XB12 Rear Bearing Disaster

[john_loucks]

Having trailered the 2007 Firebolt to Sturgis, I was really excited to ride the badlands and Mt.. Rushmore. Unfortunately, near Rapid City, at 60 MPH the dreaded rear-end shutter happened. I didn't know what it was...scared the crap out of me. Long and short, I was expecting a high-side disaster but was too cheap to tow it back to the campground. I SLOWLY rode about 30 miles back to the motorhome and trailer, rented a bike and then brought the Buell home to fix it.

Purchased a new spacer pipe and bearings, but when I removed it from the bike, the wheel has 'significant' scoring damage _behind_ the bearing. The scoring doesn't reach the bearing, but I don't know if the wheel must be replaced or if I can get away with just replacing the bearings and spacer.

I'll post a picture.

Must I replace this wheel?

 

[john_loucks]

Can't add photos!

Click "Add Your Photo" and w pop-up window opens but its blank. Tried Chrome and IE 11. Any ideas?

 

[oh9bolt]

Photobucket.com

 

[user_deleted]

john: as long as the "scorching" you described is not on the actual surface where the bearing presses into...or on the bearing backing surface, the wheel should be fine. as you mentioned, new spacer a must, make sure axle is burr and nick free, put light coating of any type grease on axle and inside spacer during assembly and small dab of anti-seize on both axle threads, head of axle and pinch bolt threads. freezing the bearings overnite and heating wheel hub just prior to assembly eases bearing install as well.

 

[evolDiesel]

John - How many miles does your 07' have?

 

[john_loucks]

Thanks Lunaticfringe.

evolDiesel- just bought the bike showing ~18k miles. Can't confirm that's correct but believe it's accurate.

Can either of you answer: The 'hole' behind the right-side bearing (the bearing that failed), where the axle spacer goes through, is almost as large as the outer diameter of the bearing. In other words, the axle spacer appears to 'float' and not touch the actual rim but would travel through the big hole and make contact with only the bearing. On the other side, it appears that the wheel has a hole closer in diameter to the axle. What is the normal diameter on the Rt side?

Is it possible that the hole on the side with the failed bearing 'ground out' and is supposed to be the diameter of the axle spacer, but instead is about 2"?

 

[EricZ]

The smallest hole in the wheel is slightly larger than the axle spacer and larger than inner race of the wheel bearings. I can take some pictures later this morning to post if you would like them.