How bad is riding on a bad wheel bearing?

[Justin]

Just curious how dangerous it is when a wheel bearing is going? I have a front one on the way out, can't really feel it while cruising, but can definitely feel it when using the front brake. I've never had one go completely while riding, what usually happens when they go?

[SLK50]

What you have there is a text book example of Murphy's Law: Any situation
left unto itself can and will only get worse.

Other than the grinding of hard parts and really sloppy handling ( read dangerous )
what could go wrong? I just hope I don't read about you in a
"another motorcyclist found dead" thread.

[ConPilot1]

I check my wheel bearings at wheel pulls/tire changes.

26,000 miles my front one felt fine on the bike, but to the finger turning the bearing, there was a bit of crunchiness.

replaced that sucker right away. I couldn't imagine smoking one totally and seizing up a wheel or something.

[Kneescrubber]

Sorry, you can't repeat a karma action without waiting 1 hours.

[Scratch33]

 what usually happens when they go?

They usually go in the middle of a trip in the middle of nowhere on a weekend after any repair shops have closed.  
If you don't change it right now, at least buy a replacement & carry it along.

[Justin]

Sorry, you can't repeat a karma action without waiting 1 hours.

Umm wtf? I ask a question and you give me negative Karma? God I love this forum sometimes. (sarcasm)

My apologies, but I have never had one "blow". I have had ones that were bad and replaced. Just curious what the end result is when they do.

[scottzilla]

Gee Justin, it's probably as bad as riding a Blackbird with no rear brakes.  I'm sure you remember that.

[Justin]

Gee Justin, it's probably as bad as riding a Blackbird with no rear brakes.  I'm sure you remember that.

C'mon Scott....   it was front brakes to be fair, and only one side..

[HanksXXX]

There is the possibility of the bearing seizing and locking the wheel...
It happened to me once and it sucked...

[veefer800canuck]

How bad?

Very bad.

[Justin]

Thanks folks - question answered. And for the record, it was an honest question. I have had ones that started to go, and were replaced soon after. This one feel really crappy. So the bike's parked until the bearings I ordered today arrive

[scottzilla]

C'mon Scott....   it was front brakes to be fair, and only one side..

Well, we did have to steal the rear pads though.  

[Justin]

Well, we did have to steal the rear pads though.  

Oh right.  

Thanks for making me relive my embarrassment.  

[Windblown]

main·te·nance/ˈmānt(ə)nəns/
Noun:   

1. The process of maintaining or preserving someone or something, or the state of being maintained: "the maintenance of democratic government".
2. The process of keeping something in good condition: "car maintenance"; "essential maintenance work".

 


New bearings are cheap. New bearings, axle, wheel, & rotors - not so much.

[Justin]

If you are lucky, your biggest problem will only be trying to fix it in a small town in Nebraska on a Sunday afternoon.  Remember; when the bearing goes, the axle will drop lower than the center of the wheel.  Bad things will happen--locking up is a real possibility.

Did you happen to have a spare with you? I suspect that Moto Guzzi bearings are a rare commodity in Nebraska. Or were you able to pull it on the sidewalk and find a store that had a bearing the same size?

[tomek]

Get some real new bearings - no 1$ ebay parts or All Balls kits , they are junk .

[Justin]

Get some real new bearings - no 1$ ebay parts or All Balls kits , they are junk .

Oh?  I have heard good things about All Balls. What is wrong with them? They look to be well made to me.  And do you have any suggestions as to which companies make a "real" bearing?    

[veefer800canuck]

Oh?  I have heard good things about All Balls. What is wrong with them? They look to be well made to me.  And do you have any suggestions as to which companies make a "real" bearing?    

IIRC, All Balls sources their bearings from KML, a Chinese company.

I have no scientific evidence, but NSK and FAG are widely regarded as industry leaders in the bearing market. Nachi is quite good as well.


KML Bearing and Equipment Ltd.
Company Address:   401-407, Zone 1, Block 2, 537 Panyu Avenue North, Panyu District, Guangzhou, China
City/Province:   Guangzhou/Guangdong
Country/Region:   China
Zip/Postal Code:   511400
Telephone Number:   86-20-39922589-226  

[ConPilot1]

Just look up a local parts/bearing house. They're 9-12 bucks each. Ask for Japanese ones, not Chinese.

Look up BEARINGS in your Yellow Pages and go there. The Jap bike bearings should be commonly available parts. Give them the numbers off your old ones or look them up in your shop manual.

[birdrunner]

Did you happen to have a spare with you? I suspect that Moto Guzzi bearings are a rare commodity in Nebraska. Or were you able to pull it on the sidewalk and find a store that had a bearing the same size?

Parts available at the better Tractor parts stores.

[tomek]

Oh?  I have heard good things about All Balls. What is wrong with them? They look to be well made to me.  And do you have any suggestions as to which companies make a "real" bearing?    

Durability , my friend . I used them before I knew better any better , they simply wore out pretty fast .
Don`t waste your time . All Balls in their kits is using the cheapest bearings known to the mankind .
Their dust seals sucks too . Please don`t let me start on their tapered steering kits .

I`ve had very good results with RB Tech premium bearings , from ebay of course . Yes , Made in China .

SKF , NTN and couple of others are reputable brands .

[Justin]

Durability , my friend . I used them before I knew better any better , they simply wore out pretty fast .
Don`t waste your time . All Balls in their kits is using the cheapest bearings known to the mankind .
Their dust seals sucks too . Please don`t let me start on their tapered steering kits .

I`ve had very good results with RB Tech premium bearings , from ebay of course . Yes , Made in China .

SKF , NTN and couple of others are reputable brands .

Thanks for the tips  

I already ordered an all balls kit, so I'll run them till they wear. In the interim I'll source a better set for next time so I'm prepared. Prolly get a set for the rear as well. Since the front went - I suspect the rear will soon follow.

[tomek]

Well , this is how front All Balls looked after 15 - 20 k miles , I barely made  home from Rockies trip .
 
 In case anyone wonders I was not doing anything out of the ordinary .




 

 Rust on the so-called grease . LOL

BTW , OEM were still perfect after about 80 K miles but I decided to replace them as a preventive maintenance .  

[MidLifeMike]

Yeeeeaahhh, them's rusty bearings. The ones on my 1979 Yamaha look as good as new, and are apparently indestructible. I've been pounding the crap out of one and it won't budge, and it still turns.
But like the previous poster, preventive maintenance while the wheel is off the bike at 70,000 km.
What is the average success of people getting wheel bearings out themselves or reverting to a shop with the right equipment?

[Andrew]

What is the average success of people getting wheel bearings out themselves or reverting to a shop with the right equipment?

Pull the snap rings, possibly a bit of heat and a dead blow hammer with a punch or broom handle

[Scratch33]

What is the average success of people getting wheel bearings out themselves or reverting to a shop with the right equipment?

I've had great success.  While I have a bearing puller kit, stubborn bearings sometimes involve other methods/tools including a pipe or rod over a socket with the proper circumference; dead blow hammer; lubes like PJ Blaster; and quick hits with a blowtorch.

[JSharp]

One method when all else fails - Knock the inner race and balls out, then cut some slots on the inside of the outer race with a Dremel and a cutoff tool. Cut the slots almost all the way through the race. A couple of those and it should come right out.

[bomber]

Putting the new beawrings into the freezer the night before you intend to install them will ease that chore  . . . .

[dietDrThunder]

Long boring story...cliff notes at the end...

In September 2010 I took a trip from Nashville up to Maine, and back. On day 1, I worked all day (Saturday of Memorial Day weekend) and then let outta town at maybe 6:45pm on my fully loaded (Givi trunk, semi-soft big-ass bags, full, large duffel across pillion, giant heavy tank bag) 1994 CBR1000F. My plan was to ride over Deal's Gap and on to Bryson City, where I'd get a room for the night before continuing on.

I stopped for gas in Maryville TN at maybe 9:30pm...so far everything was great. I sat around, ate a sandwich I think, smoked a couple cigs or whatever...in general, decompressing from my daily life, and workign my way into this, the first few hours of 15 consecutive days away from everything. After wasting 30 minutes probably, I got geared back up and hit the road...except that even in teh parking lot I could feel that something was wrong. I stopped right there, checked tire pressure, etc. and found nothing wrong, decided it was just me, and let out again.

Ok, something is broken......I think my front wheel bearings are bad.

Pulled back into the gas station...I was right. I guess the heat of freeway speeds kept it expanded and together, because it was completely destroyed. THe wheel wobbled on the axle as if there were no bearings. So, being the highly effective critical thinker that I am, I did some analysis.

1. It's Saturday night on Memorial Day weekend. If I stay here I will probably not be able to get this fixed until Tuesday.
2. It's Saturday night on Memorial Day weekend. If I continue on, there is no available help for many (many) miles, and even if there was, it will be Tuesday before it's open.
3. Riding over Deal's Gap late at night is already a little sketchy because you can't see the road conditions as easily, and there are _many_ wild animals in the area.
4. I'm only 160 miles from home and about to ride 3500 more, so I can easily just call it a false start, go home, fix the bike, and leave again. I can limp home, or get my wife to come get me, or a buddy with a trailer.

Conclusion: F*ck it. Maybe Wheeler's will be open tomorrow.

So, off I went. If you've never ridden a 575 pound bike with 150 pounds of luggage on it over Deal's Gap with no front wheel bearings in the dark, and in pouring rain, I can't say that I recommend it.

Oh I'm sorry, did I forget to mention that it started raining cats and dogs about 7 minutes after I left the gas station?

That was not the most fun ride ever. I got to the CRoT, and of course they were long closed, so I busted out my fleece blanket and "slept" on the concrete floor of the picnic table pavilion thing that was there (it's reconfigured now). When I woke up I went onto the restaurant there and got some breakfast, and considered my options. At some point, I looked up from my eggs, and my luck began to change.

Across the room from me was my racing buddy Chris Davies. I hadn't seen him in at least a year, but there he was...at the Gap, on that morning. I went over and said hi, and 10 minutes later my bike was in his trailer, and on the way to Wheeler's...which was open, and who had my wheel bearings.

Luck: changed. Maybe 45 minutes and $60 later I was back on the road, wheel bearings a-new. Trip: salvaged.



cliffs: Don't risk it. They can fail at any time, and when they do, it sucks.

[veefer800canuck]

I already ordered an all balls kit, so I'll run them till they wear. In the interim I'll source a better set for next time so I'm prepared. Prolly get a set for the rear as well. Since the front went - I suspect the rear will soon follow.

Justin! Read this!

No matter the brand name of bearings, I always pop the seals off and pack them with quality grease before installation.  

Sometimes the factory scrimps on the grease, and I only want to R&R them ONCE.  

[veefer800canuck]

this method works for ordinary roller bearings as well as tapered oned.

[TuffguyF4i]

I have a bearing story...

Each year the three of us go out on a 9-10 day sportbike trip. Me, my cousin and a very good friend.  My cousin is riding a '96 F2 with about 30k on the clock.

The setting is backass WV on Friday at 3pm the night before memorial day weekend.  

We were railing some turns.  Super high speed cruising.  He starts to notice his rear tire feels loose.  He has be follow him and it looks terrible.  At least 1" of play on the top and bottom.  Real scary.  Totally out in the middle of nowhere.

We take the speed really far down and one of us rips out ahead to solicit the locals for help and stop and the next gas station.  No success at first, but are told of a town 15 miles away that has a Walmart and some other stuff.  

Roll into the other town and see a motorsports place.  Sweet!!! Success!!!  Well they don't have the bearing, but the parts guy was a real macguiver and finds out what bearing goes into the bike.  Turns out it is a Timken.  He then calls Timken technical support and gets the outside and inside diameter.  He then goes in the back and puts a caliper on many bearings till he finds the right one,,,turns out honda dirtbikes have the same dimensions.  Yes they aren't as beefy but they will do for government work.  

So now we have our sample bearings in hand.  5pm on friday.  Every mechanic closed up shop 2 hrs ago.  Crap.  

We head to Walmart and buy a bunch of cheap tools.  Big hammer, punches and some gloves.  We find a parking lot with a cement block sitting in it and use that to prop up the back of the bike.  After 30 mins we were all back together and all absolutely filthy,,,but happy.  
It was a good story at the bar later that night.  

[Justin]

Justin! Read this!

No matter the brand name of bearings, I always pop the seals off and pack them with quality grease before installation.  

Sometimes the factory scrimps on the grease, and I only want to R&R them ONCE.  

Good thinking. Now, where can I get a small amount of chevron sri 2 or similar grease? That's what they use on their bearings (all balls), does it matter if I use a diff grease? I have a tub of Belray waterproof grease - not sure if it's high temp though. So not sure if that'd be sufficient.

[bomber]

any brand name of grease will be fine . . . . not sure where to find a small amount, just spend the 6 or 8 bux on teh tube of high-temp grease at NAPA . . . . you'll find uses for it . . . .

[Justin]

any brand name of grease will be fine . . . . not sure where to find a small amount, just spend the 6 or 8 bux on teh tube of high-temp grease at NAPA . . . . you'll find uses for it . . . .

Actually, my tub of Belray waterproof grease says right on the tub it's for wheel bearings and other stuff. So my last concern is, it does not matter if you mix different greases?

[veefer800canuck]

When you pop the seals off, clean out the factory grease with a little varsol, WD40 and or brake cleaner, then squish in the new grease, install the seals and go!