Wheel Bearing - Warning!

Energy One
Alicat

Alicat

Hanging out
Well, last week as I riding about 30 miles from home I noticed a squeak and grind in my front end. At that time I stopped at a local ACE and got some spray lube. Using that about every 5 miles I made it home with no more issues. I decided I just was unhappy with that whole thing and I was taking my bike in for the 10,000 mile service anyway yesterday.
Well when they pulled my front wheel off, this is what they found....




Bike is home now, and I'm feeling safe to ride her again....

Al
 
L

LUPHOLE

Well-Known Member
that could have been ugly. glad you are ok.
i guess these things can happen without much warning even though properly maintained. hopefully some of the mechanical folks will comment.
 
dogvet

dogvet

Banned
That's the problem with a sealed bearing! If you have the means, whenevery your cleaning your bike, get the front wheel in the air and using a mechanics stethescope or you ear on the end of a screwdriver on the axle close to the bearingand give the wheel a spin and listen for any noise then give the wheel a shake to see if you feel any play.
 
V

V

Guru
dogvet said:
That's the problem with a sealed bearing! If you have the means, whenevery your cleaning your bike, get the front wheel in the air and using a mechanics stethescope or you ear on the end of a screwdriver on the axle close to the bearingand give the wheel a spin and listen for any noise then give the wheel a shake to see if you feel any play.
Click to expand...
Good tip Doggy Doc, Thanks :2thumbs:
 
Little-Boo

Little-Boo

Well-Known Member
Troop Supporter
Alicat said:
Well, last week as I riding about 30 miles from home I noticed a squeak and grind in my front end. At that time I stopped at a local ACE and got some spray lube. Using that about every 5 miles I made it home with no more issues. I decided I just was unhappy with that whole thing and I was taking my bike in for the 10,000 mile service anyway yesterday.
Well when they pulled my front wheel off, this is what they found....




Bike is home now, and I'm feeling safe to ride her again....

Al
Click to expand...
I Notice that your Dog is an 06, I too had a bearing failure with my o6 Mastiff except that mine was the rear wheel (left side bearing). It looked just like yours only half the ball bearings were left. I had to cut the rear axle to get the wheel off, it's OK now. The new wheels I put on the Dog came with bearings, I'll keep an eye on them to make sure it does happen again. I hope Forge-Tec uses good bearing, they assembled the wheels, all I did was check the torque on the hubs and break disks bolts (which was OK) and installed them.

Carlos
 
Dakotabos

Dakotabos

Well-Known Member
Calendar Participant
Troop Supporter
My Rear Wheel Bearing

That happened to me two years ago in Sturgis 30 miles from Rapid City but I road it to the Big Dog dealer and Big Dog mechanic hooked me up and picked up the tab :cheers:
Great bunch of guys
 
T Mack

T Mack

SUCKER FREE
Had that happen to some aftermarket wheels that i had on my HD Nightrain... I seen the grease coming out of the bearings...
ITS VERY IMPORTANT to check those bearings every once in a while... Get the bike up and spin the wheels to see if they are hanging up or if they are spinning freely... Or look for grease coming out.. Not suppose to they are sealed bearings...
 
Roaddawg

Roaddawg

Well-Known Member
Posted the same exact thing back in June during Laconia. The front wheel bearing (on the rotor side) literally disinegrated all at once, spewing bearings and metal everywhere.
 
G

Gas Man

Cool isn't cheap
Calendar Participant
Glad you heard that and got it taken care of Al. Crazy that it happened to you cause you are a maintance finatic!

Yeah I made sure to check mine when I had the wheels off. Doesn't take much...

Pop the dust cover off and WHOLA!! They had some grease still
(one example)


But more Mobil 1 grease they got!!
 
Raywood

Raywood

The Pirate
Staff member
Calendar Participant
Troop Supporter
I would tell everyone of you here that if you are having your bike serviced or replacing the tires to tell your service tech or YOU YOURSELF check the new bearings.
Here are mine fresh out of the package!!! :eek: I repacked them real good.
 
Richard R

Richard R

Member
I use bearing like this all the time. On a new bearing I will remove the seal useing a small pick, pack the bearing (use GOOD grease ) and push the seal back in. You can do this each year.
 
ZZ CHOP

ZZ CHOP

Member
Alicat can ya see the brand name on the bearing/seal I have always used Timken bearings. I've had very good luck with these plus there made here in the USA ( Canton OH) :flag: ..Dave
 
M

mimbler

Member
Another hint is to never spray high pressure water (like at car wash or pressure washer) around the hubs. It will get by the seals and rust the bearings. This ruins them, and the added friction heats the hub, and melts the grease out, and then things disintegrate rapidly!
Mike
 
reloaderbmg

reloaderbmg

OLD DOG
Alicat said:
Well, last week as I riding about 30 miles from home I noticed a squeak and grind in my front end. At that time I stopped at a local ACE and got some spray lube. Using that about every 5 miles I made it home with no more issues. I decided I just was unhappy with that whole thing and I was taking my bike in for the 10,000 mile service anyway yesterday.
Well when they pulled my front wheel off, this is what they found....




Bike is home now, and I'm feeling safe to ride her again....

Al
Click to expand...
how many miles on your scoot, alicat ?
glad it worked out ok!
 
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