In an earlier post I reported that the RoadGlide wouldn't hold a line at any speed......felt like a low rear tire, etc. Anyway, we discovered that the rear wheel bearings were almost frozen, one worse than the other. Suspected a possible delaminating rear tire, so took it off and replaced it, although it looked Ok on the inside....no bubbles, etc. Replaced the front tire while I was at it....new Metzeler 880's. But the REAL deal was the lucky discovery of a split in the drive belt and a chipped tooth on the rear wheel drive pulley.....replaced those as well. Frozen bearings or a wrapped belt could have been disaster for this old bird.

It was NOT an inexpensive visit to the dealership. But if one puts things in perspective, I was dang lucky and this was the first really major maintenance expense I've had. Just shy of 30,000 miles on the clock.

Naturally, I checked the tire pressures when I got home and the front was too high, and I found a couple of loose nuts, but that's about par for the course.

So, if ya feel like your bike is doing the hula at all speeds, and everything checks out......pull the rear wheel and have 'em check the bearings.

 

That's great Paul!

Sure glad to hear the caught it in the shop rather than you finding it on the road....

 

We were stumped, fer shure. since everyhting else checked out. Who would have thought that sealed bearings would become so tight. Maybe the repeated washings finally caught up to them, I don't know. But it is something to look at when all else is good to go.......as for the tire, well maybe we'll never know about that issue. But tires are cheap......hospitals and recovery can't be.
I know the belt was a future road shoulder visit........and by the way, the price on that item is not 109.95 but lists at 207.00.....they gave me a break on it...down to 186.30. The sprocket was 154.00....discounted from 171.00.

Bearings are cheap.....30.00 bucks per unit.

Life is Good!

 

Main thang is that ya found it afore ya swapped position with sum road kill!!

 

Good deal that you solved it without incident. As for the tire pressure, Metzler's require more air than the OEM Dunlops due to the softer sidewall construction.

 

Good deal on getting the stability problem solved. You know every time I'm blasting down the highway I think what would happen if a wheel bearing would lock up?[] I shudder and try to think happy thoughts. As mentioned above the Metzs run higher psi
Front 38psi
Rear min is 44psi up to 50 max psi.

 

bad bearings at 30k on an 04?? wow

 

I think the $109 was for the emer. road kit belt Paul, I think I'm gonna get one for my saddle bag. Glad you caught it Paul, I always worry about the Drive belt I live 3/4 mile down a dirt road out in the middle of nowhere.

 

didnt i hear these belts are good for 50K????