Front wheel bearings

[RockyDS]

I just had to replace mine at 20,000 kms. They were fine and then within maybe 50km or less, they sounded like a can of loose nuts and bolts.

Am I just unlucky?

 

[Mzee]

I have 50000km and not a problem.

 

[scott123007]

I just had to replace mine at 20,000 kms. They were fine and then within maybe 50km or less, they sounded like a can of loose nuts and bolts.

Am I just unlucky?

Unless something damaged a seal, and/or you've had your wheel under water over the axle for long periods, or you are using high water pressure too near those seals, or you have a bearing mid spacer that is a little too short, your bearings should not have gone bad.

 

[RockyDS]

Unless something damaged a seal, and/or you've had your wheel under water over the axle for long periods, or you are using high water pressure too near those seals, or you have a bearing mid spacer that is a little too short, your bearings should not have gone bad.

I have done water crossings but nothing I would say was a long period under water and I've always been careful with pressure washing. Hopefully the new bearings will last longer.

 

[rbm]

Just done a thread on having to change mine at 11,000km. Seems one must check them on a regular basis. Some nice answers to my thread.

 

[Mzee]

i now have 110000kms on the original bearings. ;D

 

[eemsreno]

My beast has 124,500 miles on the original front bearings. The small one on the right rear was getting some play in it about 60,000 miles ago.
My bike has seen some creek crossings.

 

[EricV]

Anyone can be unlucky, but most Super Tenere riders don't have bearing failures. I have a bit over 95k miles, (153000 kms), on the original wheel bearings and they still feel smooth.

The thing I notice in your posts is that you say you have "always been careful with pressure washing". Simply put, stop doing that. There is very little reason to use a pressure washer on a motorcycle and a high likelihood that water will get where it shouldn't go. Just use a hose and a brush or a couple different size brushes and go from there.

 

[racer]

What is this washing thing you speak of?

 

[eemsreno]

I power wash my bike a lot. Any time I feel like it. I have never seen any ill affects from doing it. sure looks better after.

 

[Ramseybella]

Just need to watch where you shoot it.
Don't aim directly at any seams or places the pressure can break into.
We all know that $2.50 doesn't last long so I bring my De-greaser spray and look over what is the most important areas I need to get too before I drop my coin, spray the nasty stuff with engine or wheel cleaner then go for it.
Short bursts!! ::024::
I do the detailing at home, but I admit this bike has so many nooks and crannies I wind up with more scrapes and nicks on my hands than it's worth!
Two rides later it looks the same. :-\

 

[RockyDS]

I power wash my bike a lot. Any time I feel like it. I have never seen any ill affects from doing it. sure looks better after.

I agree.

 

[RockyDS]

Just need to watch where you shoot it.
Don't aim directly at any seams or places the pressure can break into.
We all know that $2.50 doesn't last long so I bring my De-greaser spray and look over what is the most important areas I need to get too before I drop my coin, spray the nasty stuff with engine or wheel cleaner then go for it.
Short bursts!! ::024::
I do the detailing at home, but I admit this bike has so many nooks and crannies I wind up with more scrapes and nicks on my hands than it's worth!
Two rides later it looks the same. :-\

I agree.

 

[RockyDS]

Simply put, stop doing that.

Simply put, that come across as a little arrogant. You're entitled to your opinion but that's it. ::003::

 

[RockyDS]

I just had to replace mine at 20,000 kms. They were fine and then within maybe 50km or less, they sounded like a can of loose nuts and bolts.

Am I just unlucky?

I guess I was unlucky.

The third set of bearings have now covered about 30,000 kms. The mechanic replaced the front axle at the same time and it's possible that was the issue in the first place.

After nearly 50,000 kms, I have replaced the front fork seals and the rear rack with the Altrider rack (broken plastic). Other than oil, filters and normal service items, I haven't had any other issues. The bike has performed perfectly and it has been all over the Western States and Provinces between San Diego and Inuvik.

https://dualsportblog.wordpress.com/2015-dust-to-dawson-inuvik/

 

[EricV]

Simply put, that come across as a little arrogant. You're entitled to your opinion but that's it. ::003::

It wasn't intended to be anything more than a suggestion. I consider pressure washing a small thing like a motorcycle to be rather excessive and water can easily go where it wasn't intended to go. Certainly, some care goes a long way. But then, I'm not replacing wheel bearings at the frequency some are, so maybe I'm just lucky? Or, maybe not pressure washing and simply using a hose with some brushes avoids the potential for issues?

Personally, I've had far more damage from the shop monkey pressure washing my bike on the rare occasions I've let a dealer do any work on one of my bikes. Killed relays, damaged bearings, headlight bulbs(!). How someone shot water at the bike to fill a headlight is beyond me, but it happened. I didn't enjoy running all over on a Sunday before a long trip to find a new HID harness and never mind removing the headlight assembly from my FJR to drain the water.

We all get to decide what works for each of us.

 

[RockyDS]

It wasn't intended to be anything more than a suggestion. I consider pressure washing a small thing like a motorcycle to be rather excessive and water can easily go where it wasn't intended to go. Certainly, some care goes a long way. But then, I'm not replacing wheel bearings at the frequency some are, so maybe I'm just lucky? Or, maybe not pressure washing and simply using a hose with some brushes avoids the potential for issues?

Personally, I've had far more damage from the shop monkey pressure washing my bike on the rare occasions I've let a dealer do any work on one of my bikes. Killed relays, damaged bearings, headlight bulbs(!). How someone shot water at the bike to fill a headlight is beyond me, but it happened. I didn't enjoy running all over on a Sunday before a long trip to find a new HID harness and never mind removing the headlight assembly from my FJR to drain the water.

We all get to decide what works for each of us.

Fair enough and if I had ever experienced the same issues as you maybe my pressure washer wouldn't go near any of my bikes.

The trouble is that ...

Simply put, stop doing that.

... doesn't come over as a 'suggestion'.

Certain areas of a bike can in my opinion be cleaned with a pressure washer, avoiding seams, seals, electrics, etc. and with the pressure turned down as low as possible. If anyone uses a pressure washer I would warn them to be very careful because apart from damage by ingress in seals, etc. a high power pressure washer can remove decals and paint. In the case of my bearings, it had nothing whatsoever to do with using a pressure washer because because I don't pressure wash in the area of the wheel hubs. If you had actually said something more like, 'my suggestion is to not use a pressure washer just to be on the safe side', I would not have responded other than in agreement.

 

[Ramseybella]

So the wheel bearing went bad and not from using direct high pressure washing?
Once replaced all will be good?

::021::

 

[Hungry Tiger]

Kim

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[Hungry Tiger]

Entry #19 was a boo boo. Replaced frt bearings at 88,000 mi just because after busting up one of the rears. One of the old frt ones was rotating with some roughness.

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