Rear Hub Gone Bad!

[BATMAN2696]

When I was polishing the Dog I noticed I could move the tire when I pulled on the top and pushed on the bottom. I figured I had a bad bearing so I pulled it apart. I noticed when I was pulling it apart the entire bearing on the pulley side spun inside the hub. I was hoping the bearing was just worn but today after I had the bearings pressed out I checked one against the other and the hub is definitely worn. I can put the bearing in with slight hand pressure and easily pop it back out. Now I have to try and figure out where to get another hub. I am pretty sure the belt was too tight pulling on the rear wheel enought to wear out the hub. As I am new to the Big Dog scene any help in identifying who made the wheel, where I might find a hub, and since I'm at it, how do you identify which frame you have. Thanks

The hub is stamped on the brake side BDB-4 and on the drive side BDB-5

On this one you can see a ridge between the inner and outer bearing locations.

This is the wheel, if you can help identify the manufacture I would sure appreciate it.

 

[07bigdog]

"shovelheadkicker" on ebay usually has some for sale.

 

[LamboV12]

BDM Parts - I just ordered a pair from them last week to send to chrome - All four where about $150. Can't tell by your pix who made your wheel - several companies supplied BD including RC and PM.

 

[BigDogBro1]

Now that the hub is worn, you might want to have the hub ID machined concentric so that you could press in the bearings wrapped with shim material (.010" - .015"). Or just shim them as it is if space allows.

You can also freeze the bearings and heat the hub to help get them to fit tight again. IMO, this problem will eventually show up on all our hubs due to their design. Old 60's Corvette rear spindle bearings are installed this way only opposite.

 

[BATMAN2696]

Thanks for the responses. I am pretty sure they are the Mad Clown wheel from RC components. I have and e-mail in to BDM. I was also wondering if I could find a bearing with an larger OD and sam ID then have it machined. I will also look for a ship. Thanks again

 

[alhall88]

I would send the hub out for flash chrome, that should be plenty to get back the press fit. Its even and does not have to be reground

 

[RRRUFF]

BATAMAN, take the hubs to a maching shop and have them bore and sleeve to fit the bearing ID.

 

[BATMAN2696]

I spoke with Big Dog today trying to figure out who made the wheel. I found out it is made by RC components and that my frame is a RT which I suspected. They do not have the part but did give me the part number which may be helpful in the future. I contacted Bikers Image and got a return e-mail from Wesley Hill. I called him back and after we spoke I sent him the picture of the wheel and he confirmed it was made by RC components. He also gave me a contact at RC who I currently have a call into without a return call yet. Tomorrow morning I will be visiting the machine shop. Matt @ Big Dog and Wesley both have been very pleasant and helpful. I am attacking this from different angles so I can get this done ASAP since I really want to leave for NY on the 5th. Thanks to all of you for your help as well.

 

[alhall88]

I had the same issue with my hub which was made by performance machine for big dog. When big dog told me to contact pm for the hub because they no longer had them I did only to find out pm wanted $600 to do a special run of 1 hub so I said no thanks. I ended up having a complete new one made but on the new one I changed the design and had it made for a double bearing so now my rear wheel has 4 bearings, 2 on each side.

 

[BATMAN2696]

I went down to where I thought there was a machine shop. Instead it was the bearing shop I had looked up. They told me which machine shop they use so I went down there. It was an older building, the inside was clean and dark, pretty large with a lot of machinery. There were two older gentlemen there, both wearing Harley shirts of some kind. He said no problem, he could machine it and put a sleeve in there. I will pick it up on Friday. Hopefully be back riding soon. Since I don't have a manual I will ask. When reassembling the hub, do you use anti seize? blue or red Loctite? What torque values do you use? Thanks again.

 

[RRRUFF]

Take the hubs and put it out in the hot sun or over a shop light or even in an oven with low heat. Get the hub nice and warm/hot. Put the bearings in the freezer and let them get really cold. Now using a socket or a bearing installation tool slightly smaller than the O.D. of the outer race of the bearing put the cold bearing into the warm/hot hub and if the bearing doesn't slide down and seat then light tap using the socket/bearing installation tool and tap it down until it seats. The idea here not to put any pressure against the inner race of the bearing. You may also consider letting the machine shop press the bearings in using the same principle as above. Put the hubs back onto the wheel using 40 ft lbs working up to 50 ft lbs red Loctite 277. Torque the rear pulley mount bolts to 60 ft/lbs and I just used Blue Loctite 2440. And I believe the hubs are match marked for alignment to each other.