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Rear bearing failure

  • Somo2016dyna
    Somo2016dyna
    6 years ago
    Hi all..
    Bought a 2016 dyna brand new..is simply an amazing ride and should of done it years ago..  though last week taking home (has done approx 7000km.. ) just out of warragul / victoria, did the rear bearing totally destroyed. Scared the sh@t out of me.. being a new rider was unsure what had happened.. felt like riding through wet sand..or got a flat tyre.. long story short got bike on road... thanks warragul bike shop.. 
    They said could only put a special h.d bearing in as the abs sensory works off the bearing..
    What i would like to know... if anybody knows is...
    Is this a common problem with the bike?.
    Could i after market bearing which is stronger?
    How often should i be getting the mechanic to check/ replace bearings..
    Thanks..
    Ohhh also want to say thanks to every rider who passed.. every rider made the effort to make sure i was right.. through a thumbs up flash of the lights.. thanks again
  • Big Steve
    Big Steve
    6 years ago
    Probably just a dud bearing. I had a rear collapse on my old Dyna at 80,000km
  • Damo14
    Damo14
    6 years ago
    Yeah man I had 1 crap out on me around 15k, Ive since thrown a set of All Balls rear abs bearings in. everything works fine and I personally think the bearing feels the same if not stronger just without the HD price tag

    https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/All-Balls-Rear-Wheel-Bearing-Kit-ABS-HARLEY-FXDBP-Dyna-Street-Bob-13-16-/232682742672 
  • limpn
    limpn
    6 years ago

    just be careful if your washing your bike a high pressure washer.. that is a big no no..

    the pressure blows out all the grease in the bearings and makes it run dry.. very very common

    I only use a garden hose on light sprinkle ...


  • potluk
    potluk
    6 years ago
    bought my street bob new in 2014 had the same issue. had the bike for about 4 months went for a ride felt like the brakes were on and pulled up to check it out saw the abs lead had spun around and snapped the cable and that was where i stayed for a couple of hours. i was about 100k out very little coverage on the mobile but used the harley assist that came with the bike and eventually got home.harley heaven did the warranty they said the bearing was spinning in the hub so had to have new wheel as well as abs and bearing. almost 4 years and 30000ks later no more trouble.  cheers potluk
  • chriso
    chriso
    6 years ago
    Yeah I’ve had one go, $6000 worth damage, fucken scary. Although it’s not that common it does happen.
    I just change em every 3rd tyre change now, 25,30 thou ks and just use HD, they not that expansive plus ABS bikes do have the sensor in them in one side as you said.

    Also always take bike for a run round the block after a wash to dispense any water, fucked if I know if it makes a difference but just an old habit.
  • Methuselah
    Methuselah
    6 years ago
    Yeh seems common, I had one go at 40,000klm.
  • Mr.Mow
    Mr.Mow
    6 years ago
    That shit is unacceptable.. could you imagine if say Toyota corollas were frying wheel bearings at 20,000kms and potentially risking the life of drivers! ACCC would be on them to recall and fix, why the hell do we put up with this??
  • Hound_Dog
    Hound_Dog
    6 years ago
    Harley bearings are shit. First tyre change bin the lot and go, as mentioned above, with All Balls kits.
  • Big Steve
    Big Steve
    6 years ago
    I obviously jinxed myself.
    My rear wheel bearing colapsed on the way to work today with just under 45,000km.
  • Krash Kinkade
    Krash Kinkade
    6 years ago
    I had an out rigger bearing support made up, bolted to outside of belt drive Sproket took place of spacer. puts bearing just inside swingarm. best thing I have done. would help as a extra sealed bearing to support wheel. but I did it on an 01 carb dyna. would have to look at new ones.
  • markwoumla
    markwoumla
    6 years ago
    Cant disagree that wheel  bearings can fail, they are a mechanical part. Some have had  failures at low kms,, others have had many high  km bikes  and no failures. Is it luck of the draw ,,, low quality bearings , etc ?? .. Take your pick … Every say, second or third  tyre change seems a good idea to change them to lower the risk .. 

    We can talk about this or that wheel bearing is shit etc,,, But installation of a wheel bearing, (especially on a two wheel vehicle), is important... It is not rocket science, but you should have a good idea what your doing .

    The primary bearing, (that's the abs bearing side on abs bikes), gets seated first in the hub, (ie , cant go any further).
    In goes the spacer,, making sure it is not rounded or damaged.
    Now install the standard bearing on the other side.  This bearing , (for want of a better word), floats. ie , it does not have a groove to seat into like the primary bearing.  It is pushed into hub until it makes firm  contact with the spacer. (By firm, with your fingers , the spacer should have no in or out play,,, but should be able to move side to side, so the axle can slide  through without have to belt it through with a sledge hammer.  An example would be ,, like  finding zero lash when adjusting pushrods....
    There is some tolerance , But if your way out , you can put some major stress on bearings resulting in failures... 

    When you hear new bikes , or low km bikes having wheel bearing failures, (which is not acceptable), do we put the blame on crappy bearings or incorrect  installation from factory etc... Fucked if I know.. But if you are going to change them yourself do some research. 


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