| Author | Message | ||
     Joypipe |
INFO: 2008 Uly, I own all the manuals. Should I be concerned about how a shop sets my new bearings in my rear tire or just that they press them in the right order and just till they are flush with the spacer in between properly? The Buell manual has a "Special" tool that is a bolt and plates that press them in. Not sure what the rest of the bike world uses (to press bearings) so not going to a "Buell" repair shop worries me. BTW the toolset for bearings that Buell made costs $1,300! | ||
| Etennuly |
If a competent mechanic has the instructions correct, there should be no problem. I personally recommend heating the rim's hub with a heat gun, having cooled the bearings in a freezer, using a small block of hardwood and a small ballpein hammer, starting with the rotor side bearing, just lightly tap in into the hub making sure it goes straight and evenly in until it stops. If the hub is hot enough and the bearing cold enough, it will nearly fall in. Then insert the spacer from the pulley side, re heat the hub, set the cold bearing in place, tap it squarely down just until the center bearing race just touches the spacer. Do not make the outer race go in further. When the temperatures equalize the bearing outer races will lock into the hub. I recommend using the heat method for removing the bearing also. Pulling them out cold puts friction wear on the surface the outer race fits into. How hot you ask? Well my heat gun goes to 1050 degrees F. I get it hot enough, moving around evenly, that I cannot touch it with my bare hand. It has never damaged the powder coat and I have my rims painted over that. It does not hurt to tell a good mechanic that you have specific instructions for your bike. If he refuses to listen.....you might look to someone else. | ||
| Joypipe |
hmm.. This makes it sound so easy that I want to run to harbor freight for a heat gun. How do you pull the old bearings? Manual says blind bearing puller... blah blah blah. I can get one at HF too. You're saying put heat around the rim so as to not heat up the bearing? Thanks! | ||
| Ronmold |
Although they will both get hot, the heat will expand the aluminum faster than the steel race when removing, very good method. Yes, get a heat gun, dirt cheap at Harbor, don't use a torch. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Heat guns are a must have tool for the tool box. And I use that thermal approach with dirt bike bearings every time. It's like magic, and for a dirt bike case you can just put them on the grill for a while. Al Lighton posted a great bearing removal tip a few weeks. You basically end up welding a washer to the inner race so you can push it out. | ||
| Xbimmer |
Harbor Freight puller:  Brand new Harbor Freight heat gun died on me after the first bearing, bought this one from Home Depot:  When you heat the hub (not the rim) well enough the puller seems like overkill the bearings pop out so easily. Just make sure the pulling force is straight so you don't damage the seats. Next time I do mine at 100K I'll be taking off the pulley and rotor from the rear wheel though, too hard to consistently heat the hub and I suspect they act as big heat sinks... | ||
| 7873jake |
http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142 838/665204.html That blind bearing puller pictured above + the heat gun should result in little more than a few taps for extraction. No part of this process takes a white knuckle or grunt for extraction or insertion so if you find yourself there, please come back and post up. Heat and cool and proper tools make this exercise relatively simple. | ||
| Djohnk |
A heat gun isn't necessary. I used my girlfriends hair dryer (she wasn't there) and it worked pretty good. | ||
| Rdkingryder |
Just did them on my '07. I set the wheel out into the sun, had the bearings in the freezer the day before. "Rented" a blind puller from Autozone for free. Pulled out both bearings and spacer, popped new ones in. Total time, about 30 minutes.      | ||
| 7873jake |
Hey, that bearing puller looks familiar!! | ||
| Rdkingryder |
Autozone is your best friend! They give you your deposit back when you return it. Can't beat free. | ||
| Ourdee |
I lift the wheel about 1" off the floor with the puller. A couple of lifts with the slide hammer and the wheel falls off. I use large all-thread with washers and spacers to install the bearings. Don't forget the silver anti-seize grease. | ||
| Buewulf |
Get a heat gun. Great tool to have. I use it to strip paint from wood and metal, solder wires and plumbing, remove decals, remove stubborn threaded fasteners (and bearings), etc. I bought a nice little Ryobi variable temp heat gun at Home Depot. $60 I think. It came with a great little attachment for solder work, too. |
