I'm another "dealers no touchy my bikes", have had to fix too many mistakes in the past. I think you've done enough that you could handle wheel bearings, and there's plenty of photo how to and threads with tips and good pointers. A good wheel bearing tool can be had for $100 or less; a Pit Possee is solid and mine has done several bearing sets with no problems. A Jim's might be better, if you don't mind gold plated prices. As you've found out, Harley's are pretty critical on how you put the bearings in, and the mechanic obviously didn't check his work. Even though I feel I know what I'm doing, I always rotate the wheel by hand while it's still on the jack to verify there is no unusual rolling resistance - that would have showed right away yours wasn't done right, that had to be dragging pretty hard. Lot of little things we owner perfectionists do that a shop skips.
Those wheel bearings - you shouldn't reuse the ones in there now, and a shop might try. They've been exposed to excessive side load, very likely not enough to damage them, but the risk is there. Can you tell if they're the new Harley style with an outer metal shield? I'd never use those; every bearing I install gets the plastic seal popped off to inspect inside for grease, none of that clear stuff so many Chinese bearings use, and plenty of it, a thin hair of grease around one side of the bearing doesn't come close to enough, and that's common, too. You'd destroy the bearing seal getting those metal shields off, and if I can't check inside, I don't use it. I had to get a new front wheel for my 1200 2 or 3 years ago, and ended up throwing the bearings away that came with it, they had the thin line of clear stuff and plastic ball cages - I've seen those crumbling apart before. If the dealer can't show you a well greased well built bearing, AllBalls are easy to get from Amazon, cheaper than Harley, packed with Chevron synthetic and have heavy steel ball cages. When I can't find Timken, these have become my second choice. I bought all my bikes used, and all, Harleys too, needed new bearings with the first tire change, people tend to run wheel bearings till they fail, not a good idea.
Bummer getting that mechanic, hope they make it right for you financially at least, I think the least they could do is replace that brake disk at their cost.
Well I got a used rotor for $19 shipped. As long as they replace the bearing I'll probably be ok. I'm kinda pissed I decided to let them do it. Shoulda left it alone.
That definitely looks wrong, here is what a properly installed drive side bearing looks like and FWIW the wheel came from the exact same bike, an 08 Roadster.
The disc side bearing is supposed to be pressed in until it stops, then the spacer and drive side bearing are installed, looks like they got it backwards.
The bearings definitely need to be replaced per (and by) HD, their literature says to never reuse them after they have been pulled from a hub....
That definitely looks wrong, here is what a properly installed drive side bearing looks like and FWIW the wheel came from the exact same bike, an 08 Roadster.
The disc side bearing is supposed to be pressed in until it stops, then the spacer and drive side bearing are installed, looks like they got it backwards.
The bearings definitely need to be replaced per (and by) HD, their literature says to never reuse them after they have been pulled from a hub....
Thank you so so much. I'll be using this picture when I go in tomorrow.
They installed the bearings incorrectly, but don't even mention that explanation that your friend used...his explanation is wrong and is exactly what happened with your wheel.
All rear wheels use the same procedure...1st bearing installed on the brake disc side then center spacer sleeve and 2nd bearing on pulley side...They didn't follow that.
BTW, if it happened that your bike was a 2000-07 instead, they could have followed the Correct OR Incorrect bearing installation procedure and no one would have noticed
BTW, if it happened that your bike was a 2000-07 instead, they could have followed the Correct OR Incorrect bearing installation procedure and no one would have noticed
It not that it is a Roadster, it's that in 2008 they changed to 25mm ID x 15mm wide bearings and at the same time used Grossly Asymmetrical bearing bore depths
But Twin Discs in the front doesn't change a thing (as far as bearing installation goes, that is )
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Last edited by multihdrdr; 05-06-2018 at 06:47 PM.
It not that it is a Roadster, It's that in 2008 they changed to 25mm ID x 15mm wide bearings at same used Grossly Asymmetrical bearing bore depths
But Twin Discs in the front doesn't change a thing
Not this issue in specific but there were other changes in 08 and the twin disc that are unique
Thanks for the expertise. I'll let you know what they do, but I'm going to demand they do it and with new bearings. Might Mark them to make sure
05-06-2018, 05:14 PM
