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Wheel Bearings..

5

520pilot

Joined Jan 2009
236 Posts | 15+
Brisbane, Australia
Hey Guys,
Haven't got as far as pulling the wheels off the bike yet but was putting togthr a list of spares as I went along and just wondered if the wheels bearings on the 04 550 was an unusual size or if they're common and can be sourced from a bearing shop..

If common do you guys use the medium contact (blue seal) or the high contact (orange seal) type..

Appreciate any feedback

Cheers

Pilot
 
They are stocked by most bearings dealers. I use the orange seal, if available, due to the conditions I ride in (wet, muddy, chalky and gritty). I also use white marine grease on the outer faces and axles, it's waterproof and seems to keep the crud out very well.
 
Not sure if you can do it on the 26mm front bearings, but I normally pop the seals out of wheel bearings - even brand new ones - and pack them almost completely with water resistant grease, additional to what is originally put in there.

You can get away with it because wheel bearings don't rotate all that fast - about 750RPM @ 100km/h. They do spit some back out under the seals & make a mess, but I figure the less space in there for water the better.
 
And then pack some more grease under the dust seal between it and the bearing to lengthen the path for crap to get to the bearing.

Steve
 
Packing this cavity with grease as Steve suggested is a good idea, as if there is no void, then nothing can get in.

One of the main problems that the wheel bearings have is that the wheel spacers, that the outer seals seal on, are aluminum and the wheel seals eventually wear the aluminum away and allow water,dirt, grime etc to enter more easily. There are a couple of company's out there who make anodized wheel spacers, and Ti nitrite coated wheel spacers to help keep them from wearing out.

I replaced my wheel bearings on my 04 550 a while back as the rears were just starting to get some play, with bearings and spacers from a company called All ballz or something like that. I also put their wheel spacers in which have a steel band on the wheel spacer where the outer seal rides, and I doubt that will be wearing out anytime soon.
 
I've got that very problem; worn aluminum spacers and I got through a set of bearings in a few months. Been thinking of getting the steel ones like DaleEO recomends.
 
Interesting info Guys,
Something that we do at my Harley shop is machine 304 grade Stainless wheel spacers for the various customs...they run in to the wheel hub through a double lip seal on both the roller style as well as the tapered style bearings on the older hogs....we do this mainly for looks because we polish them to mirror and they never dull off and are easy to clean.

I'm might knock up a set using the Berg genuine ones as a template...I guess it helps that I've got a mill and a lathe at the shop...and we employee a very skilled machinast...Ok I'll shut up now

Pilot
 
I can make any spacers, I got the accurate lathe, I've done the spacers before.In my berg I got stainless steel spacers, cause I found that the genuine alluminium spacers gets squash after few removings of rear wheel.I made them from stainless steel, and I dont bother that the wheel weight is bit heavier than before ( couple of grams!)
Anyone wants me to made-Sent me an original spacers, and I'll make him the new set.Polished as the mirror.Birmingham in the UK, just in case.
 
I just greased up wheel bearings and spacers last week. 87 hours and 20 months later and they appear to be fine with no play.
At that rate I might replace spacers when needed with the same ones unless I know where to get better ones. Dale's sound good.
Pollo
 
Great stuff you guys,

Especially Krisbrumm and 520 Pilot for making stainless spacers. Just for clarification, the all ballz spacers are aluminum with a steel band around them where the seal rides.
 
apart from outer wheel bearing spacers, which just wear from seal and allows to dirt gets to bearing through the worn groove, there is inner spacer.The problem with inner spacer is that is made out of alluminium.After couple of tightenings of wheel spindle, it gets shortened.If it's gets shortened (squashed), it's loosing its purpose, and once you tightened your spindle, the bearings are axialy preloaded from spindle.That very quickly kills the bearings.Ball bearings are quite a weak resist for an axial load, and range of press, which comes into them from spindle nut is significant, so don't be surprised that in your couple of year old bike, wheel bearings are getting worn very quickly.
 
I'll second the All Balls spacers, fronts anyway... I just fitted the rear wheel spacers today. The All Balls website lists them for '04 + but AFAIK the '03 and up wheel parts are the same???
 

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