Sealed VS open bearings Z1B

I just finished installing the needles bearings on my swingarm ( you MUST loosen the upper rear engine mount otherwise there is not enough clearance between the frame) and noticed the my chain carrier had quite a lot of play, not forward/backard which is normal, but rather sideway.
I decided to replace the bearing ( a very common # 6206) but went with a sealed type instead of the open type that was in it.
Do you see any issue with that?

You should be just fine. I would probably do the same thing that you did also.

are you saying the carrier was moving from left side of bike to right side?
im not sure if a bearing would allow movement in that diection unless the inner race of bearing where it rides on axle was completely destroyed.
did you check the rubber cush drive for wear?id also check wheel spacers to make sure they were right

wireman wrote: are you saying the carrier was moving from left side of bike to right side?
im not sure if a bearing would allow movement in that diection unless the inner race of bearing where it rides on axle was completely destroyed.
did you check the rubber cush drive for wear?id also check wheel spacers to make sure they were right

No, the play in the carrier was not left to right but you could push the top to the right and the bottom will move to the left ( or vice-versa)
I changed the bearing and all is good now.
Any idea why Kawasaki used open instead of sealed bearing on both axles?

it was a cost issue origionally would be my guess,if the unsealed bearing were lets say a $1.00 less for each ,multiply that by a half million bearings and you get a big chunk of overhead :ohmy: