Wheel Bearing Sleeves

[Surly]

Got the old bearings out of both wheels last night, but ran out of time before the baby went to bed and couldn't be tapping on bearings so they go in tonight. I have them in the freezer as I type and a fresh bottle of propane on the torch just waiting.

Question: the sleeves that fit between the bearings on my 78 GS1000E weren't tight against the bearings. They moved just a little, which I assume is to allow the bearings to be removed, yet prevent the bearings from being pushed inward.

Or should they be tight on the bearings?

I'm pretty sure the answer is #1, but I've never swapped motorcycle wheel bearings before.

Always an adventure.

[chiphead]

Don't the wheels have an internal flange built into the wheel where the bearings sit that the back side of the bearings rest against. If so seat them to the flange. You can only put them in so far.

[kevan]

Wheel Bearings

Check the manual. For my bike, 1984 GS750, there is an order to installing the bearings. I think the left one goes into the wheel first, on my bike. It does make a difference on my bike. Don't ask how I know.

Kevan
GS750
185,000 kms

[Surly]

Just the front

My Clymer manual shows that the front wheel sleeve has a flange and says the left bearing is installed first, with the sleeve flange against this side, then the other bearing is installed.

The rear sleeve has no flange, and the manual gives no preference to which bearing is installed first.

Usually you just tap bearings in until they bottom on the shoulder, I've never done anything with a sleeve. It just looks to me like the second bearing when installed is going to hit sleeve before shoulder, and I know that the sleeves were just a little loose in the hub prior to removal.

Of course, if the sleeve is touching the bearings, it could cause the bearings to be too tight....