Beware of Needs Nothing

[montmil]

We've all seen the adverts, as in... This bike needs nothing. Fly out and ride it home. I just drove...

While doing a recent rear brake shoe job and a final drive spline Moly 60 lube, I noticed the left side wheel bearing grease seal was loose. Basically worn out, I guess.

Bought a new seal then pulled the bearings for a clean n' grease. That's when I noticed the outer race on the left side was badly pitted. Not unusual on an older bike, as PO's may have enjoyed washing out the grease with the car wash blaster.

Bought new bearings and an additional seal for the spline-side. Having replaced rear bearings before, the job went quickly and all's now back in good order.

The primary reason for this post is to share with y'all that sometime in the past, a PO had replaced the rear wheel bearings but had neglected to fit the new outer races. Naughty. I discovered that the outer races and the bearings were from different manufacturers! Perhaps the prior owner was unaware that bearing sets are matched during manufacture. Note the damage to the outer race; one way bad and the other getting there.



So far, its been new steering head bearings, fork seals, rear brake shoes, front brake hose, ignition coil, battery, rear wheel bearings and seals, etc, etc, etc...   Yep, needs absolutely nothing.

Y'all have a good one. I going for a ride to work in those new bearings. I love this game [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

Monte

[Bob_Roller]

Monte, what type of tool did you need to pull out the outer race ?

[Ed Miller]

"Perhaps the prior owner was unaware that bearing sets are matched during manufacture."

This doesn't pertain to your post, but the above statement is not universally true.  When I had to purchase wheel bearings and races for the hubs for my Napco axle for my pickup, the bearings and races had to be purchased separately.   The bearing specialty place where I bought them said it wasn't all that unusual, as the races can be made to fit different applications but all fit the same bearings.  I guess the differences are in the sides that don't touch the bearings.  

I was surprised, but put them together that way and everything works.  :')  I guess I had always imagined each bearing and race being run in together or something, but that's not how they do it.

[montmil]

...I was surprised, but put them together that way and everything works.  :')  I guess I had always imagined each bearing and race being run in together or something, but that's not how they do it.

I don't know what a NAPCO truck axle is, but be that as it may, I'm sticking with matched pieces parts. The outer race was made in Italy with a German tapered roller bearing installed. This can't be a good thing. Way too much visible damage.

Bob R: No puller required. A bit of heat from a propane torch -spit sizzle is about right- and a long drift punch is inserted from the opposite side. The outer race has an exposed lip that is proud of the hub center section. Those outer races will pop right out. Really.

After inspecting and cleaning everything, again heat the hub area and use a 30mm socket to drift the new outer race into position. Some peeps keep the outer race in the freezer overnight to shrink 'em. I did that on the '81 but not on today's project. I noticed no difference in ease of race refit.

Monte

[montmil]

It's all good! This morning, I mentioned to my bride, Lynn, that there was nothing left to do on my "R65 Chore List". Nothing, on either bike, needs tweaking, no parts are waiting to be installed, no drips, no runs, no errors. [smiley=clap.gif]

Before the afternoon heat builds up, I took both R65s out for a run. These bikes are s-o-o-o nice. [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

Here's some snaps of the 1983 R65 "needs nothing" Mexico Bike:




Finally got around to adding some silver vinyl pinstripes in the OEM positions on the tank and tail piece. The fuel tank looks so much better! The BMW 501 blue is gorgeous but really needed the visually slimming effect of the stripes.



And here's the 1981 with its new-to-me EPCO stainless steel mufflers and soft bags. There's a matching magnetic tank bag that will go along on next month's Three Twisted Sisters ride in the Texas Hill Country.





It's going to be a great summer [smiley=bmw_smiley.gif]   Monte

[Patrick_Krivacka]

those are two sweet looking bikes.

[msbuck]

Great job(s) Monte!  Aren't you going to go stir crazy with no tweeking to do?  

[Mike V]

Monte,

Great looking machines, nice work and attention to detail.  Hope to see you and others in the Hill Country when I pass through to visit the D'Rose on my way to the East Coast and Chicago...via Kreitz Market and Black's BBQ in Lockhart. Just can't pass those up!

[Darwin_R65]

Monte i wish you'd remove the pictures of the blue R65.

That's what my bike should look like if i gave it some TLC.

Damn, I'll have to buy some blue metallic paint for the tank and wax/polish all the other bits.

John

[montmil]

Monte,

Great looking machines, nice work and attention to detail.  Hope to see you and others in the Hill Country when I pass through to visit the D'Rose on my way to the East Coast and Chicago...via Kreitz Market and Black's BBQ in Lockhart. Just can't pass those up!

I was there today, 20 June 2010, on the way home from the Texas coast. Not too many folks know about Black's. Same family owners since the joint opened its doors some ages ago. We stopped for some free beer at the Spotzel Brewery in Shiner, Texas -as in Shiner Beer- on our way south earlier in the week.

If you can't afford the meat, just lick the walls. Tasty!

Monte

[Bengt_Phorqs]

Great looking machines, nice work and attention to detail.Hope to see you and others in the Hill Country when I pass through to visit the D'Rose on my way to the East Coast and Chicago...via Kreitz Market and Black's BBQ in Lockhart. Just can't pass those up!  

Man, I thought I knew all of the good bbq joints but those are two with which I'm not familiar.  Need to do some research on those.  Mike V. are you coming through Ft Worth or Dallas on your way to chicago after you leave Leakey?  Feel free to drop by on your way through if you are.