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How long are wheel bearings good?

Discussion in 'Hangout Lounge' started by jim123, Nov 21, 2012.

  1. jim123

    jim123 Member

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    I had my bike for 5 seasons so far and got rained on once. I did the headset bearings last year and the grease looked like it was just assembled that day eventhough there were a bunch of little dents where each one sat while going straight. The bike looked like it was always stored inside and had 5300 miles on it. It now has 11,000. Is there a way to tell when its time for new wheel bearings? It seems to roll forever if I pull the clutch lever in and let it coast up to stop lights.
     
  2. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    The originals and the grease in them are now over 30 years old.

    If you remove them to re-pack them, the removal process will damage them.

    New wheel bearings are quite inexpensive.

    Mileage isn't everything, the grease is OLD. Replace them.

    Have you checked your valve clearances yet? At 5300, you were either 5300 overdue, or only 2300 past the intial (at 3K that probably wasn't done.) If that initial adjustment at 3K WAS done, you're now 3K overdue for the every 5000-mile thereafter check. If ignored altogether, you're approaching the danger zone.
     
  3. maximike

    maximike Member

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    The standard non surgical method to test wheel bearings is to get the wheel off the ground and see if you can push and pull it laterally. In other words, does it wiggle side to side. If so, bearings too loose. Meaning out of round, or even missing some balls(take it from me, you don't want to be missing balls).
     
  4. jim123

    jim123 Member

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    I checked the valves at 5300 and one was right on the tight limit. I checked them at 9500 and they were the same as 5300. I changed the tight one to the next size and it is now a little too loose(.001") and the ticking bugs me but it seems I'm the only one who hears it.
     
  5. maximike

    maximike Member

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    You had to have done the math wrong. If it was out of spec one size and you went one size smaller it should be IN spec.

    Problem may be your English feeler gauge. I used an inch one no problem, (probably because mine weren't close to the edge between two sizes) but metric is the recommended tool.

    I don't want to be a parrot, but to quote Fitz, "in is in and out is out" There is one shim and only one shim that puts a valve clearance in spec. I notice a lot of guys saying stuff like, "if it's close should I make them loose?" No.
     
  6. jim123

    jim123 Member

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    A .006" feeler gauge fit when the engine was 50f degrees cold and it would not fit when the engine was whatever temp it could cool down to in the 10-15 minutes it took me to get the cover off and take a reading in a 50f degree garage. On another thread I was told it was better for the valves to be on the loose side than the tight side. I probably could have left it as it was the same measurements almost 5000 miles ago. I should get a set of metric feelers for next time. I only used .001 accuracy ie .007 fits and .008 doesn't = good. .oo6 fits cold and doesn't fit warm = change.
     
  7. RickCoMatic

    RickCoMatic Well-Known Member

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    The Front Wheel Bearings on our Bikes are a Standard Size available from Bearing Supply Stores at GREATLY reduced prices than those Yamaha slips into Plastic Bags with a Bar code.

    Headset Bearings are Standard, too
    1/4" Balls
    It takes 38 Balls
    93501-04011-00 BALL 4.79 USD
    Yam sells them ala carte.
    You need 38
    $182.00 at the Dealership.

    I went to Allied Bearing Supply in Allston, Mass.
    Went to the Parts window and rang the bell.
    A guy comes-out from in the back.
    "What can I do for you?" he asks.
    "I need some quarter-inch balls."
    "How many you want?" he asks me.

    I knew exactly how many I needed so I told him.

    "Thirty-eight", I confidently replied.

    He clarifies my request with an additional inquiry.

    "38 hundred or 38 thousand?"

    "38 period. Just 38 balls".

    He grabbed a paper bag that looked like a sandwich bag and grabbed a handful of ball bearings from a huge bin.
    Dropped them all in the bag.

    "I know that's at least 38", he said. Give me 5-bucks".
     
  8. maximike

    maximike Member

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    Lol, Rick, do you *ever* read any previous posts in a thread? ;)
     
  9. hbwb

    hbwb Member

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    Change the ball bearings for tapered roller bearings when you replace.

    If it don't wiggle or bind then do not buy trouble and go poking around in there.

    I am not of the opinion that grease wears out because it has been in there x amount of years. It does not wear out ever, but may get dirty or get forced out because of excessive clearances.
     
  10. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    Trust me, 30+ year-old grease quickly fails once you start putting it through heat cycles. Yamaha's original wheel bearings were either fully open, or sealed on one side only. Sealed-in grease might last that long; grease exposed to air won't even. It dries out like everything else.

    I've not seen tapered roller bearings for the wheels. Steering head yes; but everyone's replacement wheel bearings are ball bearings.

    When I got my XJs (both of them) the wheel bearings exhibited NO play whatsoever, so I left them. Within a couple thousand miles of putting them back into service, bearing play appeared.

    I'm thinking the ancient petrified grease kinda let me down...
     
  11. TIMEtoRIDE

    TIMEtoRIDE Active Member

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    Grease does not wear out ?? 8O Ever ?? :eek:

    OHHH , you have never worked on trailer axles !! :lol:
     
  12. mtnbikecrazy55

    mtnbikecrazy55 Active Member

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    yeah, as far as i know theres not tapered rollers avilible for wheel bearings.

    steerer tube bearings yes.

    a new set for both the front and back, including all the new seals, is available from all-balls for under 30$

    17 for the front and 10 for the rear is what i think i paid through the local tire/trailer/motorcycle shop. they were a couple bucks cheaper online, but he's a nice guy and i like buying things from him when the price is somewhat comparable.
     
  13. fintip

    fintip Member

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    Wish I'd checked. When I had new tires put on my wheels, I told the mechanic to check the bearings. He said they looked fine, seemed they had been replaced with tapered bearings at one point.

    That was the 82, but when stripping it for the 81, knowing the bearings were good on that one, I swapped tires and put it on the 81. Still know the bike's owner, maybe I'll check for you guys if the tire comes off at some point.
     

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