I liked when Harley used tapered roller bearings that you could take out and grease. I always recommended to customers that when they needed a new tire it was time to grease wheel bearings. I would mount tire, clean bearings, reinstall with light oil to check end play and static balance. Then remove bearings, clean and dry, repack and install with new seals. I think I could sit and talk with you for hours about repairs on Harleys, especially the unusual repairs.

Over greasing a bearing will cause them to run hot , I learned this the hard way working as a mantance man in a large industrial facility . The more precision the bearing the more it's affected by over packing them

i love those handlebars on that yellow frame.

Oh, and success on your surgery!!

Hello from Sweden🇸🇪. Thank u for the techtip on sealde bearings👍👍👍. Did not know u could open the seal on a bearing🙂. Good luck with next eye operation. Thank u Mike and Mike. Kjell Blomstrand🇸🇪.

This video is just in time for me. I planned on replacing my bearings this Spring when I swap out new tires and tubes. Thanks for showing me how it's done Mike...

My dad had the same bearing packer at his Texaco Station. Always love stopping by the garage have a blessed week my friends

Hope your next surgery goes well

Thanks for demonstrating the need to check wheel bearings, even new ones. Somewhere along the line, bearings went from open to sealed, and now just shielded. Shielded just keeps the big pieces out. Not water or fine dirt. As was mentioned, please do not pressure wash. I check every oil change plus replace every tire change. Great video! Thanks to the two Mikes!!

Another great video Mike glad to know that about the bearing grease have a good day

Mike , you may over grease your bearings but I still like your work! Shows a massive amount of "Profesionalism "! Keep up the good work.

I've been riding since 72. The only time i have ever needed a tow truck, was in the mountains of Idaho in 2019 when one of these crap bearings failed. It was installed at a rear tire change and had less than 3000 miles on it. Give me a tapered Timken anyday. Thanks for the video, Mike's.

YES YES YES!!!!!!!!!!!! I trust the wheel bearing grease I want in my bearings. I do clean out the factory grease and regrease. What you found in that bearing is alot compared to what I have found in most of bearings I installed. That's top shelf professional maintenance, plus that little bit of grease is so VERY IMPORTANT to riders safety!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!safe ridin rubber down

glad to hear you'l be able to see even better. its amazing what opthamologists can do.

You really do keep a lot of information in that head good job thank you

Mike! Those things that keep you wondering is the engineer in you! No worries!👍😎

I've seen tons of sealed bearings fail and when you inspect them they look totally dry. So adding grease seems like a good idea. I never thought of it. Thanks Mike.

I like how Mike uses his bare finger no latex gloves for him old school got to love it.

Hello Mike , I guess any grease is better than none but I like to use high temp disc brake grease in my bearings . Thanks for your great videos Mike and Mike .

Been following you for a while, I perked up when you mentioned Huggy over at the Shop, I knew him and Bill Holiday and Garry Hughes over in Camarillo. Those guys are all gone now, so I guess it's ok to talk about them a little. I was just making the scene when I met them. I'd like to hear some of your history, I was around Ventura county at the end of the 70s, good times back then.

I too worked in a gas station and learned to pack bearings. I was allowed to work on my own car. About a quarter mile from the shop I noticed my front wheels were considerably ahead of my vehicle. No one told me to tighten the lugs! (1972)? Manhattan Beach.

I also like how he pays attention to the smallest of details they are so important he is like the way my dad was. A job done right is a job well done. Thank you for your wisdom 🙏

Mike, if doing dual brakes, it wouldn't matter which side to bottom the bearing first. Another informative video.

Mike, thanks for the video. Good information. I have a 2004 FLHTCI aka, Electra Glide, that has spiked rims, which I like the look of but I want to convert to mag type wheels so I can go tubeless. I found some good looking used ones that specifically said they had bearings for a 1” axel and I didn’t know of the spacers that can be used. So I learned something new today. I think I learn something new every day. 😉👍

Mike I agree with adding a little extra grease. Seems like if the seal starts leaking it's the same as a bearing with a race it's probably time for a new bearing and seal. JMO. ✌🏻

Have to be totally honest. When it comes to how to videos I'm super skeptical. I don't let anyone work on my stuff. But to be 100% stereotypical, that opening shot, the springer and the beard already sold me on your advice lol. In the HD game, you can usually just look at someone and know "oh this dude has been wrenching on them for a while and knows" lol.

Good Video, I`m changing my wheels on my 93 FXR from 9 spoke to 13 spoke and the 13`s are of a later model Dyna witch are 1 inch Axle. someone told me that they make sealed bearings to convert. the bearing are 2" O D but I could find a 2" OD with a 3/4 ID so seeing the reducer sleeve you go from Throttle addiction real help me out greatly. Thanks again for another great video.

A friend of mind that works for Randy's bike repair. Hes out of Pennsylvania and does all the major rallies around the country. Mostly tires but he does everything including engine rebuilds, he has a big setup. Anyhow........ya know at the rallies they sell all those cheap knockoff aftermarket wheels. Many many people roll into his spot needing wheel bearings. Hes told me many times about how those bearing always have atost three small globs of grease in them. Sometimes they dont have any grease.

I pack the sealed bearing's as well but in my experience. The center of it spin's so I started to remove the seal on the outer side of the bearing so it doesn't ruin the actual sealing edge. 👍🏻

mr. mike sealed bearings are packed with a measured amount of grease when you pack them like that they run hot when i worked in a semi trailer shop the new trailers used grease instead of oil in the axles and was put in at a measured amount too much made the bearings levitate and run hot

At this day bearings are packed with minimun amout of terrible grease. It does not matter if you buy a quality ones or cheap ones. They all are done the same way. Buy a quality grease and work with those bearings before you use them. Nice work Mike and Mike👌 Keep it strong

Learning lots, thank you

weve had alot of sealed bearings fail since theyre chinese made even though theyre a good brand , ive heard it said to pack the sealed roller bearings like a third to half full. weve had grease dry out im wondering if syntheyic grease lasts longer in that regard.

I'm all curious about this same procedure moving down to a 3/4 that axle once took Timken bearings is it the same? is it a shim game? The reason I ask is I have Gilroy Indians that's are all 3/4 Timken. Create content man! Good luck on your surgery.

Theres not a lot of great knuckle info out there and you do great work so please go extra on all things knuckle...its a lost art so I look forward to your work Thank you

That grease heats up, liquifies and swells under load, it will run hot then pop the bearing seals overpacking them.

I remember that episode when u was dragging the camera man’s bearings down the road.

Hello Mike and Mike ! How are you ? Thank you for this video . 🎃

With a sealed bearing there is not as much grease required because when the grease heats up, it’s viscosity will decrease and fill the bearing cavity and will not over pressurize and blow the seal out. What you are doing is creating a condition that will over pressurize the bearing. What you should have done if you are so concerned is repack the bearing and leave the inside seal off. Pack the center section of the hub with grease, old school.

Hi Mike, any recommendations on converting my '07 Dyna from fuel injection to carburetor? I'm 80 and on a tight budget, and I do 99% of my own repairs. I've searched KZfaq and haven't found a detailed explanation. The injection has too many ways of failure and I've been chasing problems for weeks. It's still not running. I've lost the whole season. Thank you, Queasyrider

HOWdy P-M, ... Thanks ... I just acquired a 2021 H-D Alloy 13-spoke front Wheel with a 1" Bearing Hole ... to ... Be placed on my 1995 H-D DYNA Convertible with a 3/4" Axle ... WOWSER ! = thank YOU for POPPING the Dust Seal off that brand NEW Bearing = Educated now !!! ... COOP the WiSeNhEiMeR from Richmond, INDIANA ...

Great Video, Mike; Excellent Tip, I'll be checkin the next lot of bearings I put in My Sons & My Bike. Our bikes have ABS, So i take it you could only pull the inside seal on the ABS bearing?? What do you think; Have you packed an ABS Bearing?? Cairns, Far North Queensland, Australia. 👍✊😎

I would be concerned about the compatibility of the two greases, I think you can buy that blue synthetic grease. Maybe heating the hub would make the install a lot easier.

That was supposed to say, spoked rims.

Mike I had a wheel on my 08 heritage softail heat up and spun in the wheel now I’m going to bore out the wheel and sleeve it : now I’ll pack all my sealed bearings

Actually it don’t take much grease because they are sealed. When you overpack them they will blow the seal out eventually and leak and get water and dust in them. When the Bearing is rolling at high speeds with too much grease it throws the grease And puts pressure on the seals pushing the seals out

I have a 79 and noticed I have 2 heavy and 2 light lifter springs I was wondering why and were to place them ( yea I got them mixed up) but what would you recommend heavy for intake or exhaust and yes I am referring to lifter springs and yes they are hydraulic! Thank you!

Mike is it possible to switch from timken bearings to sealed ones for a 3/4 axel on 99 and older Harley? Thanks for your work

Pack to 70% capacity. Overpacking can lead to overheating.

Does it harm the bearing in any way to remove, repack and reinstall it with the tool you’ve shown?

This Jim's tool seems complicated which I don't normally mind. My question, since the bearings are being pressed in and you have that big hydraulic press in the back room why not use it? I didn't sneak over and measure the press and wheel to confirm clearance so that could be an issue. Good show as always, thank you. KZfaq is really showing interest in you, almost more commercial time than video, I have ro keep grabbing the remote.

Whats up mike..., Another great one! You said, at the begging , that there are 3 size Axles, can you tell me what the standard one is for a 2005 fatboy? ty, I think its 3/4. cause thats the SA wrench i use.

I also worked in a garage as a kid. And i also packed a lot of bearings. It's going in crooked.

Crazy people hahahaha😀I m

I am 74 years old. My mom and me are watching your video when she turns to me and says: "Why is he so smart and you are so stupid!" (She is mad that I can"t keep the pinto running.) Will you be doing a pinto video soon?

Companies will use the minimum amount of grease so the bearing will eventually fail sooner then later and another has to be purchased to replace the failed one. Its standard business practice now days, use half the required grease to sell twice as many bearings. I call it ethics of greed. Just my 2 cents.

3 YEARS AGO VID. HELLO MIKE, DOSE IT MATTER WHICH WAY THE THROWOUT BEARING GOES ON. BOTH SIDES LOOK DIFFERENT. WHICH SIDE TOWARDS SLINGER ? THANKS