| Author | Message | ||
     Jbarron |
Can someone explain how the rear bearings are suppose to work? I had my rear off for another tire and was inspecting the bearings. To me it looks like the bearings drag on the inner sleeve. This is assuming the sleeve rotates with the wheel. Is the inner sleeve under tension between the bearings after you torque the axle? If this is the case then the wheel would need to rotate around the sleeve. I'm seeing some signs of the bearing trying to rotate on the axle which I know they should not do. Put in plenty of anti-seize and mounted the wheel. This is with the black dust cover bearings. | ||
| Syonyk |
I'm *pretty* sure that the inner race should be fixed with regards to the axle, and the outer race should be fixed with regards to the wheel, with all rotation occurring in the bearing. How does the bearing feel? If it's spinning on the axle, that implies the bearing is dragging rather badly to put enough torque on the inner race to spin it. | ||
| Jcjohnson33 |
Syonyk is right. the inner race should stay in one spot on the axel while the outer should stay in one place within the wheel. And when the axel & inner race rotate together (at the same time) they rotate within the bearing. It should rotate very smooth with very little drag or noise. You should be able to hold the inner race between your finger and thumb and spin it easy. But the sides depending on who made the bearing may or may not spin with the inner race. | ||
| Jbarron |
If I grab the inner race and spin it with my fingers it is very heavy and seems to be dragging on the sleeve. It does not free spin. Both bearings act the same way. | ||
| Syonyk |
It shouldn't spin completely freely, but it should move with no dragging or grinding feeling, and definitely no scraping sounds. It sounds like you may want to replace the bearings. | ||
| Sprintst |
the drag you feel is normal and a function of the grease in the bearing and the friction of the dust seals Trust me, a rotating wheel won't barely notice that drag even if nothing secured the inner bearing sleeve, it will not spin on the axle, there's weight and friction that is far more than the bearing. You are looking for grittiness or notchiness, which would indicate a problem (Message edited by sprintst on May 16, 2011) | ||
| Jbarron |
They don't feel perfectly smooth, but it is hard to tell with the sleeve touching the back of the race. It spins ok on the bike when mounted. I'll monitor them. I burn through tires pretty quick, so I should be doing this again in a couple thousand miles. Which would be next week. | ||
| 1_mike |
Ok... 1. The bearings "outer race" should be tight in the wheel hub. 2. The inner "bearing race" should be free and smooth when sticking your finger in and spinning it. Sorta tight but smooth. 3. The sleeve is there purely to prevent destroying the bearings when you tighten the axle. You'd push the balls against the "sides" of the inner and outer races where they aren't designed to be in this type bearing. So yes...a little drag from the aluminum sleeve on the inner race of the bearing is a good thing. 4. As for not feeling a smooth bearing while in your hand, be careful. When you assemble everything and tighten the axle, that could mask a bad bearing. You should be able to feel the difference between a rough bearing, vs. just a little drag from the alum. sleeve. Mike | ||
| Stirz007 |
Sometimes the spacer rotates (or not) independent of wheel: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/290 431/625548.html?1302155331 | ||
| Jbarron |
Ok. I'm going to pull everything apart when I get back. The bearings don't feel smooth even taking the sleeve out of the picture. Is HD the only place to get the bearing puller? I see the 2010 ones for sale, but this is on an 09. | ||
| Mtch |
i use a blind bearing puller. it hooks in behind the back of the bearing . also does the steering head bearings, and lots of other bearings on many vehicles. just search for 'blind bearing puller'.. obvious i guess. that or a shop may do it for you. its also worth checking the length of the spacer. if it has been crushed even a small amount it will put side load on the bearings and wreck them in no time. somewhere on badweb are the sizes for the spacers  |
