07 softail custom front wheel bearings

[pauly]

 
Gday,

I've just replaced the wheel bearings on my 07 fxstc.
The front ones (25mm) appear to be too narrow - ie they push in so they sit about 3/16" Inside the hub - If I pull them out to where they look correct, they don't contact the spacer, and doing up the axle nut simply pulls them back in. I threw th old ones out before comparing them unfortunately.
Has anyone run into this before? Do I need wider bearings? Seems the only option however I thought I better get advice before I spend even more money.
Thanks
Pauly

[rbabos]

I seem to remember the 25mm wheel bearing width to be .825 if that helps. One side was fairly flush, the other in a bit. On the brake disc side the bearing gets bottomed and the left goes to spacer contact. With the right bearing pressed in , rotor alignment should be correct assuming of course you have the correct width bearing and the correct spacers on each side.
Ron

[fatty 07]

i ran into this when i changed wheel bearings on a 07 fatboy.don't know if they share the same bearings but i did keep the old ones at home. i will look at them after work and give you the numbers on them if you want...

[BUBBIE]

Remember ABS pick-up side size is also Different...

signed....BUBBIE

[FSG]

Remember this one http://harleytechtalk.com/htt/index.php/topic,77792.msg859120.html#msg859120

The bearing dims are : 25 x 52 x 15mm

The axle is loose in the right leg when your doing this, yes?

[88b]

I seem to remember the 25mm wheel bearing width to be .825 if that helps. One side was fairly flush, the other in a bit. On the brake disc side the bearing gets bottomed and the left goes to spacer contact. With the right bearing pressed in , rotor alignment should be correct assuming of course you have the correct width bearing and the correct spacers on each side.
Ron

disc side first then the other side to just touch the spacer.

[pauly]

Gday all,

Thanks for the replies,

Yes FSG - I do remember that.. I had to get the rear ones changed for the right ones. I finally got around to changing them all last weekend (along with cam bearings, lifters , blah blah... But these front ones have me stumped - They fit ok, just look wrong. The axle is loose in the right fork leg as I torque up the axle nut, and this pulls the bearing in (past were it looks right).

Thanks
Pauly

[rbabos]

Remember this one http://harleytechtalk.com/htt/index.php/topic,77792.msg859120.html#msg859120

The bearing dims are : 25 x 52 x 15mm

The axle is loose in the right leg when your doing this, yes?

That's odd. If bearing is correct, could it be there is a spacer washer 43315-07 is some wheels. I wonder if it's missing in this case to make up this difference?
Ron

[FSG]

and this pulls the bearing in (past were it looks right).

Do they bind up once the axle is torqued?

Does the caliper align with the disc OK?

Pix


Some cast wheels (Dynas) have spacer washers stock and fitting MoCo Custom Wheels often require spacer washers depending on the model the wheel is going on, but an 07 FXSTC doesn't have a spacer washer.  But 07 was a bastid year for the Softails and the first year for them to have the 25mm front bearings, excluding the Springer.

[rbabos]

Is this still the stock 07 FXSTC 21" spoke profile wheel?
Ron

[pauly]

G'day Ron,
Yes it is.

Thanks
Pauly

[rbabos]

G'day Ron,
Yes it is.

Thanks
Pauly

Trying to think back on my bike as I had two different wheels on it at some point. The blade wheel required the spacer washer in the bearing kit. The stock profile wheel, I never removed the bearings but I remember this. I could not get the wheel between the lowers unless the spacer went in first. That means the bearing (s) were inboard of flush. Two things to look for to determine if it's correct in your case. Rotor and caliper should line up and if bearing depths are correct when the spacer between them is in contact, having both axle spacers in place, there will be next to no space between the spacer and the lowers. Those two will let you know if the assembly is correct. Press primary bearing in first (rotor side) the spacer, then press the other bearing to spacer contact. Should work. If not, the bearing width is incorrect for some reason. To my knowledge the bearing spacer washer in the stock profile is not used but this again will be obvious with rotor caliper alignment as it went in the primary side, then the bearing on top of it. Don't think it applies here. I think it was about 3/16" thick +/-.
Only thing I can say for sure is at least one of the bearings was not flush with the hub end. I think the right side, non rotor.
Ron

[pauly]

Thanks Ron,
I've gone and got the abs bearing which is 18mm and fits flush but I think you're right - i.e. The left bearing should perhaps not be flush and sits 3mm in the bearing housing. I'll try that next. Man this is crazy!

Pauly

[pauly]

For those that are interested,
I'm accepting that the left hand bearing sits 3mm into its housing. I just mustn't have noticed it before. With the abs bearing everything was perfect (both bearings flush with the housings) but the brake shoes were way over one side. With the standard (15mm) bearing everything lines up fine. I'm done with it.
Next!
Thanks
Pauly

[rbabos]

For those that are interested,
I'm accepting that the left hand bearing sits 3mm into its housing. I just mustn't have noticed it before. With the abs bearing everything was perfect (both bearings flush with the housings) but the brake shoes were way over one side. With the standard (15mm) bearing everything lines up fine. I'm done with it.
Next!
Thanks
Pauly

The bearing inset sounds about right. Like I mentioned if it's right all alignments will be correct. Glad you got it sorted out. One warning I can give you. If you have any intentions of going to a forged wheel rather then the spoked, don't. Any wheel heavier then the stock one will be extremely disappointed . It makes the turns more doggy and the small fork tubes will resonated a lot more from the engine pulses. Braking is also noticably reduced from it's mass.  This fork oscillation feeds back into the bars with more vibration, most notably in cruise where the rpm is usually lower.  Paid 2K for the blade wheel, sold it for 800 and couldn't get it out of my sight fast enough. I had swapped them back and forth about four times and was disappointed each time. FX forks like light wheels only.
Ron