Front wheel bearings - someone explain, please

[Tx Bohemian]

Had a Front wheel valve stem go bad on me and been wanting to change out the wheel bearings so thought this is a good time.

Read everything here pertaining to the change out for the last 6 months and Thank God I did.

Got the old ones out no problem and the new ones went in no problem - or so I thought.  Put the wheel back on and the left side rivets, that hold the two halves of the brake disc together, were hitting the end of the caliper bolts!!! WTF!!!

Remember reading here a while back someone had the same problem, not sure if the bearings were changed out but had the rivets hitting.


I pulled the wheel off again and re-set the right bearing - which moved the wheel over about 1/8th inch an all seems well now.

To me it seemed the spacer between the bearings was too long and would not allow both bearings to be seated all the way to the stop in the hub.  I installed the right side first, like the instructions say, and then the left and evidently when I seated the left it pushed the right out a bit.

Or does it sound like something is wrong here?

[X Ring]

The obvious clue that the internal spacer is not too long is that it wasn't too long with the old bearings.  You might not have seated the bearings all the way.  I really think your problem is with incorrect assembly.  Did you follow the instructions in Kulow's Maintenance Guide or the Honda Shop Manual?  As with many things on the Valks, you have to reassemble in a certain order.  If you don't you're likely to have problems.  You can get a pdf copy of the Honda Shop Manual at www.valkyrienorway.com  and you can get a copy of Kulow's Maintenance Guide in Shoptalk, http://www.valkyrieriders.com/ShopTalk/ValkMaintManAcrobatPDF.pdf

Marty

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

Tx, if you don't get the axle in the right position the rivets will hit. The manual say to loosen the pinch bolts on the left (clutch) side lower bike to the ground and apply brakes several times to center axle between forks. I've found on my bike if I make sure the end of the axle is flush to the outside of the  fork on the left side I have not problem with  the rivets hitting.

[Chrisj CMA]

It was most certainly the classic mistake of not having the axle seated all the way.  The left rotor hits the caliper every time.  This is why I say this.  There is no room for a bearing to be not seated all the way.  There are two bearings, two spacers (one inside and one outside) the forks and the axel/nut.  Those parts are all touching metal to metal.  If a bearing was not seated all the way in before torqing the axle, it WILL BE after torqing....BTW that is what causes premature bearing failure, the side loading while torqing the axle.  

[Tx Bohemian]

Thanks for the responses fellas.

I did follow a copy of the ValkyrieNorway manual.

After bearings are installed it states to (in short) install wheel, install axle, then tighten left axle pinch bolts to specified torque,

install and tighten to torque the axle bolt,

install caliper and tighten bolts,

then with brakes applied pump the forks up and down to seat axle(?!?!) then tighten the right pinch bolts. 
What's going to seat if the left pinch bolts are tight and the right axle bolt is tight?? Only thing left loose is the right pinch bolts and I don't see how that is going to move, maybe I'm looking at this wrong.

Regardless this is the procedure I followed except when I installed the bearings.  Since I don't have the special tools I seated the right side bearing then the left, and that's when I think the right side got pushed out a bit, which moved the wheel over to the left causing the contact.  Seems the left bearing doesn't seat against the stop and the tool sets it properly.

I'll double check the axle seating thing but it will be in a few days, we're fixing to take off for Houston, wife's having surgery tomorrow and we won't be back till Tue/Wed.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Best way I've found ...All thread with two old bearings as a guide...No shock to the bearing's from beatin' them in with a hammer   

[Ricky-D]

You give no information regarding your Valkyrie"s age and miles, yet you seem determined to want to do something, so:

Had a Front wheel valve stem go bad on me and been wanting to change out the wheel bearings so thought this is a good time.

There is never a good time to R&R good bearings. Good bearings are good! they potentially will outlast the motorcycle!
Now you have a problem and started to "adjust".

I pulled the wheel off again and re-set the right bearing - which moved the wheel over about 1/8th inch an all seems well now.

I guess you just needed a bigger hammer!

To me it seemed the spacer between the bearings was too long and would not allow both bearings to be seated all the way to the stop in the hub.  I installed the right side first, like the instructions say, and then the left and evidently when I seated the left it pushed the right out a bit.

That spacer is designed for that wheel and is not too long. If you measure the spacer, and then the distance between the bearing seats, ideally the measurements should match. The spacer will be a few thousandths longer, never shorter that the distance between the bearing seats.

Or does it sound like something is wrong here?

After all is done, now the question arises.

I suggest getting another set of bearings and hold onto them. No doubt you will be needing them in the future.

***

[Challenger]

I still get a kick out of the square nut and that pipe wrench Joe.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

I still get a kick out of the square nut and that pipe wrench Joe.

Hey that's what we had and I might add it worked perfect  .... A Country Boy Can Survive  

[GreenLantern57]

Why don't people put the bearing in the freezer for half an hour before install?
If you are worried about the seals and the grease, then the bike should never be ridden when it is cold and never allowed to be driven after winter storage that is not heated. We did this all the time and didn't worry about the grease or seals.  Made the bearings easier to slip into the races.

[Tx Bohemian]

Wow!!  You told me, huh?

You give no information regarding your Valkyrie"s age and miles, yet you seem determined to want to do something, so:

What does it matter why I'm changing the bearings?  My OP was why this was happening.  The manual covers 97-03, miles and age doesn't matter.
But since you're being so nosey - in past posts it was suggested here from other members that I change the bearings for a strange noise I have.

Had a Front wheel valve stem go bad on me and been wanting to change out the wheel bearings so thought this is a good time.   

There is never a good time to R&R good bearings. Good bearings are good! they potentially will outlast the motorcycle!

With all the talk about the rear bearings failing on these bikes I think you need to change your thinking about bearings.  At least on these bikes.

I pulled the wheel off again and re-set the right bearing - which moved the wheel over about 1/8th inch an all seems well now.

I guess you just needed a bigger hammer!

Why??  If you'd pay attention to my post I said I seated the right bearing first like the manual stated.  What good is a bigger hammer going to do??

Or does it sound like something is wrong here?

After all is done, now the question arises.

 ...??  So when else are you supposed to ask questions? Before?  Like I said I did and this was suggested!!

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

Tx, I'm glad you got everything working again. I'm sorry that some people can't give you the  information you requested without giving you their opinon also. I've found some people have a very high opinon of their opinon. And for the record bearings do fail, as nothing last forever. I was a milwright at at pipe mill and now at a chemical plant. We have a warehouse full of spare bearings and I know for a fact if they didn't wear out our owners wouldn't keep them.

[quexpress]

I'm sorry that some people can't give you the  information you requested without giving you their opinon also. I've found some people have a very high opinon of their opinon.

Ditto to that! Scares many newbies from asking questions .... and also causes many "more experienced" Valk tech board members to avoid posting possible solutions.