What did you do to your bike today?

[ESJr1642]

"There is a shop here that will match any bearing."

You could be a hero to many if they can get this left side bearing...

[natemoen]

There is a shop here that will match any bearing. I got one for my Subaru AC idler pulley and the pressed the old one out and put the new one in for $8 and that's including the bearing. So, at least a bearing can always be matched whether the stop making them or not and Its a LOT cheaper to match one.

The problem is they don't make the left side wheel bearing anymore. Anyone could match it and say "Yup, this is the part number that matches your bearing." That will the be followed with "Sorry that part has been discontinued and now warehouses have any left."

[Bellerophon]

1. Checked and aired up the tires on the SF, then took it for a short ride.
2. Checked tire air pressure, changed oil and filter, cleaned a dirty high beam switch on the Vmax, then took it for a ride.
3. Installed a powered mount for my Garmin Montana on the KLR, aired up the tires and took it for a ride too.
4. Checked tire air pressure on the FJR and took it for a ride.

[jjz28]

The problem is they don't make the left side wheel bearing anymore. Anyone could match it and say "Yup, this is the part number that matches your bearing." That will the be followed with "Sorry that part has been discontinued and now warehouses have any left."

They take the old bearing and match it, not the part number. I am sure that left side bearing will fit other things so it will probably be available. Not at that number but in that size. If anyone has an old one and want to mail it to me, I could see if they have one that will fit. The way he found the Subaru bearing was by outside and inside diameter.

[natemoen]

They take the old bearing and match it, not the part number. I am sure that left side bearing will fit other things so it will probably be available. Not at that number but in that size. If anyone has an old one and want to mail it to me, I could see if they have one that will fit. The way he found the Subaru bearing was by outside and inside diameter.

No one has ever found anything else that it fits. All bearings are sized by IDxODx height

[jjz28]

No one has ever found anything else that it fits. All bearings are sized by IDxODx height

This makes me want to take them one and see. Does anyone have an old one they could send me. They might not be able to match it but at least we could give it a shot and I would say they will have one. Its unbelievable the amount of bearing that the have, they are a machine shop that does heads and blocks and also press in bearings. Mine bearing is good but I guess I will find out some day.

[jwhughes3]

This makes me want to take them one and see. Does anyone have an old one they could send me. They might not be able to match it but at least we could give it a shot and I would say they will have one. Its unbelievable the amount of bearing that the have, they are a machine shop that does heads and blocks and also press in bearings. Mine bearing is good but I guess I will find out some day.

The left rear WB is a unique kind of bearing, what combo escapes me at the moment but search and you will find, which is why nobody makes them anymore.

James England had found a supplier for a couple hundred of them and sold them to members here until the source ran dry. There should be a good supply floating around for the foreseeable future if the need arises.

I have only heard of folks replacing during resto...not of failure though I am sure there are also instances of that.

John

[CaptonZap]

They are a needle bearing, with a low aspect ratio, and are pressed into the final drive housing, with a seal on the outer end. The ring gear is pressed onto a shaft that rides on the inner side of the needles.
As a consequense, they are hard to clean and, and if grit or grime is introduced by seal degradation, or lubricant contamination, and they are not cleaned, they will eventually grind themselves into excess clearance, which enlarges the seals, leading to more contamination, etc ad nauseam.
On the plus side, they are constantly lubricated by the final drive oil, and the thrust loads of the pinion are on the big bearing on the end away from them, so that the loads they see are mostly weight loads of the bike and passengers.
Make sure the seal is good, and you have clean oil in the final drive, and they should last forever.
If you have grime in the oil when you change it, best to take the ring gear out and flush the left side bearing out with a clean solvent douche. Lube with hypoid oil before re-assembly, since it gets oiled by splash, (or maybe sling) and it will take a while for the fresh oil to get there when taken out for the test ride.

CZ

[BA80]

CZ, if your left rear wheel bearing is being lubed by the gear oil you better replace the seals in your FD and check the oil level. The only bearings in the FD are internal. The carrier and pinion bearings.

The wheel bearings are in the WHEEL and are lubricated by the bearing grease you put in there.

[CaptonZap]

CZ, if your left rear wheel bearing is being lubed by the gear oil you better replace the seals in your FD and check the oil level. The only bearings in the FD are internal. The carrier and pinion bearings.

The wheel bearings are in the WHEEL and are lubricated by the bearing grease you put in there.

Thanks Greg,
It has been a while since I was into that bearing, and I looked at the section view of the final drive in the manual and got confused. But the point of cleaning it out and getting clean lube in there is still valid, since any dirt or grime picked up by the axle while laying in the dirt by the side of the road while the wheel is being changed can be shoved into the bearing. Yeah I know, no body does that, but those bearings do wear out from some cause.
Thanks for the clarification, CZ

[BA80]

Thanks Greg,
It has been a while since I was into that bearing, and I looked at the section view of the final drive in the manual and got confused. But the point of cleaning it out and getting clean lube in there is still valid, since any dirt or grime picked up by the axle while laying in the dirt by the side of the road while the wheel is being changed can be shoved into the bearing. Yeah I know, no body does that, but those bearings do wear out from some cause.
Thanks for the clarification, CZ

You shouldn't mix your meds.

[Rasputin]

Had a little storm here last night so am picking up stuff that got spread around. Kind of crappy day for riding. Mmatches is coming down so we will do some bike stuff I am sure. Here is a pic of the roof of my car canopy where I store most of my bikes. Hail was crazy!

[jjz28]

Man, blew the exhaust plum off your bike!!!lol

[trbig]

I have only heard of folks replacing during resto...not of failure though I am sure there are also instances of that.

John

Ya think? lol..




Needle bearings...









Needle bearings welded together.









My ol' buddy Bob Falter managed to do this fine bit of welding on his rear bearing.

[CaptonZap]

You shouldn't mix your meds.

What! Like you never drank boiler makers? Likely story.
Maybe I shouldn't post after mixing my meds.

CZ