Removing front wheel bearings?

[Lost Rider]

I doubt anyone's removed the bearings from their 1200R, but maybe have done it before on another bike.
I need to remove my front wheel bearings, and am wondering if there's a way to do it and use the same bearings over.
Will I need a special tool? If so will a standard wheel bearing puller do?
Since there's a spacer tube, it seems like it might be a little harder to get them out without damaging them or without a special tool.

Thanks


Joe

[deilenberger]

There are special bearing pullers made for this use. BTDT on my K bikes. Kieko is the brand name IIRC.. expensive. You also must heat the wheel in order to remove and reinstall the bearings. It helps if you can chill the bearings. Done right - I see no reason they can't be reused if not damaged.

I assume you are doing something like powdercoat? Make sure they don't coat the bearing bores.. that would be very ugly to deal with.

[Lost Rider]

There are special bearing pullers made for this use. BTDT on my K bikes. Kieko is the brand name IIRC.. expensive. You also must heat the wheel in order to remove and reinstall the bearings. It helps if you can chill the bearings. Done right - I see no reason they can't be reused if not damaged.

I assume you are doing something like powdercoat? Make sure they don't coat the bearing bores.. that would be very ugly to deal with.

Thanks Don, I was afraid of that. Is it a BMW specific tool, or could I just take it to any motorcycle dealer to have them do it? An expensive tool is not in my budget, and no time for shipping one even if I did buy it...

And yes, there's some changes a brewin'... While my bikes in pieces.

[deilenberger]

Joe - here is what it looks like:



This is a $120 or so copy of an SKF puller.

Here is the info on the SKF puller (which is prolly made by the company that sounds like Keiko.. but isn't..):

http://www.reliabilitydirectstore.com/S ... series.htm

http://www.promshop.biz/pdf/mech_tmsc.pdf

The SKF is > $700

And worth checking HarborFreight:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=95987



What'cha know - looks just like the SKF puller. For $30.

This is the same sort of tool the dealer will use.

It might be worth checking with your friendly local dealers service department to see what they'd charge to remove the bearings. Reinstalling them only requires a big-ass (tech-term) socket that fits the outside race so you can tap them back in (hub hot and bearing cold.. sometimes they'll drop right in..)

[Lost Rider]

Thanks Don,

I've arranged for a independent BMW shop to take out the bearings for me on Saturday. Going to just be easier to have it done for me.

Thanks again for the useful info.

Joe

[BigEasy]

Joe, I think that's a good call. I don't see why you couldn't do it on your own but pulling bearings is one of those things that can either be a PIA or a drop in deal like Don says. However, doing it routinely makes it easier, doing it once in a while makes it a sweat equity learning process that could cost more by messing it up.

If I were you and the cost were not totally prohibitive, I'd replace the bearings while I was at it. But that is just my overkill OCD kicking in. I mean it's already apart for your bling job, why not? Again, cost may force your hand and as we know the BMW bearings have been demonstrated to go many miles.

[Lost Rider]

If I were you and the cost were not totally prohibitive, I'd replace the bearings while I was at it. But that is just my overkill OCD kicking in. I mean it's already apart for your bling job, why not? Again, cost may force your hand and as we know the BMW bearings have been demonstrated to go many miles.

Yeah, I just don't have time to waste. You wouldn't believe the logistics I'm coordination to get the bike home, parts home, parts off, work, travel for work, doctor visits, etc...
I will have them taken out by a shop, and will decide if I'm going to replace them at that time. I have a week to decide really, since I won't be home anyway.
Who said anything about bling?, I'm just "repairing" my bike

-Joe

[NeilS]

Definitely replace the bearings. The general rule for bearings is if you have to apply force to the race that's not retained, the bearing will be damaged. The damage probably won't be immediately noticeable, but the failure process will have begun. In the case of your wheel bearings, the outer race is retained in the hubs and those tools all apply force to the inner race. Bearings are cheap--it's false economy to re-use them.

[Lost Rider]

Bearing's on order. Once I found out how much they were, it was a no brainer. For some reason I had it my head they were more expensive...
Thanks again for the help.

[BigEasy]

Definitely replace the bearings. The general rule for bearings is if you have to apply force to the race that's not retained, the bearing will be damaged. The damage probably won't be immediately noticeable, but the failure process will have begun. In the case of your wheel bearings, the outer race is retained in the hubs and those tools all apply force to the inner race. Bearings are cheap--it's false economy to re-use them.

Well said, never thought of it that way but makes perfect sense, and since I'm haveing an air compressor rebuilt to the tune of $16,000.00 + new bearings through out it is. I was leaning that way anyhow because the machine has 50,000 + hours on it, but that seals the deal