Wheels...Wheels....Wheels

[apltx08]

ok, so here is what I have done so far. I removed the seals of the bearings and they were bone dry. I cleaned them out with cleaner and packed them with grease (the good one). They are 95% better, some still are not smooth as new but they do have 3000 miles on them.

Do you guys think this will hold up or should I shell out the cash for new ones and keep these babies as spare for the long ride?

Once you have them all cleaned up check for rust pitting on the "ball" bearings, if you have so called "pittings" or rust indications inside the bearing and if it spins ROUGH or not have that nice SMOOTH roll for ever effect their DONE/FRIED...

You can repack without OVER doing it, meaning if you over pack bearings they will OVERHEAT and melt all of the grease out, and as mentioned above if you have RUST/PITTING this will also cause bearings to OVERHEAT and melt the grease and eventualy SEIZE up under high speed and heavy load...

So after having bearings cleaned out, before re-packing them, give them a spin and if their not SMOOTH as SILK and go for ever... their done!

 

[RTXgary]

I like the set-up. I have the same wagon wheels and was planning on power coating my rear control arms candy red at the end of the season. I'm sure it look great together. Love the 06 RTX color.

 

[favarcat]

I went thru everything this fall before the season. The upper ones have replaceable 6205 bearings and I would definitely change them. Mine were shot and a friend of mine lost one on the trail this year. I replaced those bearings, all idlers and 2 rear axle wheels to the Yamaha spoked accessory wheels with replaceable bearings, and changed the bearing (6004) in the center rear axle wheel. I also added a 4th rear axle wheel. Also much quieter now than the stock wheels.

They big upper ones are a little noisy too. They have a C clip, soes this mean they can be greased?

 

[SERPAGS]

OK, great feedback guys, as usually ALWAYS appreciated. They are not that smooth but smooth enough to keep as spares for sure.

I think I will go with the spoked replacement wheels and keep these for spares.

This site is #1.

 

[SpartaSXr]

Dry Bearings

When I pulled my suspension this year to add the BIG BOY spring I pulled all the wheels and packed the bearings. I found all the bearings were dry ! Zero grease in them and thats on a 06 model.
I also replaced the two top idler bearings with new bearings and pulled the grease seal on them just to see if there was grease in there. There was maybe a BUGGER of grease on one side on one bearing and that was it. I was amazed. No wonder we are having problems with the bearings.
I also pulled the secondary and spedo and greased the bearings in there. They were also bone dry ! I have since pulled every wheel and bearing from all of my sleds and found the same thing. ZERO grease on any bearing from the factory.
More maintenance for me, but gives me a better feeling.

 

[SERPAGS]

Yeah, always feel good when the sled is well maintained, especially on 3000 mile treks.

 

[ReX]

Re: Dry Bearings

When I pulled my suspension this year to add the BIG BOY spring I pulled all the wheels and packed the bearings. I found all the bearings were dry ! Zero grease in them and thats on a 06 model.
I also replaced the two top idler bearings with new bearings and pulled the grease seal on them just to see if there was grease in there. There was maybe a BUGGER of grease on one side on one bearing and that was it. I was amazed. No wonder we are having problems with the bearings.
I also pulled the secondary and spedo and greased the bearings in there. They were also bone dry ! I have since pulled every wheel and bearing from all of my sleds and found the same thing. ZERO grease on any bearing from the factory.
More maintenance for me, but gives me a better feeling.

Keep in mind that there isn't supposed to be much grease in them. Too much grease and the grease will get worked too much and overheat.

 

[SLEDSTART]

I replace all the bearings in my skid every season no matter what. They are cheap and I always pull the skid anyhow for shock rebuild inspection etc..
Bearings are cheap...why bother repacking them? I pay less than 2 bucks a bearing from a wholesaler here. When I go on a trip I don't need something as stupid as a bearing keeping me from riding. I just got back from a 7 day 1800 mile trip. Before I left I went thru them and every bearing in the skid was noisy except 1. It's just cheap insurance to replace them all. All my wheels have replaceable bearings now since got rid of the the stock wheels that had the non replaceable bearing.
Just find a local bearing distributor. I pick them right up at the dock and buy them by the dozen.

 

[Yammer on the Rock]

Just wondering if anyone has had experience with the NTN Black Bearings? If they are that great the rear axle would be ideal with their 6004's.