| Author | Message | ||
     M2nc |
...and finally replaced the rear wheel bearings on the Uly. Eight years, seven months and 65,700 miles and I blinked. Preparing for a trip next week and decided to replace the rear tire which was just hitting the wear bars. Walking the bike around the bike would squeak when I would push it backwards. That and the last tire change the bearings were hard to rotate sealed the deal to replace them. I hope the SKF bearings just installed last as long as the OEM bearings. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Wow- that must be a record. Did you ever pop the seals and add grease? | ||
| M2nc |
Nope. | ||
| Etennuly |
He did however, launch it into space once!  Those bearings got so confused as to which way was up they did not know where to rub! | ||
| M2nc |
Considering all they have gone through I still stick to all my Ulysses has ever needed was a better rider.  | ||
| Etennuly |
Nothing wrong with it's rider. One or two senior moments does not make a need for a better rider, just longer afternoon naps!  | ||
| M2nc |
I know I have laid this bike down twice but I do not take responsibility for the first one. Well other than riding out when the temperature was below freezing. The car that took out the stop sign didn't see the ice either. Now the second event was completely me sight seeing on the Dragon with a bike with new brakes and old tires. Of course we're not going to talk about all the times I've dropped it in the yard. This may just be the second set of rear bearings but it's on the fourth clutch lever. | ||
| Uly_man |
"That and the last tire change the bearings were hard to rotate sealed the deal to replace them". Gee Guys do you NOT want to learn any time soon on this issue with wheel bearings? Or is it the "crap" design of the wheel bearings that is the issue rather than VERY, VERY BAD MAINTENANCE that some seem to think is a good idea. You are just asking for trouble and some had it. Penny pinching on something that costs very little and could affect your life is just stupid. Your choice though. Best of luck Guys. | ||
| Arry |
Doesn't sound like you really "broke down". If you caught it before it left you stranded, it doesn't count. | ||
| M2nc |
Nope. It was a figure of speech. I gave in and replaced the bearings fearing they would fail. With all the hype about the rear bearings failing over the years, I've been clocking off years and miles on the original bearings. The front bearings were replaced at 30,000 miles after inspecting during a tire change and feel one rotating roughly. Personally I think the problem lies on how you install the rear tire, the quality of the bearing itself and if the milling of the wheel was on the high side of tolerance. Most bearing fits are more like 0.001" fit but some wheels can have as much as 0.003" fit and be within tolerance. My bike obviously is on the high side of tolerance allowing the bearings to rotate freely and lasting longer. I've never agreed with removing a seal and greasing the bearings. That is not the original design intention and increases the chance of contamination and seal failure. Lastly the SKF bearings are the best on the market. At $37 a piece, trust me I did not cut corners. Time will tell if they last as long as the OEM bearings. Then again the bike will be 17 years old with 130,000 miles before I can tell for sure. | ||
| Tootal |
I didn't realize there were diameter issues with the bearing bores. I always wondered about the width of the bearing bores as compared to the spacer. A bore width wider than the spacer would put side pressure on the bearings just like a crushed spacer would. Never had enough info to prove though. |
