Rear wheel bearing hassle
- Whoa Nelly
- Posts: 188
- Joined: Mon Nov 30, 2009 5:45 pm
- Location: North Wales
Rear wheel bearing hassle
My non-driveside rear wheel bearing collapsed noisily but fortunately not dramatically without any seeming warning - looks like the 'dust' seal had distorted and been letting in crap to fester over the winter. Tried tapping it out and succeeded in pushing out the inner race and all the shrapnel that had been bearings & spacer. The inner race looks fairly well attached to the wheel, and there's no raised lip to get a drift on to - any ideas for shifting it without chewing up the casting?
WN! '99 Firestorm, furry dice & 2lbs of dead insects
Re: Rear wheel bearing hassle
Bit confused? Thought you said you had tapped out the inner race - is it the outer race that is still stuck? In which case why can't you get a drift on it?
Perhaps try heating the wheel with a hot air gun as the alloy should expand more than the steel bearing.
Or get the gun guy from America on the other forum to shoot it out?
Perhaps try heating the wheel with a hot air gun as the alloy should expand more than the steel bearing.
Or get the gun guy from America on the other forum to shoot it out?

Two bikes, still only four cylinders!


Re: Rear wheel bearing hassle
If all else fails run a bead of weld around the inside of the outer race and chuck a jug of cold water over it whilst still hot.
The thermal shock Will shatter the bearing leaving the alloy intact.
The thermal shock Will shatter the bearing leaving the alloy intact.
- Whoa Nelly
- Posts: 188
- Joined: Mon Nov 30, 2009 5:45 pm
- Location: North Wales
Re: Rear wheel bearing hassle
Yup my mistake, of course it is the outer race that is still attached - the way it sits in the wheel makes it look impossible to drift out. Ta muchly for the tips - I shall start getting hot & cold with it. Haven't checked out gun bloke yet, sounds like my approach to spannering though..
WN! '99 Firestorm, furry dice & 2lbs of dead insects
Re: Rear wheel bearing hassle
Might be simplest to fit a replacement wheel.
If the bearings are ok on the replacement one it'll save the cost of the bearings.
Alternatively try welding a lump of anything onto the bearing, wait until it cools and then hit the lump from the opposite side.
Good test of how strong your welding is....
If the bearings are ok on the replacement one it'll save the cost of the bearings.
Alternatively try welding a lump of anything onto the bearing, wait until it cools and then hit the lump from the opposite side.
Good test of how strong your welding is....
It's not falling off, it's an upgrade opportunity.
Re: Rear wheel bearing hassle
For me I'd knock the other side out then Mig a big washer or disc into the outer track, let it cool then knock the b8stard out. 

Theres A Hare in The Turnips.
- Whoa Nelly
- Posts: 188
- Joined: Mon Nov 30, 2009 5:45 pm
- Location: North Wales
Re: Rear wheel bearing hassle
Thanks folks, welding a washer on and bashing it through worked a treat. Now to do battle with the shock linkage...
WN! '99 Firestorm, furry dice & 2lbs of dead insects
Re: Rear wheel bearing hassle
Hi,pleased you got your wheel bearings sorted 

Theres A Hare in The Turnips.