| Author | Message | ||
     Drhutch81 |
Has anyone with a Free Spirits Belt Tensioner had a rear wheel bearing failure? I realize that belt tension is only one of the factors when it comes to stress on the bearings, but it is still a factor. Do the other XB models without the taller suspension and belt tension suffer from the same bearing issues? I'm wondering if the FST will take care of the problem without having to shell out $350 for the 2010 rear wheel setup. I have an '09 12X with 9k miles and I'm trying to minimize these problems before they happen. | ||
| Froggy |
Yes
Yes, but not as frequently due to many reasons.
It won't fix the issue, but it may help. Only guaranteed fix is the new wheel. | ||
| Surfsofa |
I'm doing both. There's more to this than the rear wheel bearings. There's also the front pulley to think about. FST will help with both. | ||
| Sugarmcguinnmsncom |
I'm actually doing the exact same as Surfsofa, 2010 Rear Wheel and Free Spirits Belt Tensioner - Will be on this weekend. Why scrimp... That's what I say | ||
| Motorbike |
The drive side rear bearing on my 08 XT failed at only 7300 easy miles. I do not have a FS Tensioner. I now have the 2010 rear wheel and axle setup. 11,000 miles since the repair, no issues yet. I do not plan to install a FS Tensioner but they do look kinda cool. Thanks. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142 838/653516.html?1317306927 | ||
| Ratbuell |
I still put more blame for bearing failure on overloading the vehicle past the GVWR. HUGE bags on a Ulysses, and a large pillion, make it very easy to overload the bike (and its wheelbearings). Those ratings are there for a reason. I think the FST is a placebo. If it makes you feel better...go for it. | ||
| Griffmeister |
If you ride a few more miles, the belt will stretch enough so there's no tension. At 22K with the stock set up and original belt I can spin the idler pulley by hand. In fact I can lift the belt off the idler. | ||
| Reepicheep |
You can also make the idler pulley a little less aggressive tension with 5 minutes and a drill bit. The FST looks cool, and is another viable solution to a potential tolerance stackup problem that seems to occur on some bikes. Make sure you are willing to deal with the shimming and bearing and spring maintenance the FST needs. Not a huge deal, but to me, it was an expensive way to trade one headache for another. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Being able to spin the idler by hand was the first indication that my original belt was going to pop. Happened at 16,000. I replaced out the belt after another 20,000 and keep it as a spare. | ||
| Uly_man |
"I think the FST is a placebo". As far as the rear wheel bearings are concerned this may be the case. The idea of the FST was to help with the loading/ unloading of the belt, which would in turn also help the load on the bearings, to lower stress on the belt. Or in other words make it last longer. If the bike had a belt/ bearing issue I would have thought it would be the engine one first. I think, as has been said, that the rear bearings problem, if any, is due to many other factors. If you are going to fit a 2010 wheel with the idea it is a "fit and forget" option then DO NOT do so as you will still need to check for wear/ damage etc as with any bike. I know some think that you can get big miles out of a bike part but in fact those wearing parts affect the performance of the bike as they wear. This is something that only people who know there bikes and are able the "feel" those changes over time and miles. That IS a biker? Whatever the FST may or may not do I can tell you for a fact that it makes gear changes much smoother/ easier and the "rear end" feel more compliant on rough roads as well. | ||
| Drhutch81 |
I wouldn't say the 2010 wheel install is a sure fix. I read of at least one failure on this forum. Of course any wheel bearing can fail on any bike. | ||
| Motorbike |
Drhutch81, yes, there have been 2010 wheel bearings that have failed too. There is always a chance to get a defective bearing. They are also likely to fail if you "just pound them in with a big hammer and socket" like some people do. I installed mine as carefully and properly as I could using a tool to pull them into place so no side tension is put on the bearings when the axle is torqued up. Trust me, if mine fails, you guys will be the first to hear about it and see pictures of the damage right here on BadWeb. Thanks. | ||
| Froggy |
Every 2010 wheel failure reported on here was due to user error. Anything can break if not installed correctly. I am yet to see an actual failure like how the previous wheel would. | ||
| New12r |
Uly with 52k miles, beat to death regularly, water crossings, track days, wheelies, jumps. Original rear wheel bearings. | ||
| Sugarmcguinnmsncom |
You must be like Froggy, and weight 95 lbs?!?!? LOL | ||
| Froggy |
 There he is, I don't know how he got over 50k miles out of a Uly with riding like that. (Message edited by Froggy on August 15, 2014) | ||
| Tootal |
But he was getting 120 miles per gallon!  | ||
| New12r |
HA, on that fiddy, maybe. Dont get me wrong, it has had a couple common failures, 77 connector, fuel pump wires, broken grounds, and the throttle shaft.  Lets not discuss all the other parts that have failed from low/high sides, jumps that went a bit wrong etc... | ||
| Tootal |
I loved those "fiddys". That speed shift into second gear wheelie would last forever! I don't think you can kill one of those things either! |
