Trouble with front wheel bearing...

[Pancala]

After finishing the bearings and seals in the rear tire I went ahead and started on the front. I got the seals off and now I can NOT get the spacer moved over enough to hit the bearing, I get it moved over enough to hit the inside lip and slide off. I have tried hitting it with steel drifts to move it over but no dice on either side. Moved a tiny more on the r/h side but still not enough to hit the bearing.

Thanks in advance!

[DAVINCI]

Sorry for the fuzzy pics, but squint and you'll see what I mean....There's a collar on the spacer that keeps it from falling away when you pull the axle. It's located on the side OPPOSITE the axle nut. I drove two finishing nails through the bearing to slide that collar down far enough to let the spacer fall away into the wheel cavity. Then, i had all the room i wanted to use a drift. Re-position the collar when you're ready to put everything back together.

[fredintoon]

After finishing the bearings and seals in the rear tire I went ahead and started on the front. I got the seals off and now I can NOT get the spacer moved over enough to hit the bearing, - - -

Hi Justin,
you don't want the old bearings, right? If all else fails, try this:-
Attack the bearing cage with your Dremel tool and remove the outer half.
Now you can slide all the balls around to one side which will let you pull the inner race to the other side and remove it.
Remove the loose balls.
Now you can put a drift on the bearing spacer tube and drive out the other bearing.
With that lot gone you can get at the outer race to remove it.

[Pancala]

I ended up taking a stainless drift and destroying the inner bearing and pushing them all to one side then taking the center off. Took me a while to drive out the outer part of the bearing but thankfully I'm done! Now just waiting on one bearing that they sent that was the wrong size

Thank you for all of the help!

[ViperRon]

I wish I had read this earlier but may still be able to help some with putting new bearing in. I have had a bearing hang in the aluminum wheel before and the Yamaha dealer showed me the easy way. The aluminum expands quicker than the steel so if you use a propane tourch and heat the aluminum wheel moving the flame arround the bearing area so as to not burn the paint and also evenly heating the bearing area and when it gets hot put the wheel over a large bucket tap the race from the other side it pops out without having to beat it out. The other part is spray it clean then spray WD-40 on the wheel and the new bearing should slide in without banging on it. However you do need to keep the seals out till the wheel is cooled. Before putting the wheel on the bike run the axel threw the new bearings to insure a snug fit. I got a bearing once that was not snug on the axel and caused wobble. I have seen people sand the corrosion off the axel and if done enough it makes the axel loose in the bearing which can cause wobble also.

[James England]

Also, leave your new bearing in the freezer overnight. This makes installation easier

[Pancala]

I was able to get everything out and cleaned up but after putting the bearings back in I find that I cannot turn the bearings by hand, maybe because they are both pressed against the tube in the middle? Will this be acceptable to use as it is?