30 yr old wheel bearings

I have a 1979 ltd kz 1000, I removed snap ring from inside wheel housing, unable to get wheel bearings to budge, I would guess they come out from side with snap ring but dont know, any ideas would be great.

lemo32 wrote:

I have a 1979 ltd kz 1000, I removed snap ring from inside wheel housing, unable to get wheel bearings to budge, I would guess they come out from side with snap ring but dont know, any ideas would be great.

Front wheel (per FSM) ---
From left side, use metal rod to tap around right bearing inner race and drive bearing out right side along with distance collar.
From right side, use metal rod to tap around left bearing inner race and drive bearing out left side.

See more info in the following links:

kzrider.com/index.php?option=com_kunena&...56085&catid=5#356085

kzrider.com/index.php?option=com_kunena&...18091&catid=5#318091

kzrider.com/index.php?option=com_kunena&...d=5&id=226591#226634

kzrider.com/index.php?option=com_kunena&...07453&catid=5#207453

Good Fortune!

When instaling new bearings, put the new ones in the freezer overnight, and when ready to install, use a propane torch to carefully heat up the part the bearing will go into.

It should almost drop in place, as the cooled bearing heats up and expands, it will grip the wheel tightly.

If the bearing is reluctant to drop in place, use a block of wood and hammer to tap it in place. Never hit the inner bearing part, only the outer race.

I just did my bearings about a month ago and I would not say I tapped them out it was more like bang. I really had to bang away at them with a long screw driver and a hammer. It was very frustrating, just keep banging away. The only tapping I did was installing them, that went very easy. Be sure to put them in the freezer for at least a hour

Yea they are really a tight fit and probably corroded as well. In 300,000 miles on KZs I've not yet changed one bearing even on my 168,000 mile KZ650. Are they really bad? Just because they are 30 yrs old does not mean they are too old to run. However 1979 started the sealed bearings which are not going to last like open bearings.

I changed mine just because I had to take the wheels off to get painted and yeah they are a bitch to get out. Take your time you'll get them.

these are usually nasty jobs

first, make sure that the hole precceding the bearing is really clean and free of yuck, whatever residues and then grease that area a bit too, will make it easier for the bearing to slide out.

second prepare a proper drift, a 3/8" good quality steel (not iron!) rod and grind one end with a light angle, so when you lean on the bearing the rod stays in place.

then heat the hub well with a propane torch.

should work but still a bitch.

if nothing works, take wheel to a garage that has proper bearing pullers

TG

I just did all of mine on my KZ and i used a large socket about the same size as the outter race, it seemed to help from hitting something that shouldnt have been hit. or having access to a small press to put them in helps too, the just glide right in without much pressure at all.

Thanks guys, for the help, I got em out, wasn't a tapping thing, more like a 5 pound shop hammer... hmmmm do i need a bigger hammer type thing, now on to powder coat, the guy who is powder coating said he would take em out, but i thought i would learn something, I did, next time let him do it :laugh: