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Author Message   Ourdee Posted on Tuesday, April 24, 2012 - 05:08 am:        A couple of homecomings ago I had both rear bearings fail. It was warm enough this winter that I kept riding. Changing out tires brakes and the head bearings had to wait. I got a chance to work on Blue today. The lower head bearing was locked up solid. Took some work with a 3 pound slide hammer to get it out. I installed a lowering collar in the rear and backed off the preload on the front. Put the new battery in. The second one gave up the ghost a few weeks ago, and I've been running on the 1st battery that has been on a float charger the last 2 years. Number 3 belt is looking fine. New Angels on a pair of magnesium tone wheels with younger rotors and pulley went on. As I removed the rear wheel the drive side bearings fell out. Talk about cutting it close. I had my doubts about it. As i came home from work the other night it felt loose in the corners. The spacer is ate up too. I really need to find a 2010 wheel. As luck seams to be on my side today. I had a spare axle for the rear. The rear wheel is toast. Lucky I built up the spare set over the winter. When the bearings failed, they came apart and had to be welded to get them out. I believe that to be the cause of the wheel failure. The bearing that fell out turns silky smooth. Tomorrow I'll get it warm on a 45 minute ride. Put in fresh AmsOil, filter, plugs, wires, and increase the rear damping if needed.   Razz Posted on Tuesday, April 24, 2012 - 03:38 pm:        How did the lowering collar go? I have one on order and should be getting it next week.Any tips for installing it and did it make a difference?   Ourdee Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2012 - 01:30 am:        Holy Cow!I can flat foot at a light. Rode a half mile and went home to reset the compression dampening on the rear to 1 and rebound to 0.75 with 0 preload. Dialed the front preload to 0 to bring the nose down, set front compression at 1.875 and rebound at 1.75 . The rear felt like I had worn out shocks till I firmed it up. Not perfect, but a good starting point. I got a blood blister but didn't loose any fingers. If I do it again, I'll use threaded bolts and metal hooks instead of tie down straps. Tip: don't try it with straps.   Ourdee Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2012 - 04:58 am:          Uly_man Posted on Wednesday, April 25, 2012 - 11:29 am:        "Dialed the front preload to 0 to bring the nose down, set front compression at 1.875 and rebound at 1.75." I would suggest that you raise the forks in the clamps by the same amount that you lowered the rear end. You will then be able to use the full range of preload on the front. You will need it for the bike to run right.   Ourdee Posted on Thursday, April 26, 2012 - 12:07 am:        I still need a set of bar risers to clearance the tops of the forks. So, it's 0 instead of 8 right now. One thought is running a bar clamp upside down under the bars. I haven't looked far enough into it yet.   Natexlh1000 Posted on Thursday, April 26, 2012 - 07:46 am:        Wow. Yeah that bearing "could use a little work"   Ourdee Posted on Sunday, May 06, 2012 - 03:12 am:        Well, I took the lowering collar back out. I ride too aggressive for it. FOR SALE: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/21/678598.html?1336287610   Tleighbell Posted on Sunday, May 06, 2012 - 09:23 am:        Ourdee, could you explain what you mean by you ride too aggressively for the lowering collar? I was thinking of it as a possible option. How did it affect the handling of your Uly?   Ourdee Posted on Monday, May 07, 2012 - 02:37 am:        First: Collar is sold. It's a Buell, can it be ridden too aggressively? I tried making the shock firmer. But the loss of suspension travel was too much for me. I was able to bottom out the rear end under heavy acceleration with a dip in the road exiting a corner. Rear end felt bouncy till I tightened the rebound and compression. Slow speed parking lot handling was easier with it low. It stopped it from wheelying at 4500 in first gear.   Tleighbell Posted on Monday, May 07, 2012 - 12:33 pm:        Thanks   Uly_man Posted on Tuesday, May 08, 2012 - 12:42 pm:        "But the loss of suspension travel was too much for me." Is your bike a XT? How much lower do you want it to go? "I was able to bottom out the rear end under heavy acceleration with a dip in the road exiting a corner. Rear end felt bouncy till I tightened the rebound and compression. Slow speed parking lot handling was easier with it low. It stopped it from wheelying at 4500 in first gear." ??????   Tleighbell Posted on Wednesday, May 09, 2012 - 08:37 pm:        Back to the lowering collar, am I right that all it does is reduce pre-load on the spring allowing greater sag?   Razz Posted on Wednesday, May 09, 2012 - 09:53 pm:        All the collar does is reduce preload.Suspension travel remains the same although because of the greater sag you are using less of it.I would think that when trail braking the rear end would be at the same height as without the collar possibly eliminating the need to lower the front suspension.Other than allowing more initial sag I am not sure how it affects the rear suspension performance.I have a collar ,but have not installed it yet. (Message edited by Razz on May 09, 2012)

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