Pulled off the front wheel to change the tire on my R75/6. As I do at every tire change I check and lube the bearings. Both sides were greased but had rusted/corroded. The seals were very loose around the tophat spacers. There was no discernible play in the wheel and the wedding ring/spacer were uncorroded (the pre-load was still valid).
It's been a couple of years or more since I service the bearings as it takes that long for me to wear out a tire. I learned long ago not so spray water on the bearings when washing the bike so the seals must have hardened and worn enough that they kept out no moisture. I rarely ride in the rain or wet. I had just completed a 2000 mile trip.
Looks like I need to check the bearings at least once a year. I'll look at the rear wheel tonight. Fortunately I have a spare set of wheels and tires. I can take my time replacing the bearings.
Seals and wheel bearings
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Ken in Oklahoma
- Posts: 3182
- Joined: Tue Aug 03, 2010 5:10 pm
Re: Seals and wheel bearings
Teo, I've underlined a couple passages of your post. I'm thinking that it looks like you might need to check your seals whenever you check your bearings. I'm guessing that the loose seals you found are old, maybe very old, and weren't replaced when you last checked your bearings. I've had seals that were loose enough on the top hat spacers that I was concerned about whether the top hat might fall out. I don't recall ever having seen a loose top hat in a seal that I had replaced in, say, the last two years.teo wrote:Pulled off the front wheel to change the tire on my R75/6. As I do at every tire change I check and lube the bearings. Both sides were greased but had rusted/corroded. The seals were very loose around the tophat spacers. There was no discernible play in the wheel and the wedding ring/spacer were uncorroded (the pre-load was still valid).
It's been a couple of years or more since I service the bearings as it takes that long for me to wear out a tire. I learned long ago not so spray water on the bearings when washing the bike so the seals must have hardened and worn enough that they kept out no moisture. I rarely ride in the rain or wet. I had just completed a 2000 mile trip.
Looks like I need to check the bearings at least once a year. I'll look at the rear wheel tonight. Fortunately I have a spare set of wheels and tires. I can take my time replacing the bearings.
From your scenario it sounds like the loose seals were the culprit, especially if even a garden hose were sprayed on the seal/top hat. I've now made a solemn to myself to be sure to check the seals whenever I have a wheel off a bike.
Ken
____________________________________
There's no such thing as too many airheads
There's no such thing as too many airheads
Re: Seals and wheel bearings
Ken,
You're right about seals and that was my conclusion as well.
I probably didn't replace the seals because they seemed "good enough" at the time and then I forgot about them. Amazing how we forget some basics over time despite meticulous records. I was surprised that the ferrul broke off then end of my clutch cable. I went back and checked my records and Gee! it was 4 years since I had lubed it.
I have new seals on order -$14 each! and my new bearings in had - $36 each!!!!!! I looked all over the web for cheaper prices but no luck. The bearings that BMW sells now are Toyos, not SKF or FAG. At least they're not Chinese (unless Toyo subcontracts to China!!). Hah!
Teo
Bad Bearings and Walus bearing greaser in the pics.
You're right about seals and that was my conclusion as well.
I probably didn't replace the seals because they seemed "good enough" at the time and then I forgot about them. Amazing how we forget some basics over time despite meticulous records. I was surprised that the ferrul broke off then end of my clutch cable. I went back and checked my records and Gee! it was 4 years since I had lubed it.
I have new seals on order -$14 each! and my new bearings in had - $36 each!!!!!! I looked all over the web for cheaper prices but no luck. The bearings that BMW sells now are Toyos, not SKF or FAG. At least they're not Chinese (unless Toyo subcontracts to China!!). Hah!
Teo
Bad Bearings and Walus bearing greaser in the pics.
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Last edited by teo on Sat Sep 10, 2011 10:51 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Seals and wheel bearings
Ripped off Teo!
My last seals were $3 ea.
Bearings, about $18 ea for SKF.
Don't get 30203J bearings!
My last seals were $3 ea.
Bearings, about $18 ea for SKF.
Don't get 30203J bearings!
Lord of the Bings
Re: Seals and wheel bearings
I bought one of these BMW wheel bearing greasers from Cycle Works and it's great:
"Never argue with a fool, onlookers might not be able to tell the difference." Samuel Clemens
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Ken in Oklahoma
- Posts: 3182
- Joined: Tue Aug 03, 2010 5:10 pm
Re: Seals and wheel bearings
"You've been readin' my mail!" (From Kris Kristoferson's To Beat the Devil)teo wrote:... I probably didn't replace the seals because they seemed "good enough" at the time and then I forgot about them...
Sure hope I don't forget my own resolution to pay more attention to the wheel seals.
Ken
____________________________________
There's no such thing as too many airheads
There's no such thing as too many airheads
Re: Seals and wheel bearings
New seals and bearing in, properly pre-loaded (even used a couple of Duane's .003 and .002 shims 
).
I have a Walus grease tool that does the same as your tool, Dan. I'll post a pic of it and the bearings as soon as I get my camera back.
Jeff, amazing that your bearings and seals are cheaper than here in the States. I'm jealous!!!!!!!!!!! Usually you guys get stuck with higher prices.
Teo
). I have a Walus grease tool that does the same as your tool, Dan. I'll post a pic of it and the bearings as soon as I get my camera back.
Jeff, amazing that your bearings and seals are cheaper than here in the States. I'm jealous!!!!!!!!!!! Usually you guys get stuck with higher prices.
Teo