Broken down in Mitchell, SD on way to InZane

[BonS]

Well #$(!($!@! a front wheel bearing went out on my trip to InZane. I was lucky in that I heard/felt it while pulling in for gas and knew not to try and go on. I'm also lucky that the Honda dealer is open tomorrow: On a Monday!! It's a chromed replacement wheel that I put All Balls bearings in a couple of years ago. I just changed my opinion of All Balls bearings.  Finally, I was lucky to find a room for overnight without much trouble. I'm carrying a spare u-joint, kickstand spring and alternator and from now on I'm going to be carrying four wheel bearings!!! I only hope that I can get lucky one more time and that they'll have the correct bearings in stock.

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

Glad you caught it and things are falling into place. Hope they have them and get you going. Keep us posted here when safely on the road again 

[Valker]

You can get those bearing at most any auto parts store also. Just have to order by the number that's on the bearing.

[BonS]

You can get those bearing at most any auto parts store also. Just have to order by the number that's on the bearing.

I went to three auto parts stores and only one could find some inventory. They can get the 6204's - tomorrow - but they can't even ID the 6004. Since I have a replacement wheel I can't remember whether it's a '97 or later wheel. So, I won't know which bearings I need until the wheel is pulled. The only 6204's that are available through the auto parts store aren't sealed, they're open bearing. But they'll do for now if they fit and get me out of this place!

[hubcapsc]

Mitchell Iron & Supply seems to be well-stocked with bearings...

Mitchell Iron & Supply Co.
217 w 1st Ave
Mitchell SD 57301
Phone (605) 996-2447

Good luck, the little shop in Robbinsville NC changed one of my front bearings one Saturday
morning in 45 minutes...

-Mike

[BonS]

Mitchell Iron & Supply seems to be well-stocked with bearings...

Mitchell Iron & Supply Co.
217 w 1st Ave
Mitchell SD 57301
Phone (605) 996-2447

Good luck, the little shop in Robbinsville NC changed one of my front bearings one Saturday
morning in 45 minutes...

-Mike

Awesome find Mike! I have to go by there on the way to the Honda dealer - if I make it that far. I sure do appreciate the tip!! I owe you one, buddy!

[Jess from VA]

Sorry to hear it.

It only took one bearing failure out in nowhere for me to start carrying them.  (they're small)

I'd want to take a careful look at the bearing pocket on a chromed wheel. 

[BonS]

Good morning! So far so good. I picked up a pair of 6204's and a pair of 6004's from the bearing supply store (THANKS MIKE)  and I made it to the Honda dealer. The bad bearing was really crunchy and I crawled along at 10 mph to get here. I just hope that I didn't spin the bearing or do other damage.

[hubcapsc]

I'm glad the bearing supply house had what you needed  ...

I hope to see a "I'm on the road" report later when I get to work, good luck!

-Mike

[indybobm]

Since I have a replacement wheel I can't remember whether it's a '97 or later wheel. So, I won't know which bearings I need until the wheel is pulled. The only 6204's that are available through the auto parts store aren't sealed, they're open bearing. But they'll do for now if they fit and get me out of this place!

Bon,, look on the hub on the speedometer side for 1J or 2J. If it has a 1J it probably is a 97 wheel. If it has a 2J it is probably a 98 and later.

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

Good morning! So far so good. I picked up a pair of 6204's and a pair of 6004's from the bearing supply store (THANKS MIKE)  and I made it to the Honda dealer. The bad bearing was really crunchy and I crawled along at 10 mph to get here. I just hope that I didn't spin the bearing or do other damage.

Over 4 hours now. Hope you are in the wind towards your destination

[BonS]

Yeah! I feel like I just got out of jail (however that feels). Three hours and $145 later. We found that the spaccer may have been too short putting stress on the bearings. A shim was fabricated and inserted with the OEM spacer. The bearing pockets looked fine - no chrome in there at all. Anyhoo, I'll be in Spearfish tonight. THANKS. ALL!

[Bambam650]

The shop you're taking your bike to better treat you right for little do they know that the entire Valkyrie community on the planet is following this thread with bated breath.

[KY,Dave (AKA Misunderstood)]

Yeah! I feel like I just got out of jail (however that feels). Three hours and $145 later. We found that the spaccer may have been too short putting stress on the bearings. A shim was fabricated and inserted with the OEM spacer. The bearing pockets looked fine - no chrome in there at all. Anyhoo, I'll be in Spearfish tonight. THANKS. ALL!

[Jopson]

Glad you got sorted BonS, just read your post and if you were still stuck I'd come help you cos I'm only about 70miles away, glad the boys in Mitchell got ya up and running again.  ride safe.

[Tfrank59]

Yeah! I feel like I just got out of jail (however that feels). Three hours and $145 later. We found that the spaccer may have been too short putting stress on the bearings. A shim was fabricated and inserted with the OEM spacer. The bearing pockets looked fine - no chrome in there at all. Anyhoo, I'll be in Spearfish tonight. THANKS. ALL!

Glad to see you got 'er going--I think you got off fairly cheap, though I'm sure that's little consolation    I had a feeling it wasn't just the all balls bearings--the spacer being short, even just a few thousandths, is a huge factor as it puts a constant side load on bearings (of any quality) that they aren't designed for.  Keep the rubber side down!

[gordonv]

The shop you're taking your bike to better treat you right for little do they know that the entire Valkyrie community on the planet is following this thread with bated breath.

I like that statement! Here we are in Spearfish waiting for this man to arrive for our upgrades (and his Inzane participation). Little do they know, for good or bad.

3 hrs is a while, but 145£ (don't ask me how pounds got onto my tablet!) doesn't sound too bad.

[BonS]

AAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh. I'm in Spearfish. I got here just in time to see Motomama win a prize at the very last minute of the opening ceremony. How does Motomama win something every year?! The fix is in!!

Anyway, thanks for all the support. I doesn't help that the polishing process for the chroming of the wheel erodes away all the markings on the wheel. The spacer didn't look like it had been worn but it was definitely too short. The spacer came from my '99 IS and I transferred it into the '97 chromed wheel and installed the bearings. I should have paid more attention! A little long would be better than too short I would think. Too short is a bad plan. I probably got 10-12K miles on those bearings until they died. Since I also did the same for my chromed rear wheel I'll be tearing into it to have a look-see when I get back.

Since my spacer if from a later model than the '97 wheel I looked up the part numbers. The '97 part number is different but obsolete and has been replaced by the later part number. The only spec that I've found is 27mm x 119mm and that's for the later part number 44620-MZ0-010. The original part number for the '97 was 44620-MZ0-000.

[John Schmidt]

Bon, when you speak of the spacer, are you talking about that tube like piece that goes in the center? If so, keep in mind the one for the rear wheel and front wheel are different lengths by just a tad. Don't ask how I found that out!!!!   

[Tfrank59]

AAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh. I'm in Spearfish. I got here just in time to see Motomama win a prize at the very last minute of the opening ceremony. How does Motomama win something every year?! The fix is in!!

Anyway, thanks for all the support. I doesn't help that the polishing process for the chroming of the wheel erodes away all the markings on the wheel. The spacer didn't look like it had been worn but it was definitely too short. The spacer came from my '99 IS and I transferred it into the '97 chromed wheel and installed the bearings. I should have paid more attention! A little long would be better than too short I would think. Too short is a bad plan. I probably got 10-12K miles on those bearings until they died. Since I also did the same for my chromed rear wheel I'll be tearing into it to have a look-see when I get back.


Too long is definitely better than too short.  Too long a spacer only means that the outer races can't seat all the way to the hub's inner shoulder, but the bearings of course can't walk outwards.  (on the other hand, much too long of a spacer could result in the wheel thrusting left or right--the bearing outer races sliding laterally in the bores--which also ain't good)  Too short a spacer means the inner races are being squeezed together (inboard) when you tighten up the axle and that results in a bearing failure I would think pretty quick.

Since my spacer if from a later model than the '97 wheel I looked up the part numbers. The '97 part number is different but obsolete and has been replaced by the later part number. The only spec that I've found is 27mm x 119mm and that's for the later part number 44620-MZ0-010. The original part number for the '97 was 44620-MZ0-000.

[Valkorado]

I also had front bearings blow out on the way to Inzane.  Limped in to Spearfish and thank God for BigBF!  He had the 97 bearings and got me back up and running.  He also had some mighty impressive quad horns, and the temptation was too much for me to resist.  These things can wake the dead!

[hubcapsc]

These things can wake the dead!

They can even make cars on I85 in Atlanta get back over
in their own lanes! 

-Mike