clutch hub bearing

[2006FXDCI]

What are the symptoms of a bad clutch hub bearing? I'm getting vibration at different rpm ranges, it feels like it's in the primary. I installed a new front motor mount and crank has been welded and plugged by darkhorse. Shifting has become difficult at times and every once in awhile when I shift to second it will engage then drop back into first. Any suggestions on where I should start?

[dakota224]

Take off the primary cover and have a look .  its easy to take down to check. remember the clutch nut is reverse thread.

[Admiral Akbar]

If you are convinced that there is some thing wrong and you are worried about driving it.. Then as Benette's told YOJ, you need to start peeling the onion back and look for the bad item.. Going from 2nd back to first and hard shifting could be a bad shift pawl return spring or shift cam detent spring.. First thing to do it to make sure the shifter returns to center when shifting, but it doesn't answer the question about vibes.. Vibes could be a hub bearing causing the vibes, could be deeper.  If you are convinced it's the primary, I pull it.. You can check the crank after inspecting the clutch, comp and primary chain.. Inner Primary bearing. Front pulley.. One step at a time.

Max

[2006FXDCI]

Is it common for the hub bearing to go bad? bike has 25,000 miles on it. I was planning on putting new friction discs in this winter but maybe sooner now depending on what I find. I will start pulling it apart to try to find the culprit, I have had the compensator off to machine the grooves. Can you take the clutch nut off with a breaker bar as I don't have an impact? What would I be looking for as far as a bad hub bearing?

[2006FXDCI]

Are the shift pawl return spring andshift cam detent spring under the tranny top cover? I've never been into the tranny before. I do have a service manual.

[Admiral Akbar]

Can you take the clutch nut off with a breaker bar as I don't have an impact?

Yes.. Remove the snap ring instead of pulling the pressure plate to get to nut..

What would I be looking for as far as a bad hub bearing?

remove all the plate and see how the outer spins on the inner while holding the inner in your hand, loos for rough or loose..

Are the shift pawl return spring and shift cam detent spring under the tranny top cover?

On a 5 speed they are,, If the return spring is broke you need to pull the tranny on a 5 speed not sure about the 6..

Max

[2006FXDCI]

Don't you have to pull off the pressure plate to get the friction discs out?

[Admiral Akbar]

Yep.. Just don't dissemble the clutch until the clutch nut is removed.

max

[2006FXDCI]

Thanks for all your help Max, one more question do you happen to know what size the mainshaft nut is ? The service manual just says it's metric. I don't own alot of metric tools so I will probably have to buy a socket. Thanks again.

[rbabos]

Thanks for all your help Max, one more question do you happen to know what size the mainshaft nut is ? The service manual just says it's metric. I don't own alot of metric tools so I will probably have to buy a socket. Thanks again.

30mm if I remember correctly. About 1- 3/16"
Ron

[2006FXDCI]

I ordered the SE clutch discs, clutch hub bearing and snap rings and new comp. bolt from local dealer. Went for a ride tonight took it easy and just cruised, could definitely hear noise coming from behind my derby cover that got higher in frequency the more RPM's you were at. Put bike in neutral and pulled in clutch revved engine and noise is still present so I'm ruling out I.P.B. as I've had this replaced twice. Only way I can describe the noise is it sounds like the Jetsons car ? Any suggestions ? I am gonna pull the entire primary as soon as parts arrive and have local dealer press in new bearing. Is there any parts I'm missing ? I will thoroughly look over clutch basket splines. Thanks for any help.

[saddle tramp]

don't use an impact wrench on your sprocket shaft, use a breaker bar to brake it loose and a torque wrench to reinstall.
the clutch hub net is 30mm and is left hand thread.

Is it common for the hub bearing to go bad? bike has 25,000 miles on it. I was planning on putting new friction discs in this winter but maybe sooner now depending on what I find. I will start pulling it apart to try to find the culprit, I have had the compensator off to machine the grooves. Can you take the clutch nut off with a breaker bar as I don't have an impact? What would I be looking for as far as a bad hub bearing?

[2006FXDCI]

I have another question, when bike is in neutral and clutch lever is pulled in is the tranny mainshaft under power? Just trying to figure this noise out, definitely sounds like a bearing and I'm hoping it's not in the tranny. Also wanna add that I'm running a VPC 92t also.

[Yo J]

Went for a ride tonight took it easy and just cruised, could definitely hear noise coming from behind my derby cover that got higher in frequency the more RPM's you were at. Put bike in neutral and pulled in clutch revved engine and noise is still present so I'm ruling out I.P.B. as I've had this replaced twice.

When you say frequency: is it as in pitch or how often it occurs? Is your noise constant?  I am troubleshooting a similar problem .... tnx j

[Admiral Akbar]

I have another question, when bike is in neutral and clutch lever is pulled in is the tranny mainshaft under power?

Answer is.. Depends.. But you can probably say yes.. Not much but yes. There is typically enough drag that  trans mainshaft is still spinning.. If you click it into gear and hear/feel the clunk you know it is.. Not a lot of power tho. Not enough to move the bike. Some bike with dry clutches, will allow the trans mainshaft to stop.

Max

[2006FXDCI]

Frequency as in pitch it gets higher pitched the more rpms it is turning, the noise is constant. Hope to have this figured out soon my parts should be in the end of this week or beginning of next week. Any input would be appreciated.

[RatchetAtHawgShop]

Follow the advice given; however, I have seen a few 06 dyna's with the mainshaft bearing and race wearing poorly at about 15 to 16k miles. Take a good look at the bearing race on the mainshaft when you pull the inner primary. Also, another caveat with this year dyna's the (at least some of them), the rotor and compensator cup are bolted. The replacement kit for the rotor/stator is welded. Just another week point to take a look at.

[2006FXDCI]

When you say main shaft bearing are you talking about the inner primary bearing and race? I have replaced mine twice both times under warranty. I have the upgraded rotor on my bike, I installed it with the SE compensator. I'm going to open up the primary this week and hopefully find the problem. Thanks everyone for all your help and please keep the suggestions coming, I'm a newbie to wrenching on harleys.

[2006FXDCI]

Opened up derby cover to take a look at my VPC hoping that a bolt had come loose, everything was good. Drained primary and had normal amount of grey sludge on magnet but also had around 10 good size silver flakes on magnet. I work alot of hours so I can only wrench a little every day. Any suggestions as to the silver flakes? Noise doesn't sound anything like last 2 inner primary bearings that went bad but the evidence is pointing that way. Will try to get primary cover and clutch pulled tomorrow. Any suggestions as to any where else metal could be coming from?

[DblackmanC]

Inner primary bearing (if bad) will make noise when motor is running and you put trans. in neutral and LET out the clutch lever. This is now spinning the main shaft and inner primary bearing. NOW...if you then put the bike in gear and hold the clutch lever in, the main shaft is not moving and the noise will stop...(if inner primary bearing is bad)
Dan

[2006FXDCI]

Noise is constant whether clutch is pulled in or out. But the metal flakes make me think primary bearing is bad again. Shifting has became harder and that happened when the last I.P.B. went south. I'm confused on which way to go next, I will have all the parts to rebuild primary by the end of the week but if its the I.P.B. I am going to try to get harley to pay for it a third time They have never installed the new tranny case on my bike yet, my friend had his replaced with the new style when his first I.P.B. went bad. What kind of puller and installer do I need to remove the I.P.B. race and install the new one ? Going to take it one step at a time and remove clutch basket and comp. and see what I find. Any suggestions as what to do next?

[Admiral Akbar]

Noise is constant whether clutch is pulled in or out.

Does it stop when in gear, bike stopped and clutch in? If so, it could be the bearing.. Max

[2006FXDCI]

Noise doesn't stop with bike in gear and clutch pulled in. Metal flakes point towards I.P.B. but the noise is telling me it's something else. I can't think of anything else in the primary that would make shiny metal flakes other than a bearing or race material. I have another question for you guys, I am going to remove my outer primary cover tonight and wipe everything down good. Can I start the bike and run it with the outer primary cover off so maybe I can identify the noise a little better? Thanks again for all the help.  Josh

[DblackmanC]

Josh...If your bike is running (parked) and in gear with clutch lever pulled in...your inner primary bearing is not spinning! If you have the noise at this time look else where.
Dan

[2006FXDCI]

First off I wanna say thanks to everyone on here for all ur help! Opened up primary and found issue instantly, my primary chain was as tight as a guitar string. I could only move it 3/16 when pushing on it pretty hard. Took chain adjuster off and removed clutch disks, held inner hub and turned outer hub and bearing felt good no wobble or runout in the basket. I installed the SE clutch kit, spring and vpc. Rechecked torque on my SE comp. and it was good, looked for signs of fretting and saw no red around comp. Buttoned everything back up and filled with formula+. Started bike and noise was gone! Shifted into first and no clunk at all. Set clutch adjuster at 1/2 turn out clutch lever activates a little to far from bars for me so I'm gonna take it out to 3/4 turn tomorrow. Once again thanks to everyone. I have one last question about this does anyone know if someone makes a conversion kit to make the adjuster manual so I can set the free play in chain myself?