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Post by Les on Apr 8, 2006 21:28:52 GMT
A friend of mine what owns a Blade has just had his wheel bearings changed, for no other reason than they were two years old and he was concerned they might fail. I therefore have a twofold question. a. Has anyone ever done this on time/mileage on the Rex and if so why b. Has anyone ever heard of a Rex wheel bearings failing.
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Post by ZRX Gremlin on Apr 8, 2006 23:48:41 GMT
a. I'm not even sure that there is a recommended replacement scheduled in the manual. I'll change mine when I need to. b. Yes, I have heard of Rex wheel bearings failing, and on bikes with far lower mileages than my own. 1. Jetwashing the grease out of the bearings is never a good idea. Yes, one of our members here did that but I won't name names and cause any further embarrassment. 2. I've said this before. Kawasaki lubricate the entire bike with a teaspoon full of grease at manufacture. This is the most likely cause of premature bearing failure. I'd Recomend that you check and lubricate wheel, swingarm and headrace bearings before you become the next victim.
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Post by lightspeed on Apr 12, 2006 17:58:37 GMT
One of the areas that seems to be typically practically devoid of grease from the factory is the swingarm. There is a grease nipple on the swingarm that can be used to re-grease, but some feel that even if you pump it full of grease, it may not migrate to the other end of the bearing and rthey ecommend that you remove and grease properly. So far I've just pumped grease in, not removed.
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Post by bikesnoopy on Apr 20, 2006 18:34:34 GMT
Then why install a grease nipple if its all but useless... Ive just done the wheelbearings on my Blackbird. Took a couple of hours from removing the wheels to putting them back in,including a good wheel & swingarm clean. Piece of p*ss... I replaced them due to play in them,not failure.
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Post by ZRX Gremlin on Apr 20, 2006 18:55:02 GMT
......even if you pump it full of grease, it may not migrate to the other end of the bearing I've heard that too. Granted, the grease nipple is in an awkward place to begin with and is offset to one side. But having had one apart recently, I can see that once one end of the housing is full and the bearing on that end is lubricated, if you keep on pumping the grease in then it has nowhere else to go but the other end of the housing and the other bearing. You'll use a lot more grease than is strictly nescessary for the job in this way but whoever heard of overlubricating something?
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Post by lightspeed on Apr 25, 2006 0:07:00 GMT
. . . You'll use a lot more grease than is strictly nescessary for the job in this way but whoever heard of overlubricating something? Well, at least the pound of grease you added will be located "low" so it won't upset yer handling . . . I find I can only get the grease gun on that nipple if the bike is up on both stands, and then barely. Guess I have to reinstall the flex hose on the grease gun.
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Post by ZRX Gremlin on Apr 25, 2006 12:45:57 GMT
Yup, a flexible hose does occasionally have its uses.
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Post by wookierex on Apr 28, 2006 14:53:23 GMT
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