Would a warm rear wheel worry you?

[Bugslayer]

I know the brake rotor is gonna heat up on ya, but how about the wheel? When I parked my Valk after a 200 mile ride today, for some reason I felt the rear wheel and it was pretty warm. Not uncomfortable to the touch.... just warm. Riding condition's today were up around 95*-100*.

A little over a week ago, I had the rear wheel off to replace the rotor. Splines looked great. It all went back together with new o-rings, and fresh grease. I had it back on the lift last weekend, and the wheel turned very smooth with no side-to-side play.

Would you pull the wheel again, or does a warm wheel sound normal?

[sailed2japan]

Well, for one it is 95-100 degrees out, 2 - you just got done riding 200 miles and there is some friction. Where on the wheel were you feeling? I know I got under my truck once to check my rear diff fluid after a 150mi drive. i had just changed it and wanted to be sure it was good and the diff was almost too hot to touch. pulling the plug confirmed plenty of fresh fluid.


IMHO, it's good. If it were my bike I might check it after and 45min.+ ride on a cooler day.

[old2soon]

Mine WAS warming up after 200 205 mile ride before i serviced the rear drive unit. The differential-used the synthetic castrol 75/90. Check the level in the differential as they only hold 5.2 ozs. Not a misprint 5.2 ozs. Bike should be sitting close to level. Be careful takeing out the fill bolt and go real easy going back in. Do Not OVERTIGHTEN. VERY EASY TO STRIP OUT. Hope this helps. RIDE SAFE.

[Bugslayer]

Sailed2japan: When I checked the rim, it was warm all the way out to the tire. It's probably OK, but I always end up doing this. Something feels a little out of sorts, and it puts that little bit of doubt in my mind.. (bad habit of mine). I'll put it on the lift today, and see if anything obvious is going on. I'm pretty sure I'll end up taking off the wheel again..... just to make sure.


Old2soon: While it's up, I'll change the final drive fluid. It's past due for a change anyway. I know what you mean about the fill bolt. I've stripped one out... and it was actually pretty easy to do.
Thanks for the replys.

[sailed2japan]

Let us know what the end result is if changing the fluid does or does not have any effect.

[Valkpilot]

Sailed2japan: When I checked the rim, it was warm all the way out to the tire. It's probably OK, but I always end up doing this. Something feels a little out of sorts, and it puts that little bit of doubt in my mind.. (bad habit of mine). I'll put it on the lift today, and see if anything obvious is going on. I'm pretty sure I'll end up taking off the wheel again..... just to make sure.


Old2soon: While it's up, I'll change the final drive fluid. It's past due for a change anyway. I know what you mean about the fill bolt. I've stripped one out... and it was actually pretty easy to do.
Thanks for the replys.

When you reassemble, don't forget to leave the nuts that hold the pumpkin to the shaft housing loose until after the axle nut is torqued.

[old2soon]

By all means please update us after you change out that fluid. I'm thinking mine was in there the entire 42000+ miles. The new fluid actually helped bring down the temp of the ENTIRE rear end assembly. And i do realize the ambient temperature will affect the operating temp of everything. Mine was a lot black looking when i dumped the old fluid. Did not see any metal flakes when fluid held up to a bright light. Hope you find that servicing takes care of it. RIDE SAFE.

[Bugslayer]

I intended on changing the final drive fluid and checking things out this evening. Then my daughters coach called a surprise practice. It'll be later in the week before I can get back to the bike. I'll let ya know how it goes.

[Brad]

Heck, when I just park my bike in the sun most of it is too hot to touch.  Plus the wheel is acting like a rotisserie spinning just inches away from that hot exhaust.

[BigMac NJ]

I have the Smart Tire Pressure monitoring system on my tourer.  In addition to giving you the tire pressure it also gives you the temperature of the tires while under way. The tires do heat up. The front always stays cooler  than the rear. I've seen the rear heat up to 140 degrees and higher at times with the front reading about 30 degrees cooler.The temps vary with the type of road and your speed.  This happens on both my tourer and Interstate both of which get the rears serviced regularly. Hope this helps .

[John Schmidt]

Low tire pressure will add to it as well, allows more "squish" in the tire as it rotates. Get it up to around 42 or above, depending on which brand you're running. If you have a C/T in back, most riders seem to run them down in the mid/upper 30's.

[Red Diamond]

Don't want to be sarcastic, but if you touched your rear wheel and it was warm to the touch and not uncomfortablly warm, you have answered your own question. 200 miles riding will cause a heat build up in the front and rear wheels. If you can touch it without the immediate removal of you hand there is nothing wrong that would cause you to tear it apart.

[fudgie]

Inside of my saddle bags get warm after a long run but figure its close to the pipes.

[Bugslayer]

Thanks for the replies. I'm pretty sure I over reacted a little when I noticed the wheel feeling warm. With it being close to 100* that day would be reason enough to make things warm up.

I'm still curious about how/if the kind of final drive oil effects the temp of the final drive. Since I'm over due a fluid change anyway, I picked up some Mobil 1 Synthetic 75/90. We'll see how it works.

Thanks again!

[fudgie]

Thanks for the replies. I'm pretty sure I over reacted a little when I noticed the wheel feeling warm. With it being close to 100* that day would be reason enough to make things warm up.

I'm still curious about how/if the kind of final drive oil effects the temp of the final drive. Since I'm over due a fluid change anyway, I picked up some Mobil 1 Synthetic 75/90. We'll see how it works.

Thanks again!

Thats what I use. Never felt the final drive tho.

[Farther]

I picked up some Mobil 1 Synthetic 75/90. We'll see how it works.  Thanks again!

That's what I use.  I would be interested in your experience, please post back.

[X Ring]

Thanks for the replies. I'm pretty sure I over reacted a little when I noticed the wheel feeling warm. With it being close to 100* that day would be reason enough to make things warm up.

I'm still curious about how/if the kind of final drive oil effects the temp of the final drive. Since I'm over due a fluid change anyway, I picked up some Mobil 1 Synthetic 75/90. We'll see how it works.

Thanks again!

That's what I use.  Last year I rode to a friend's house over 100 miles away.  When I got there, my pumpkin was warm.  You could keep your hand on the pumpkin for 30 seconds or so.

Marty