. The old bearing design is just plain bad. After mine failed at speed, I would not risk using the old bearing design. I would have purchased one myself if I could not get it covered by HD. | ||
| Schwara |
Is there any sort of "average" mileage that I should expect to get out of my '09 bearings? I've only put a little over 1000 miles on my Uly but she has >20K. The 20K service was done just prior to my purchase & I didn't see anything about bearing service or replacement in the maintenance history. I have a black 2010 wheel assy on my wish list from American Sport Bike now, but should I start actively saving in anticipation? Thanks | ||
| Motorbike |
NoBuell, the difference between your failure and mine is that the wheel was destroyed on yours and mine is still OK, I think. I have not taken it apart yet. I would gladly pay for the bearings, seals and axle if H-D would cover the wheel. I am also very willing to do my own labor. I have a feeling that I will end up replacing the shot bearings now, just to get back on the road. I may then try to save up for a 2010 wheel setup and hope they are still available when I get $500. Anyone willing to donate to a very worthy cause?  | ||
| Motorbike |
Does anyone know what color of black is on the wheels of my 08 XT? Is it Designer Black? I sure hope so because that's what I ordered. My dealer service manager said that is all that is available. | ||
| Etennuly |
Schwara, there is no set kind of mileage at which the bearing failure might occur. I have read about everything from new going out the dealer driveway to where some have near eighty thousand miles. Mine went at about thirty thousand. It is a total crap shoot, but as a guess, where I get ten thousand or more miles out of a rear tire, changing them at twenty to twenty five thousand can't be an all bad proposition. | ||
| Ratbuell |
I put black seal bearings in my 06 UlyX at 5k miles, as preventative maintenance. Got nearly 30k on it now. ZERO "bearing maintenance". Multiple tire changes. Traditionally ride overloaded (all three bags). LOTS of rain rides. And snow rides. And dirt/mud rides. Slab rides. Trips to the Dragon. You name it, I've done it. No issues. | ||
| Schwara |
Thanks Etennuly ... I didn't realize it was so random / unpredictable. I guess I'll go ahead and move the 2010 wheel up on my wish list and start saving just in case. I was just over in your neck of the woods (no pun intended) last week. I used to camp & hike in the Smokies as a kid and I had forgotten how beautiful it is out there. | ||
| Schwara |
I appreciate you post as well Ratbuell. Maybe it would be worth a try initially to give the black seal bearing a go at the next tire change as opposed to waiting until I have enough $$ for a 2010 wheel. I'm sure others have posted so I'll look around, but is it difficult to press out the old and press in the new bearings? I don't have the tools currently but I'm guessing that the cost of equipment would still be cheaper than a new wheel assy. | ||
| Motorbike |
I wash my bike a lot, as most of you know. But, when I do, I am very careful to not spray water at any wheel bearings and never use a pressure washer at all. I know a lot of you are thinking I caused my bearings to fail at 7300 miles but I have washed every bike I have ever owned and never had a water related failure of any kind. Just out of curiosity, how many of you that never wash your bike have had a rear bearing fail? My dealer's service manager called me back and said H-D would not cover the cost of the 2010 wheel because mine is not damgaged. They offered to replace my bearings under warranty but also offered to sell me the 2010 setup for a reduced price. I told him to go ahead and order it. What makes this changeover expensive are the extra parts needed, especially the bolts and washers for the brake rotor and drive sprocket. Also, I'm still wondering if I ordered the proper color of black 2010 wheel for my 08 XT. Are the stock wheels Designer Black? Thank you. (Message edited by motorbike on July 27, 2011) | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
You'd think that popping seals on these bearings is a difficult proposition. I'd rather do that then hope for the best. Anytime the wheel comes off I check those bearings. The front wheel doesn't seem to be the problem the rear wheel does but I check those too. I've read here on badweb about black seal wheel bearings crapping out and also at least one instance of a 2010 rear wheel bearing failure. Sure, Ratbuell hasn't had a failure but I also heard a guy at the gym who smokes cigars all the time telling me how his dad was a smoker and lived until he was 83. There you go, smoking must be ok because 1 out of 1,000 smokers lasts past 70. | ||
| Johnboy777 |
With all of the rear wheeling bearing hoopla a few years back, I stopped at Applied, and talked with them about my situation. They recommended SKF, so I went that route, bought two sets and plan to change them out every 20,000 miles or so. I replaced the originals at 7,000 miles – they looked perfect at the time, by the way. SKF cost a little more. Keep in mind, that manufacturers typically source based on cost, first and foremost. Applied http://www.applied.com/site.cfm/bearings_new.cfm?W T.ac=Bearings_Home SKF http://www.skf.com/portal/skf/home/products?conten tId=000392&lang=en ... | ||
| Schwara |
Motorbike ... sorry I don't know for certain about the color. When I checked with Al (American Sport Bike) I believe that he indicated that the black wheel I could order from him would be the same color as what is on my '09 now. Sorry I don’t have more specifics. Ironically, our bikes (based on your picture) look almost identical except that yours looks to be in a little better shape and you have the Palmer brackets. I’m still trying to decide between Palmer and MadStad. I get the impression that my bike spent the 1st 19.5 K (1st owner) sitting outside as I still find places that need a good scrubbing every time I give her a bath. Oh well, I like my bikes garage kept, shiny, and clean but I know that's not the same as everyone else. As long as the wheels are turning who cares. Thanks for the links Johnboy, I'll check up on those as well. I am more than willing to pay extra for something that lasts. | ||
| Reepicheep |
My bikes generally only get washed when it rains while I am riding, or before I sell them.  No bearing failures yet, but I do have new parts on the shelf waiting for the next indication that there is a problem. Every time I pull the wheel for a new tire, I expect to replace them, but they are always fine. | ||
| Treadmarks |
A few years back I drilled two holes in my rear hub to let water out, as my bearings had failed from the inside. Still rolling great!  | ||
| Motorbike |
When I get my new 2010 wheel installed, I still plan to wash the bike as always. I hope the extra seal on the new design is able to keep all moisture out of the bearings. If the new 3 bearing setup fails, I will probably sell this one and buy a bike that I can keep looking nice. If water is causing problems with these bearings, how come we rarely hear of any front bearings falling apart? They are exactly the same design as the rears, just smaller. While I am waiting for parts, I am going to pull my front wheel and inspect those very closely. I may even pop the seals, clean and grease them. | ||
| Treadmarks |
If water is causing problems with these bearings, how come we rarely hear of any front bearings falling apart? Because the front wheel hub comes with holes in it from the factory.  | ||
| Andymnelson |
I both wash my bike regularly and ride in the rain. No rusty bearing failures for me. Don't let them scare you, washing your bike properly will NOT cause everything to fall apart. They're just jealous because our bikes look good AND perform good, while theirs just perform good.  | ||
| Motorbike |
Because the front wheel hub comes with holes in it from the factory. Treadmarks, you may be right. I never even considered that but it does make sense. Thanks! | ||
| Motorbike |
Andymnelson, which bearings do you have? Orange or black seal? How many miles? Are they original? | ||
| Prowler |
I followed Treadmarks lead and drilled some holes in the disk side of the rear hub (good idea, if you ask me....) I also run the famous spring loaded belt tensioner which takes about a thousand lbs of static load off the bearings (or so it seems). No bearing failures as of yet. (Message edited by prowler on July 28, 2011) |
