| Author | Message | ||
     Free_bird |
I believe the rear wheel was updated for improved bearings in 2009 or 2010 - correct? Is the front wheel and or bearing p/n the same for 2006-2010? Thanks | ||
| Froggy |
The upgraded wheel is stock on the 2010 Buells, and is retrofitable to all years of XB/1125 models. The front wheel never changed. | ||
| Ratbuell |
The '10 wheel changed from two to three bearings, and they're a larger diameter. It requires a matching axle. The front WHEEL never changed. The bearings went through different suppliers. I want to say the original '06 bearings had an orange dust seal, and the upgrade was to go to the black-seal bearings (better vendor, I think '08 OEM). I'd offer to go check mine...but it's so habitually filthy I couldn't tell you what color they were supposed to be if my life depended on it!  | ||
| Free_bird |
Thanks, guys. That provides the info I needed.  | ||
| Griffmeister |
Yeah, as far as the two bearing OEM wheels go, the first ones were orange seals and the newer ones were black and supposedly better. My 08 came with the orange seals and I ordered a new set that came with black seals. Put the black ones on at first tire change at 8K miles. Now have 19K with no problems yet. | ||
| General_ulysses |
My stock '06 with only 5500 miles has orange seals on the rear wheel bearings. | ||
| Motorbike |
My 08 XT had orange seals, front and rear, from the factory. The drive side rear bearing failed at 7300 miles. I now have the 2010 rear wheel and axle setup and so far, so good. The fronts are still the stock orange seal bearings and they seem very smooth yet at a little over 13000 miles. | ||
| Pontlee77 |
But put this in mind an X1 had 3 bearings, Why when they made the XB they went to 2? | ||
| Motorbike |
One word - CHEAPER. | ||
| Schwara |
In their defense I hope that they decided on the earlier models that 3 bearings were not required and so, as you said, it was a cost savings. The interesting thing is that with the modified design of the Uly and the extra mileage, weight, and mixed usage this bearing issue raised it's head so apparently they already had some experience with a way to help. Selfishly, I wish they would have come out with that in 09. I still have to order a new wheel at some point. | ||
| Motorbike |
As I mentioned earlier, I had a drive side bearing fail early on this bike. I know some have questioned if belt tension might be playing a role in some of the fails. I replaced my stock AKE drive belt with a new AKF belt over winter and one thing I noticed right away was that the new belt is not nearly as tight as the old belt, even after 12,600 miles on the original. Not only could I push the belt up and down with my fingers more easily than the stock belt but I can also grab the idler and spin it with two fingers while the bike is on the side stand. I could never do that with the old belt, even right before I pulled it off. I only have 370 miles for the season so far on the new belt but it seems like the bike rolls more smoothly and with less vibration than with the old belt. Also, when I was wiping down the bike after washing it, I noticed that the rear wheel spins more freely now than it used to with the old belt. Maybe the belt tension thing is all just due to manufacturing tolerances and if so, I went from one end with the old belt to the other end with the new belt. Hopefully with the new belt and 2010 wheel, there will be no more bearing issues. It sucks having to haul the bike home. Thanks! | ||
| Arry |
"Maybe the belt tension thing is all just due to manufacturing tolerances...". this is a good theory. My bike had 3k miles when I got it, and the belt was tight enough that I couldn't turn the idler. By the time it had 10k miles I could turn the idler, but feel the friction of the belt. I recently put on a new belt (the old one is still good), and now I can't turn the idler again. I agree with Motorbike, if some belts were extra tight, that could have been a big factor in the bearing failure issue. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Until the Uly came out (with its pack-mule load capacity and huge gross weight rating) there were few, if any, bearing failures. Up to that point, a third bearing was just overkill. So...it was dropped in the name of efficient manufacturing and yes...pricing. People started loading down their Ulys and we started seeing problems. Eventually the engineers went back to the "overkill" design. Fact of the matter is though...a bearing is a service part. It has a useful life then it needs to be replaced. Some last longer than others...but none last forever. |
