Outer Axle Bearings

[FirstTrike]

I am starting to plan for my winter time project. Going to install the axle bearing retainer plates from DK. I have about 14k miles on the 21 trike. Need to know the information for the USA made outer axle bearings, so I can get them. Don't want to use the ones made in Korea from Harley. Thanks for the help.

[Jack Klarich]

SKF #6208-2RSJ

I would pop the seals off gently and check the grease, I have seen too many bearings like this with too little grease in them

[ultrafxr]

DK can supply the proper bearings along with the retainer plates.

[Snohomish]

I am starting to plan for my winter time project. Going to install the axle bearing retainer plates from DK. I have about 14k miles on the 21 trike. Need to know the information for the USA made outer axle bearings, so I can get them. Don't want to use the ones made in Korea from Harley. Thanks for the help.

Plan on doing the retainer plate installation on our trike this winter also. Appears to be another area where Harley cost savings bit us.

[PosseRider]

Plan on doing the retainer plate installation on our trike this winter also. Appears to be another area where Harley cost savings bit us.

we had ours done at 10k & there was already scuff marks on hd plates . For me I looked at it as "preventive" .. I intend to not trade this one in.

[FirstTrike]

SKF #6208-2RSJ

I would pop the seals off gently and check the grease, I have seen too many bearings like this with too little grease in them

Thanks Jack,

Do you know if Timken makes a bearing that will fit?

[Jack Klarich]

Thanks Jack,

Do you know if Timken makes a bearing that will fit?

Give them a call with the SKF bearing to cross it

Many Napa jobbers carry SKF bearings in stock, the application fits a wide range of vehicles

[FirstTrike]

Give them a call with the SKF bearing to cross it

Many Napa jobbers carry SKF bearings in stock, the application fits a wide range of vehicles

Thanks Jack and to everyone that responded.

[Snohomish]

Bored yesterday morning so I decided that I would pull axles now instead of waiting for winter. Here is a picture of R/H retainer plate and bearing. This is at 24,800 miles. Obviously should have replaced the retainer plate with the DK version earlier. Pulling the axles was quite simple however getting the bearings off the axles has turned into quite a tug-of-war. I've got a 20-ton arbor press but it isn't budging these puppies.

Going to take the axles over to the local John Deere dealer later today and see if they will be willing to give it a go with their shop presses. Order the new parts yesterday (Thursday) from DK and they are supposed to arrive next Tuesday. Looking forward to getting this fixed and back on the road.

[Jack Klarich]

Timken and National bearing part number is

208FF Wheel Bearing

[David792]

Bored yesterday morning so I decided that I would pull axles now instead of waiting for winter. Here is a picture of R/H retainer plate and bearing. This is at 24,800 miles. Obviously should have replaced the retainer plate with the DK version earlier. Pulling the axles was quite simple however getting the bearings off the axles has turned into quite a tug-of-war. I've got a 20-ton arbor press but it isn't budging these puppies. Going to take the axles over to the local John Deere dealer later today and see if they will be willing to give it a go with their shop presses. Order the new parts yesterday (Thursday) from DK and they are supposed to arrive next Tuesday. Looking forward to getting this fixed and back on the road.

Great photo!!! I will replace mine at the end of this riding season.

[Dan SC]

I have been a professional mechanic all my adult life (since 1973), and I disagree with the idea of prying off a seal on a sealed bearing and adding grease.

I never heard of that idea until I started reading motorcycle forums.

Sealed bearings do not need a lot of grease, the manufacturers know how much to put in.

Besides that, how do we know the grease you add is compatible with the grease already in there?

There is no reason to second guess the people who make these bearings.

I believe the most common reason for sealed bearing failure is due to improper assembly and/or water intrusion.

I suggest you leave the seals alone.

Send an email or letter to a bearing manufacturer and see what they think...

[Rogue1]

I have been a professional mechanic all my adult life (since 1973), and I disagree with the idea of prying off a seal on a sealed bearing and adding grease.

I never heard of that idea until I started reading motorcycle forums.

Sealed bearings do not need a lot of grease, the manufacturers know how much to put in.

Besides that, how do we know the grease you add is compatible with the grease already in there?

There is no reason to second guess the people who make these bearings.

I believe the most common reason for sealed bearing failure is due to improper assembly and/or water intrusion.

I suggest you leave the seals alone.

Send an email or letter to a bearing manufacturer and see what they think...

To use your own words, " I'm going to strongly disagree with this theory".

[Dan SC]

To use your own words, " I'm going to strongly disagree with this theory".

I was just giving out some advice, no theory involved.

I think you should do whatever you think is right when you work with sealed bearings.

[MGB]

I am starting to plan for my winter time project. Going to install the axle bearing retainer plates from DK. I have about 14k miles on the 21 trike. Need to know the information for the USA made outer axle bearings, so I can get them. Don't want to use the ones made in Korea from Harley. Thanks for the help.

What made you decide to replace the rear axle bearing and the retainer plate?

[FirstTrike]

What made you decide to replace the rear axle bearing and the retainer plate?

Just got back from a 6k mile road trip without any issues. I am the type of person that if I know that there is a possible issue with something, go ahead and take care of it before you are sitting on the side of the road wishing you had taken care of it. Watch DK Customs videos about the retainer plates and bearings. For the cost of the plates and bearings, worth it for peace of mind. I will do the install myself. Thanks for asking.

[Dan SC]

Watch DK Customs videos about the retainer plates and bearings. For the cost of the plates and bearings,

I haven`t seen posts on any forum in reference to the axle bearings or retainer plates failing, except the posts by DK Customs.

I don`t doubt some trikes may have had issues, but if it were a widespread problem there would be a zillion posts about it.

[Trampas]

Bored yesterday morning so I decided that I would pull axles now instead of waiting for winter. Here is a picture of R/H retainer plate and bearing. This is at 24,800 miles. Obviously should have replaced the retainer plate with the DK version earlier. Pulling the axles was quite simple however getting the bearings off the axles has turned into quite a tug-of-war. I've got a 20-ton arbor press but it isn't budging these puppies. Going to take the axles over to the local John Deere dealer later today and see if they will be willing to give it a go with their shop presses. Order the new parts yesterday (Thursday) from DK and they are supposed to arrive next Tuesday. Looking forward to getting this fixed and back on the road.

Been thinking of this myself, guess I will have to ask my buddy what lb press he has, if less that 20 which I think it is I will have to look elsewear to get them off

All for now Trampas

[Snohomish]

All finished with the replacement. Real easy to do once the bearings & tone rings were pressed off. John Deere wanted nothing to do with pressing them off since it wasn’t a green color Took axles to an auto repair shop and they had a 50-ton press. Popped them right off. I pressed new bearings on and reused the same tone rings. DK plates are not going to warp.

[Rogue1]

All finished with the replacement. Real easy to do once the bearings & tone rings were pressed off. John Deere wanted nothing to do with pressing them off since it wasn’t a green color Took axles to an auto repair shop and they had a 50-ton press. Popped them right off. I pressed new bearings on and reused the same tone rings. DK plates are not going to warp.

I took my axles to an automotive machine shop and had the bearings pressed off and new bearings pressed on with the DK plates. When I put the old plates on a surface plate they were definitely warped. After only 25,000 miles. Bearings were good retainer plates were scored and warped.