Bearing play?

Hello, 1987 XJ900. With the bike on the main stand U can feel a TiNY bit of sideways movement in the back wheel. Is this normal play between the bearing(s) inner race and the axle or should I be concerned about future bearing failure? Mileage of rear wheel bearings unknown because second hand wheel fitted some time ago… Thanks

 

Is the movement in the wheel or in the swingarm?

 

In the wheel

 

I'd replace them anyway, better than having one grenade on the road. Cheap insurance and Chacal has good quality replacements. As I recall my seca 750 rear wheel had no wobble play when everything was torqued & tightened to spec.

 

Good quality (Koyo) wheel bearings are cheap, don't fit really cheap ones.

 

Not sure what's in the tail of your 900, but 6203, 6303 pretty universal in millions of bikes. Find the numbers and look for cheap handfuls of old stock, quality bearings on ebay. Koyo, Timken, NTN, SKF. Wheel bearings are typically always standard clearance. C3 indicates extra clearance for hot running bearings (motors, trannys, etc). 2RS (2 seals) are most common and you can always pop out one or both seals depending on the configuration. Handy to have a pile of them in the parts bin.

 

Thanks Roast. Mainly true but there is an extra wide bearing in there ONLY available from Chacal now

 

Any advice from other 900 owners re any sideways movement in their wheels appreciated!