| Author | Message | ||
     Surveyor |
Having suffered my fourth front wheel bearing failure (yes they were the red ones-all replaced by my dealer) I decided to test my theory that the spacer between the bearings is at fault. I removed the old spacer and bought a new one and compared the measurements using a digital vernier caliper. The result is that the length of the old spacer is a fraction over 1mm less than the new one. Also both end diameters of the old spacer are greater than the new one. The old spacer is visibly flared at the ends. My theory has always been that bearing failure is due to over torqueing the front axle - in my case due to my not realizing that my torque wrench didn't break for a left hand thread. As a result the spacer is crushed. Fitting new bearings and retaining the old spacer results in lateral pressure on the inner races even if the axle is tightened to less than the specified torque, and this results in bearing failure. I think that my case is proven so be careful about torqueing the front axle and if you overdo it check the spacer. Hope this helps some of you guys avoid my suffering. | ||
| Surveyor |
This ingenious solution, posted by a really clever BedWeber, eliminates the left hand thread torqueing problem. Unfortunately I had fitted the bearings and torqued the axle before he posted! Khollister Rating: Votes: 3 (Vote!) Posted on Monday, October 16, 2006 - 08:40 pm: -------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ There is a pretty simple way to tighten this to the correct torque. Since it is a 5/8" interior fastener, take a sparkplug socket that has a 5/8" nut on top, put it into the axle nut, stick an extension through from the other side and put your torque wrench on the extension. Applying clockwise torque to the extension imparts CCW torque to the other side - voila! } | ||
| Spatten1 |
FYI: Not your problem, but others that read this should know that power washers kill bearings too. They push water past the seal. Never power wash a bike, especially near the wheel bearings or swingarm pivot bolt. | ||
| Ccryder |
Over torque is a bearing killer as well as power washers. As much abuse and load as a wheel bearing can take it is still a delicate system. Improperly handled, washed or torqued can lead to premature failure. I have even seen that just forgetting to neverseize the axle can ruin a bearing when the axle get frozen to the sleeve and you have to beat the axle out. If you apply a load to a bearing in a manner that it is not expected to carry, the bearing can be easily damaged. My ST13 went through 3 sets of rear wheel bearings because of the axle freezing to the sleeve and then a "certified technician" R&R the bearings with a sledge hammer versus a bearing press. (Sheesh! and I thought that was a tool only used on H-D products!). Time2Work Neil S. |
