[Chattanooga_Mark]

I always do the bearing checks from the manual when I do tires. I'm still running my original wheel bearings at 167,xxx miles.

Have you ever added or replaced the grease?

 

[Chattanooga_Mark]

I won’t reuse the bearings I removed from the used wheels before dropping those wheels at the powder coat shop. All four of those bearings had to be driven out by force on the inner race. So even though they ’look’ ok, I suspect they’re damaged from the removal process. All four of them were difficult to remove.

Plus I have four new All Balls and four new Polaris (oem Japan) bearings. One set for the Hard-Ball and another set for the CCT at its 100k mile service celebration event.

All eight of these new bearings will be flushed out and repacked with Lucas marine grease before being put into service.

 

[Chattanooga_Mark]

I’ve read where some Moto Guzzi riders had terrible life from All Balls bearings. In reality, I doubt the All Balls bearings have any inherent issue in metallurgy. But I do suppose the short life issue comes down to grease, or lack thereof. Plus improper installation of the bearing combined with over torquing the axle.

Also, as you posted, pressure washers being used to clean bikes that are actually stripping the wheel bearing of the little grease they come with.

 

[Chattanooga_Mark]

Those bearings have the most grease of all three.

 

[Chattanooga_Mark]

@victoryvisiontour, thank you very much for your post. The bearings from the used wheel were NSK. I won’t reuse them them due to having to drive them out using the inner race. The new oem wheel bearings I bought are made by KOYO in Japan.

I’ve done a fair amount of reading about wheel bearings online. One excellent tip I found was to be careful not to overfill the new bearings with grease. Many say between 50% and up to 75% max . Over that (75%) and they could overheat, push the seals and the grease out and then possibly freeze (lock) up.

I also read using something like WD40 is good to flush out the factory grease prior to adding new grease.

What are your thoughts on those two issues?

 

[Chattanooga_Mark]

I went with SKF thru witch Doctors. Mechanic who did my tires said he likes them.

What mileage did you replace them and were they bad?

I’ve always thought I’ll replace my CCT wheel bearings at 100k miles. But they’re all still fine. Maybe the next tire change?

 

[Chattanooga_Mark]

Thank you @NY mike

I do fork oil every 30k. It’s done by that time from its color and smell. Bel Rey 10W in the original volume and level (106mm) works great.

 

[Chattanooga_Mark]

I bought All Balls bearings from WD a few years ago. I haven’t installed them yet. I read too many horror stories about them to use them at this point.

Most bearings these days are made in China, regardless the brand name on the packaging.

I prefer US of Japan made bearings but many Chinese bearings are the same quality anyway. SKF etc., often times today is also made in China.

My new bearing rule is to buy a reputable name brand I’m familiar with. Then pop off the seals to change, check and/or adjust their grease load as needed.