Ditto on pressure washing, keep it away from the wheel bearings - any bearings for that matter. I got a set of All *****, and was surprised to see they packaged the same Chinese made bearings some other companies are using, but user reports are that they hold up ok. I pulled the seals on them to check the grease (always do that, have run into a few bearings that didn't get any grease in them, but I've changed thousands of bearings, too) and they looked adequate. I think that's a wise move, getting the tool for Harley bearings, some of them are really, really! tight, and it doesn't damage the wheel getting them out. I coat the outside of the bearing with anti-seize, too, won't make the bearing slip unless the wheel is already dangerously worn out, and helps prevent galling the aluminum wheel and corrosion (can be a problem anytime you put steel and aluminum together). I also rotate the bearings by hand to spread the grease - they often come from the factory with grease on one side but not spread around - the All ***** were like this, and you could feel the difference when the grease coated the *****; just eliminates that little bit of dry metal to metal contact for the first couple revolutions of the wheel.

 

Whose tool did you buy?

 

This one off eBay.
It worked perfectly and I cannot see what's behind the big price difference of those selling for around $300

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HARLEY-DAVID...6de691&vxp=mtr




I got the All ***** bearings here:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/161069066294...84.m1439.l2649

 

so far thankfully u n me have not had a problem, but im going pro-active
changing out real real soon
i have read many many threads now of this failure on 08 softys
to concern me, i have also read the noise it makes so i know what to watch for
im goin with timkens gotta find that thread now

 

Looks like a Pit Posse bearing puller/installer; that's what I have, works great. That would be a cheap price for a Pit Posse. I grease the threads and washers where the nut turn against them, seems to make it a little easier. Considering what wheels cost, they're a good investment if you change your own bearings. I'm not thrilled that the All ***** bearings are just packaged common chinese bearings (Chinese company, who knows where they're actually made), but they are double sealed on both sides, with a beefier cage inside than some I've seen.

 

Do a search on here...since 2008 lots of bearing failures, premature, and it's not from car washes...I have been there multiple times, first failure at 7k (brand new bike...), second at 7k later at 65 mph, almost crashed, did 1200 bucks damage to the bike...not funny...True story, at the dealer when they were fixing my second failure the mechanic showed me the "new" replacement bearing and HE mentioned that it already had rust on it and would fail, then went to put it in...After they fixed all the damage including the belt under warr., I immediately had them changed to Timken bearings by my indept. mechanic. All ***** makes good ones also. A whole set for front and back are about 25 bucks and 50 total for install, cheap insurance. Someone said on the forum that they pried open a brand new factory one and it had almost NO grease...When I am doing 110 mph speed runs "at the track", I want to know my wheels are not going to fail...1 hour before my failure at 65 mph, I had been "at the track" in a serious way...

 

Cycle Gear installed my new tires and needed to attach 3 X 1/4oz weights to each wheel, which didn't look pretty.

When I bought my NT at 6.5K it had no balance weights on at all - being unfamiliar with the bike, I didn't know what to expect and thought the blurry vision at highway speeds was typical vibration and wind buffetting, ....... , well as soon as I got above 50 mph with the new balanced tires I realised how smooth it can be.

Last night I added the Dyna Beads and removed the weights, and this mornings ride to work on the interstate at 70 ~ 80 mph was silky smooth.

 

Noticed a front end wobble on decel Thursday night between 50~40.
Dealer found rear wheel bearing shot first (didn't fix wobble) then found neck bearing shot. Bike has little over 27k miles on it.

 

I have some serious doubts about that "fix".

However, the bushings on the springers do go in about 25k or so I believe.

Unless the neck bearings were improperly installed, it just doesn't make sense.

C#

 

The stock bearings are junk...I had 2 failures, 1st at 6k, then 7k later at 65 mph. Had them changed to timkens. all ***** are good also. The second failure did 1200 bucks worth of other damage besides almost making me crash...They are inexpensive to change and cheap insurance...