| Author | Message | ||
     Buelltastic |
Could be a dumb question, but is there a reason or purpose for the aluminum sleeve between the wheel bearings on the wheels. I think anyone who has removed the wheel bearings knows what type of obstacle this creates, and I know they make a special tool. But, is there any reason it is there, it would make swapping bearings much easier if it did not exist and they could be punched out, or pulled with just about any bearing puller. So when I take out my bearings tomorrow do I leave it out, or will my bike never start again without it?  | ||
| Xl_cheese |
It keeps the bearings from binding when you tighten the axel. Without it the inner race of the bearings would be allow to move inward. | ||
| Jramsey |
It's there to allow for axle tightening without preloading (binding) the bearings. | ||
| Buelltastic |
Ahhhh the clarity, Sounds like I will be leaving it in. Thanks | ||
| Etennuly |
It is what allows the torque of the axle shaft to remain neutral to the balls and races in the bearings. Without it there would be a side load on the balls and races that would cause rapid destruction. | ||
| Froggy |
Trust me, you don't want a side load on your balls  | ||
| Rhun |
This is the thing that crushes or did so in older models when you over tighten the axle nut. Then yes side load then bad bearings. Buell paid a fortune in warranty repairs because of this. They have probably gotten the Chinese to use better metal by now, I hope. | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
"This is the thing that crushes or did so in older models" Older models as in tubers? or as in early XB's? I just got off the phone with a '99 X1 owner asking me why their dealer-installed front wheel bearings are gone again after 500 miles. I said probably due to overtorquing the axle and advised not letting a dealer touch the bike ever again. If there's a possibility that the spacer between the bearings is damaged, then I need to call the person back and warn them before they spend the time and $$ on bearings that will fail immediately. | ||
| Hexangler |
It's funny, how skateboard wheels used to come with a spacer between the bearings, now most don't. They had it right to begin with! There is a spec for the Buell spacer, if it is undersized due to wear or over-tightening, you will eat up bearings fast! Check your shop manual for it. | ||
| Aptbldr |
"... 5) Related to 4, future service manuals may provide for an inspection dimension on that spacer tube. But it isn't there now, so here are the nominals: Rear Spacer Tube: 202.8 +/- 0.05 mm, 7.984 +/- 0.002 inch Front Spacer Tube: 107.9 +/- 0.05mm, 4.248 +/- 0.002 inch" - Al Lighton, cut 'n paste from BadWeb I don't find specs in '05 XB service manual. | ||
| Fahren |
Absolutely must follow torque specs and procedure for tightening axles, or bearings will turn to grilled bread. My first thought when reading the original post: "yeah, Buell loves just chuckin' extra metal bits here and there on the bike that you really don't need..." |
