| Author | Message | ||
     Callawegian |
With some of the current threads discussing bearing failure I would like to survey those of you that are on here, when do you wash your Buell? If and or when you wash it, how do you wash it? Here is where I am going with these questions and my theory on how it might lead to bearing failure. If you are washing your bike, especially with a power washer and then putting it away could that be causing some of the failure? I am wondering if the water around those bearing with no where to go is detrimental? Are you using one of those motorcycle blow dryers? Myself I live off a gravel road and if I wash the Buell at home it is a waste of time. We have some local car washes that I can get by using fifty cents or a quarter to wash my bike. Are highway speeds displacing that moisture out of the bearings? What are your thoughts on this? | ||
| Uly_man |
I immerse my Uly in a quantum phase "wash discriminator" every other week. It comes up like new, Guv, and only $10 inc the air freshener. | ||
| Britchri10 |
I don't wash mine. I may clean the worst of the road crud off w/a spray of "green" cleaner and a paper towel. I clean the plastics w/Novus & I wipe the seat off if necessary. I, too, was worried about bearing failure should I wash the bike: so I didn't! (I now have a '10 rear wheel) Chris C | ||
| Buewulf |
You can force water into just about anything with a pressure washer, so that is certainly a possibility. My guess is that water finds its way in due to capillary action rather than pressure. Mine failed at around 5,000 miles when I first got the bike. It had 4K miles on when I bought it, so it is possible that the previous owners used a pressure washer on it. Since changing them, I keep a smear of antiseize around the bearing seal and mating surface. Can't say for sure that does anything, but the bearings have been solid ever since. To answer your washing question, I don't wash mine often nor do I use a pressure washer. I get caught in the rain a lot and often put the bike up wet. | ||
| Terrycoxusa |
pressure washer = Satan's right hand | ||
| Etennuly |
I found, through a lot of miles and checking, that the rear hub gets quite warm when running. It seemed to be a normal condition. Knowing this and how aluminum conveys moisture through it's self, my conclusion is that the hub will obtain water through condensation and not release it to the atmosphere except through the bearings. This situation presents itself when riding from dry into rain and when riding into the evening and parking out in moist air. I repack my bearings when I have the rear off for a new tire. I have also filled the void in the rear hub with marine grease to keep any water out. But hey, that is just how I rock! Oh, and nothing else matters to me because I have determined I am right!  I wash my bike whenever I feel like it(not too often) and I use my pressure washer when I feel like it too. Ya would have to be semi dense to not know what to pressure wash and what is sensitive to high pressure spray.  (Message edited by etennuly on March 27, 2014) | ||
| Ourdee |
I had a couple of thoughts about the water getting in: 1st When we go for a long ride and get heat into the rear hub then park the bike in the rain, does the cooling of the hub suck in moisture. Worse, I rode in the winter. 2nd When and where were the bearings and spacer put into the wheels, and what was the storage climate prior to the wheels being mounted on the bike at the factory? ie. Was there water in the wheel prior to it being installed? | ||
| Motorbike |
I wash my 08 XT often, probably once a week and I get asked all the time if it is brand new. Yes, I had a bearing failure (drive side only) at 7300 miles but I don't believe it was because I wash the bike. If that were the case, the rotor side and front bearings should have gone as well. The rotor side bearing looked like brand new when the other side failed. I never pressure wash the bike, just use a hose with a spray nozzle set to a wide fan setting. I spray it off, wash with a bucket of soap water and soft sponge, rinse the soap off then towel dry the entire bike. I then blast all the nooks and crannies with compressed air and dry it a little more with a soft towel. I always take it for a spin after I wash it to get it up to operating temp and get it completely dry. My biggest worry is getting water in the handlebar switches and ignition switch but I try to avoid spraying those areas directly. I can't help myself. I just like a clean bike and if I had a nice car or truck, it would be clean too. Just a little OCD I guess. Thanks. | ||
| Ratbuell |
What is this "wash" you speak of?? | ||
| Big_island_rider |
Ratbuell, Something that happens to a motorcycle by women in bikinis. Looks something like this:  | ||
| Ourdee |
That poor bike. | ||
| Rayycc1 |
That poor poor bike. | ||
| Callawegian |
I have never seen one of those pieces of equipment to wash my bikes, but I might need to get something like that. | ||
| Ratbuell |
...maintenance costs for an apparatus like that will bankrupt you... | ||
| Skifastbadly |
I live in the Seattle area. It rains here. I do occasionally wipe off the license plate and signal/brake lights if they get too dirty. | ||
| Ourdee |
+1 on wiping off the signal/brake lights, but see no benefit on wiping the plate. | ||
| Kaikoura |
Too bad the picture above is low resolution..its suppose to snow here again tomorrow.. | ||
| Big_island_rider |
Callawegian - Three words for you, Sturgis Rally Week Ratbuell - My advise, rent don't own. Looking back on the thread, blaming pressure washers for bike problems is like blaming spoons for people being fat or pencils for spelling errors. I have always used a pressure washer to wash my bikes. What I do take care to do is adjust the output pressure for the area I am washing. Full blast on the windshield, front of the saddle bags and lighter in the sensitive areas like gauges and handlebar controls. | ||
| Tootal |
I wash my bike every time I'm riding in the rain! Takes the bugs right off!  | ||
| Ratbuell |
 Gave mine a good "wash" yesterday going to see the RX. Brr...40 degrees and pouring SUCKED. | ||
| Skifastbadly |
There's no such thing as bad weather for riding, only inadequate attire. | ||
| Ratbuell |
...or extremely out-of-date spray waterproofing. On EVERYTHING. DAMHIK. brr. | ||
| Turf_moor |
I used to hose salt off it when I lived in England, but I'd never powerhose a Ulysses unless it was about to go in for wheel bearings. | ||
| Bigme007 |
Pressure washing (car wash) will most certainly contribute/result in wheel bearing failure. Seen it more than a few times on bikes in the shop. BMW's in particular. NO doubt it contributes to the issue on the Uly. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Thanks for the data point Bigme. | ||
| Callawegian |
I removed both wheels last night so that I could have a new set of tires mounted. After I removed the wheels I removed the outer protective seals. Three of the four bearings (06 Uly) were in great shape and the fourth needed a little attention. That is with 23K on the odometer and minimal bathing. |
