Front Wheel Bearing replacement

[alex_rsa]

Hi I need some advice on front wheel bearings...

Is it possible to replace them at home or it is a dealer only job? I took the front wheel off naively thinking I could drfit them out put there is no space to get anything behind the bearing as the internal spacer runs from bearing to bearing.

The manual show a puller/spreader. Has anyone succesfully changed them at home or do I need to get the dealer to fit them? I do not mind buying tools to do the job if they will work. I have a hot air gun and freezer so heating the housing and cooling the bearing is not a problem.

For referenece the one bearing looks dry and there is some slight rust and the other is covered in grease (it's own?). 2004 GS on 53000 miles.

Thanks

Alex

 

[PhilBolton]

I have never changed a wheel bearing on a BM, but on the many others I have changed, the central spacer can normally be moved off centre to allow a drift in to give a purchase on the bearing.
I've no reason to think BM wheels are any different.
The spacer can be tight between the bearings, but it should move aside.

Perhaps other more experienced BM fettlers will prove me wrong!

Good Luck!

Phil

 

[ianboydsnr]

just like any other bike, move the spacer over and drift out

 

[Magwych]

I remember trying to do this on my Harley, after several hours I could not shift the b^ggers, so took the wheel into a Harley dealer instead. They destroyed one internal puller, nearly destroyed a second, and had to resort to some very large hammers before the original came out. Modern bearings, machining tolerances and assemble methods can make for some very tight bearing fits.

IIWY, I would take the wheel, bearings and any seals to a local BMUU dealer and ask the workshop to press the old out, and possibly fit the new, and ask for fixed price. It should not take more than a few minutes, very hard to justify a large labour bill if the wheel is already off and ready to go...

Yes, it will cost more than doing it yourself, but, if the bearings are tight you are paying an insurance premium in case of damage caused removing the old.

 

[pikeydave]

BMs are easy on bearings. I wonder why?
I remember regularly changing shagged bearings on loads of Jap bikes.
My GPz 900 was about the worst.

I've still got a lovely fly press in my Dads' garage that I haven't had to use for years. (But have some Merc ball joints that I might need it for.)

 

[alex_rsa]

Thanks guys, I did try and get some purchase on the back of bearings for the drift but either the spacer is jammed between the bearings or there is no space to move it sideways.

Anyone done their own bearings?

Alex

 

[(RIP) Bin Ridin]

Try putting in a rawlbolt, tighten it up in the bearing, and bash it out from the other side.
Heat on the hub will help, even boiling water.

 

[Toddy]

Wheel Bearing

Had a front wheel bearing go a couple of years ago and it was only spotted by the fine fellow at Strathearn Tyres when he ballanced the wheel.
Called in at Motorrad Central and they kindly offered to fit one while I waited........well, it took ages and they used all sorts of fancy tools to get the old one out and I could never have done it so wouldn't think of trying it myself.

 

[RickG]

I don't know if it would work for sure on a GS, but you could try the following which worked for me on another bike so long ago I can't remember what it was..

Use a drill and a pair of fine nosed pliers to destroy the cage that keeps the balls spaced in the bearing. When all the balls are free, shuffle them tight close together so they lie in-line. If you now force the inner race toward the center of the bearing in the opposite direction to the balls it will pop out but catch the balls as you'll need them in a minute. If the spacer is not too thick it will now pass through the big hole left by the missing inner race. Now temporarily reassemble the bearing (you can miss out one ball to make it easier) and stuff some plasticine or similar in between each ball to keep them equally apart and hence hold the inner race firmly in place. You can now easily wallop the inner race with a drift from the opposite side to knock the whole bearing out.

 

[alex_rsa]

Thanks for all the suggestions, it seems that there is atleast one part on a 1200 GS that is realiable as so few people have had to replace their bearings

I also checked on ADVRIDER forum and the only other suggestions involved making a very sharp drift to get in the tiny gap between the spacer and the bearing and once you have got it moved a bit use a heftier drift.

I will give my local bike shop a call to see what they will charge and also try and find a rawl bolt that is big enough.

I will post an update after the weekend on what (if anything) worked!

Thanks

Alex