| Author | Message | ||
     Cesaragcastro |
Wheel bearing failures are becoming more frequent within our riders group here. I would say that failures happen more frequently for 10,000+ miles bikes and almost all the times on the rear wheel. I read something on old posts about avoiding the bearings with red/orange seals, because Buell has changed them for better black sealed bearings? Did the Buell part number for the bearings also changed? How about buying bearings direct from general bearing suppliers? I've also heard here in Brazil that the best available are SKF, although I can't back this up... Does anyone have the SKF (or any other good brand) codes for XB's wheel bearings? Thanks. Cesar | ||
| Someday |
The bearing # is 6006-2RS. This is an international # and SKF lists it. | ||
| Fahren |
One of the first, biggest items that comes up in the UK rider group is bearing replacement, and the free spirits belt tensioner is the #1 mod. We don't get this issue coming up anywhere near as much, but in any case, it's worth checking the bearings every time your wheel comes off for a tire change. Overtightening can ruin them quickly. | ||
| Petebueller |
The wheel bearing part numbers got an extra A at the end with the change to the black seals. | ||
| Cesaragcastro |
Fahren, Do you say that the wheel bearings failure can be prevented with the belt tensioner? I have friends using this belt tensioner, but their objective is to prevent the drive belt failure... Cesar | ||
| Al_lighton |
"Overtightening can ruin them quickly." +1,000,000,000 I have little doubt that many, if not most, of the bearing failures are related to incorrectly installing the axle. IMHO, if you have to replace the bearings, and you personally haven't been the person that properly torqued the axle each time the wheel was removed, you would be well advised to replace the center spacer at the same time as the bearings. They're cheap, about $10 for the rear wheel spacer, and $8-9 for the front wheel spacer. Once the axle has been overtorqued once, and that spacer has been overcompressed, it doesn't matter if you properly torque the axle in subsequent installations. The damage is already done, and the bearing will frag in as little as several hundred miles if the spacer is overcompressed significantly. The front wheel bearings are getting destroyed by "mechanics" that don't realize it is a left hand thread. They loosen the pinch bolts, try REAL hard to remove it lefty-loosey, realize their mistake, and then remove it properly. It doesn't matter if it gets torqued properly after that, the damage is done. I'm going to start stocking spacers, and recommend them to be changed with the bearings in most cases. Al | ||
| Reepicheep |
Interesting... 30k miles on my 05 9sx and my bearings are perfect... and the only person that has ever touched my bike is me... and I go by the book when I remove my wheels. | ||
| Aptbldr |
Is there a difference between XB wheel bearing(s)& other modern bikes of similar weight and power? Left-hand threads up front? Extreme pressure from no-slack belt system at rear? Soft sleeves? Bearing seal spec? Bearing significant dimension(s)? Casual looks at parking lots & show rooms, differences are not apparent to me. Maybe Buells are ridden more frequently. : ) | ||
| Court |
Al: Great info and it seems plausible. I'm going to lay in a set of spares and make certain I have the necessary equipment to perform the change. I'd need to be convinced the belt tension has anything to do with compromising otherwise good bearings. | ||
| Mesozoic |
To be fair and play devil's advocate, excessive belt tension would certainly tend to "••••" the wheel on the drive side, but I'm not sure the belt would survive very long under that sort of load anyhow. Even more reason to either change wheels and bearings yourself or have it done by the stealership. | ||
| Steveford |
27,000 miles on my 06 Useless, left rear bearing came APART, front bearings are clicking under hard braking. I'm the original owner, don't beat on the bike like an idiot and always use a torque wrench. SKFs are on order. (Message edited by SteveFord on September 14, 2009) | ||
| Steveford |
Wanted: Source for high quality 6006 2RS bearings!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks Steve Ford | ||
| Steveford |
XB Bearings: SKF 6006-2RS1 rear SKF 6005-2RSH front | ||
| Blakeaspencer |
Time to bring this old thread back to life. I have an 06 uly with stock wheels(to my knowledge). I just got my rear wheel off for a tire and belt change and my bearing are toast. How many bearings do I need before I tear into it? Also where do I get this spacer that gets easily damaged? Thanks. | ||
| Froggy |
Blake, assuming you still have the original wheel and it wasn't replaced with a 2010 wheel, it is two bearings, one for each side. If you caught it early, and it sounds like you have, your spacer should be fine reusing yours, I'm not aware of any source for them other than a Buell dealer. | ||
| Blakeaspencer |
Thanks again Froggy for the second time in 2 days. I will see if my Mechanic can get them, if not I'll be searching the web some more. | ||
| Reepicheep |
I'd only add that one common (but not the only) failure mechanism for bearings is that you over torque the rear axle nut on installation, which collapses that spacer slightly. That causes the bearings to fail, and when they do, you just see the bearing damage, you don't see any obvious spacer damage. There are other failure modes unrelated to the spacer. Personally, the first time I replaced the bearings on a bike with a bearing failure, I would also replace the spacer. After that, if I knew for a fact the torque sequence was always carefully followed, then perhaps I would reuse the spacer in the future. | ||
| Blakeaspencer |
Well in that case where do I find one? The harley dealers around here don't associate with buells. | ||
| Reepicheep |
From: http://www.americansportbike.com/A-S-B_Closure.htm l
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| Blakeaspencer |
Thank you sir. I just ordered a belt from st. Paul from ebay. I suppose that is where I will get my oem parts from now on. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Thank Al, I just cut and pasted.  | ||
| Court |
I've been buying parts from Lance at St. Paul (I saw some items that were going "absolute" and wanted to stockpile) and the service and shipping were great. |
