| Author | Message | ||
     Adamd |
I found this comforting, that the big bad BMW that I lusted over has the same problem as the ULY... "destroyed the hub, rotor, rotor carrier, abs sensor and the swing arm" " I very nearly face planted trying to controll the bike" http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=49 9504 | ||
| Rightpecial |
Yep, it has been a big problem with those bikes for a while. Too bad since I really like the 800gs and would gleefully park one next to the Uly...although not in lieu of said Uly. With all the bearing issues over the motorcycle world lately it makes one wonder if manufacturers aren't all getting their parts from a certain large red country which excels at manufacturing cheap qualitatively questionable parts. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
I understand those red fellas are grinding up their already cheap reject bearings and putting them in dog food. If your dog blows a hip you'll know why. | ||
| Sekalilgai |
ok so I had a bad case of insomnia...what with a cold and all...and read all 30 pages of the thread....red seals, black seals, china, lawyers, SKF vs NTN....all looked familiar...poor bastards! | ||
| Jlnance |
To be fair, it seems that the issue with the Uly at least is that the bearings are undersized, not that they are poorly made. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Jlance, why do you say they are undersized? You sure it's not something to do with the spacer? | ||
| Nobuell |
Most bearing failures will be load or lubrication based. If the load exceeds or nears the recommended load for the bearing, life will be reduced. If lubrication contamination occurs, bearing life will be reduced. Buell has addressed both with the 2010 wheel design. They utilize larger bearings with duel bearings on the drive side. They also added a seal external to the bearing. Relying on the integral bearing seal for this type of application is a problem encountered by many. I would not blame the bearing manufacturers for this problem. It is a design issue plain and simple. Using a bearing from a manufacturer with a more robust integral seal and possibly a more water resistant grease may help. But the new 2010 design is the correct way to go. Those of us with the old wheel design will have to watch the bearings and possibly replace with the best sealed unit or bit the bullet and get the new wheel. | ||
| Reepicheep |
I'm confused then why my 05 XB9SX is pushing 30k miles with the original bearings, that are still fine. No shortage of hard riding either... that bike has done two track days, gets ridden year around in Ohio (road salt, etc), and I'm not shy about speed bumps or railroad tracks. Maybe the 9 is easier on bearings then the 12... | ||
| Sekalilgai |
the F800 uses 5 bearings of the same size (6204), but it seems like the failures have been constrained to bearings from the same location (rotor side, rear) the failures were as unpredictable as with the Uly go figure...theories abound | ||
| Court |
>>>theories abound Yes they do. | ||
| Jlnance |
Jlance, why do you say they are undersized? You sure it's not something to do with the spacer? I'm not sure about about anything. A definite cause for the Uly bearing failures has proved elusive to find. I based my statement primarily on the new bearings Buell went to in 2009, and the redesigned wheel in 2010. Also, I have some personal experience. I replaced the original bearings as a precaution at about 25k miles. I used Koyo, made in Japan, bearings, which I have been told are very good. The replacement bearings failed 14k miles later. This leads me to believe that the problem is not the quality of the OEM bearings. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
My 97' Electraglide has over 43,000 on its repackable bearings. Sometimes things are changed and not necessarily for the better. I add grease to my ""sealed"" bearings but they certainly aren't even half as robust looking as my Electraglide old school bearings. And that's progress?? | ||
| Luftkoph |
yeah buddy aint progress a double edge sword,72k on my /5 airhead bearings | ||
| Tootal |
On a 91 electra glide sport I finally changed the wheel bearings at 100,000 miles. They still looked good but I was doing a frame up restoration on it and changed them anyway. TIMKEN bearings cleaned and repacked every tire change with new seals. Can't beat it! | ||
| Jlnance |
And that's progress?? TIMKEN bearings cleaned and repacked every tire change with new seals. It depends on whether you're doing your own work, or paying the Harley Dealer $75/hr.  | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
I miss timkin tapered roller bearings too. they are the ONE part of my 1979 XLH that hasn't crapped out in 77,000 miles. Why are modern bearings so damn sensitive? at least my Buells' brakes work when they are wet. | ||
| Motorfish |
+1 on the Timkens. I would rather clean and lube them at every tire change, than have to mess with this whole sealed bearing issue. The more piece of mind out on the road, the better. | ||
| Frito |
I liked the tapered Timkens in my older bikes. But so far I like the sealed bearings in my '01 Electra Glide. 65K so far without issue. I inspect at every tire change. Didn't have any issues with my '97 M2, though I just put 10K on it before installing a new zip code. |
