Rear wheel bearing question/poll

[custom1]

I know, I know. You guys are probably tired of talking about them, but has anyone experienced a left side bearing failure after doing the 5204 mod or are they bullet proof after the mod? Maybe I should add... If it was installed correctly...no parts left out etc. I found a lot of info using the search, but not that exact question.

I am going to be replacing mine and trying to decide whether to do the mod or not. 
FIL is a machinist so no trouble getting the collar cut down.

I have only got a few rides in and was noticing a rumbling sound on slow tight corners right and left. Is quiet and smooth straight up.  Finally got  a jack the other day, got it up in the air and have a definite click when trying to move the wheel side to side. Can actually see some play in the left bearing. The original owner told me it has been replaced once already but not sure how long ago. Has 37K now. They rode 2 up and pulled a trailer so I'm fairly sure it was overloaded a lot of the time. Have some odd rear tire wear too. I'll get a pic of it in a day or two. I'm curious to see if it was put together right when it was replaced the first time. 

[PhredValk]

I haven't done it yet, with only 27000 miles, but if I ever do, I will probably do the mod. Only need one size bearing in the bags on long trips.

(Are we allowed to talk about stuff that isn't tires, oil or U-joints?)
Fred.

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

Just got my spare collar cut down and in the next week I'll be doing the mod.I've replaced all my bearings once since I got this bike just so I knew what I was sitting on. That was 70 thousand miles ago. I just replaced the front ones again just because I had the wheel off for a new tire. I decided that every other front tire change I'll replace the front wheel bearings just because. I get about 18k out of a front tire so every 36k I'll blow 20 bucks  for peace of mind.

[roboto65]

Yep same here I am up for a new front and will change the bearings and brakes all the way around..

[GOOSE]

just a comment, not a critique......when you change bearings every few thousand miles or so just for piece of mind, you will be removing a minute amount of metal with the old bearing......so eventually it's possible that the bearing could be looser than tight.  just a comment.

[MP]

I have done the mod on both my Valks.  Have about 15,000 on the std with the mod.  No problem.  I have not heard of anyone having the heavier bearing crap out.  But, we need to wait 10 years and/or 100,000 miles to know!

However, common sense will tell you a double row bearing will last longer than a single row.

MP

[Ricky-D]

I know, I know. You guys are probably tired of talking about them, but has anyone experienced a left side bearing failure after doing the 5204 mod or are they bullet proof after the mod? Maybe I should add... If it was installed correctly...no parts left out etc. I found a lot of info using the search, but not that exact question.

I am going to be replacing mine and trying to decide whether to do the mod or not. 
FIL is a machinist so no trouble getting the collar cut down.

I have only got a few rides in and was noticing a rumbling sound on slow tight corners right and left. Is quiet and smooth straight up.  Finally got  a jack the other day, got it up in the air and have a definite click when trying to move the wheel side to side. Can actually see some play in the left bearing. The original owner told me it has been replaced once already but not sure how long ago. Has 37K now. They rode 2 up and pulled a trailer so I'm fairly sure it was overloaded a lot of the time. Have some odd rear tire wear too. I'll get a pic of it in a day or two. I'm curious to see if it was put together right when it was replaced the first time. 

That is the real problem!

The reason for this is yours to find and I wouldn't automatically lay it on the bearings.

If you are not totally capable of determining the fault, you should seek competent help!

***

[PhredValk]

I doubt I'd change out bearings unless I had a legitimate reason or real fear that they were going. Like everything else, manufacturers will turn out the odd flawed bearing, and you could be swapping a perfectly good bearing for one with a flaw that will ground you out in no-man's land.
Fred.

[Mildew]

  I'll change mine when it's time also. This ain't broke don't fix thing been one of those things that seems to work for me.

[custom1]

I know, I know. You guys are probably tired of talking about them, but has anyone experienced a left side bearing failure after doing the 5204 mod or are they bullet proof after the mod? Maybe I should add... If it was installed correctly...no parts left out etc. I found a lot of info using the search, but not that exact question.

I am going to be replacing mine and trying to decide whether to do the mod or not. 
FIL is a machinist so no trouble getting the collar cut down.

I have only got a few rides in and was noticing a rumbling sound on slow tight corners right and left. Is quiet and smooth straight up.  Finally got  a jack the other day, got it up in the air and have a definite click when trying to move the wheel side to side. Can actually see some play in the left bearing. The original owner told me it has been replaced once already but not sure how long ago. Has 37K now. They rode 2 up and pulled a trailer so I'm fairly sure it was overloaded a lot of the time. Have some odd rear tire wear too. I'll get a pic of it in a day or two. I'm curious to see if it was put together right when it was replaced the first time. 

That is the real problem!

The reason for this is yours to find and I wouldn't automatically lay it on the bearings.

If you are not totally capable of determining the fault, you should seek competent help!

***

Maybe I didn't explain it well.

If I can actually see the play in the bearing while pushing left on the front of the tire and right on the back then reversing the pressure and hear the clicking at the same time, how can it NOT be the bearing??

My post wasn't to find help determining the problem, it was to see if anyone had bearing failure after doing the mod. The rest was just some back-round on what I found.

I think I'll let your comment implying my incompetence slide for now. Actually anyone near me is welcome to come look at it and ride it to verify my findings. I am also open to wrench parties at my place if anyone is interested.

[GOOSE]

custom1......both of my valks have the double row bearing mods done to them.  if you now have bad rear bearings....then i would most certainly convert it over to the double row bearing mod.   it definately makes that left side stronger.  as far as finding out whether others have had problems since their install.......i doubt they have.

[Tx Bohemian]

You ask a good question about the “Bearing Mod”.

I fought a clicking type noise in the rear of my bike that drove me nuts.  Turned out to be a worn out wheel allowing the bearing to slip in the wheel.  My bike only had 18K miles but the previous owner must of exchanged the wheels for chrome ones and it's no telling how many miles these wheels have on them.

Just a suggestion:
Make sure the play you feel in the rear bearings is in the bearings (between the inner/outer races/roller elements) and not between the bearing and the wheel.  If I read your initial post correctly your bike has 37K on it and during my research for my problem it seems the "bearing/wheel looseness" can happen as soon as 40K.

In my opinion on the "bearing mod" one member brought up the thought that once you do the mod it will expose the bearing to the elements (rain, dirt, grime, etc...) more than with the factory set-up.  I'm sure you will install "sealed" bearing but with the factory set up you have two forms of protection.  I would think installing a good quality set of bearings (SKF) in the original configuration (factory) would do just as good.  Again this is just my opinion and as we know, even just reading in these comments, everybody has one.

Good luck with your repair/fix.