Lets talk Bearings here

bluemonster1

bluemonster1

LIFE MEMBER ONLY ONCE!!!
Joined
Dec 30, 2005
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Howden ,Manitoba,Canada
got my skid out of the SRX.Removed all wheels and removed all the bearings to check on them,clean and re-pack with grease.One bearing was totally seized up,it was from one of the marginal wheels.Three idler bearings were making a little noise.So replaced them with others I have laying around.There were some older style bearings there made in China...them are the ones making some noise,but not seized..but am changing them.If the bearings spins freely and no rust in them,I simply will re-pack them and re-install them.It is a bit of a pain to do all this work,but is it normal to do this every season?? I bet there are a lot of sleds out there with original bearings that have more then 5000 miles that haven't been changed.I call it preventative maintenance.Had a few with seals that were torn and changed them from spare bearings.Never thow out your old bearing,they and the seals come in handy some day.Just my 2 cents on Bearings
 

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Any one ever try running vxb bearings? Or any other aftermarket bearings? They are a fraction of the price.
 
hey blue, the big black wheels at the very top how you get them off?, puller or put the suspension bolt in the end and tap them off
 
When I took those black wheels off I first took the clip out and removed the rubber part leaving the berring on the rod. Then using a berring puller I removed the berring. That way you don't ruin the rubber part of the wheel trying to get it off.
 
that is the right way..tried tapping the axle off but no go.So did what SRXWHERRY said.But do remember once or twice tapping it off while still in the sled in order to cahange transfer rod.But it would not move this time around while on the floor braced with a block with hole drilled thru it for opposite on of shaft to slide down into.to flatten out the axle end a bit,even with washers and an old bolt in the threads...so stopped and removed clip on the back and pulled bearing with puller.
 
only changed 1 w-arm front bushing this time.Others are good.Only thing I noticed last night the bracket that holds the w-arm to rails has play in them,so will change them today.I have a question abiout the limiter stra.ps.With mine adjusted to 32mm of thread on the end,the straps are loose.Is this normal or do I snug it up until the straps are snug????Maybe this will change when skid is back in the sled..but don't see it.I have the right straps because the part number either for the SXR,XTC or SRX are the same.Only w-arm on the SRX has the bolt bracket for the straps welded lower down.About 4 " down from the inside of the w-arm measuring upward.The SXR and XTC are about 2.5" .Why is this different anyways,no wander the straps are loser..don't get it... :o|
 
Another thing I noticed with the grease in the bearings,the regular low temp grease was present but lacking in some.A couple of bearings from last years repacking I used synthetic grease from a tube and that grease is translucent in color and that grease was still packed in there nicely.So I will go with the synthetic again and found out it is harder to wash out compared to the other grease.The synthetic grease says on the tube is good to -28 C which is good.I like the stuff because it is not dirty looking and seems to be a thicker consistency also.... ;)!
 
I have been using the VXB bearings in several sleds now for a couple seasons. They seem to be lasting as well as other standard bearings. The NTN Formula Blue bearing is great and generally last longer, but buying 100 of them gets quite expensive so I am starting to use cheaper alternatives.
 
Basically I check the existing ones to see if they are seized or rusty and out they go .The good ones I clean and re=packed them.Saves me more money.Same amount of work basically..have to get the wheels off anyways..right.I would do this for several seasons and then replace them all one year and do the re-pack all over again for a several years...by that time I'll be in my 70's and won't gave a damn...lmao!!!!!
 
I am still using the original bearings on my 2000 SXr with 7000 miles.
Clean & repack every year.
 
Nothing wrong with cleaning and repacking. The problem is that many sleds I work on do not get serviced until the bearings are shot.
 
I believe you Ding.But the previous owners aren't doing any maintenance themselves then.A sled is driven thru harsh conditions,water,salt,gravel or sand,mud,cold temps..etc.The bearings on the skid are always subjected to these elements and should be checked at least once evry 2 seasons..depending on mileage ridden mind you.I had 1 bearing totally seized solid on one marginal wheel and it was greased up before season start.|Each to their own I guess.Same goes with guys who never clean carbs..but that is another thread...
 
I buy a sleave of 10 brg's for less than $30.They're not NTN'S(which I don't think are any better anyway),but are not offshore either.I don't have the time or inclination to be cleaning and repacking brg's so for that kind of money I just bang in as many new ones as I need every year.I only go over the skid in the fall and have never had a problem over the winter.Up until 2 years ago I was averaging 3,000 miles a season on this sled.

P.S.If you pull a seal out of any new brg(NTN included) there is barely enough grease in it to see,so not much wonder the water and crap get in them.
 
srxr700 said:
Any one ever try running vxb bearings? Or any other aftermarket bearings? They are a fraction of the price.
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garbadge ..garbage and u better use your old bearing befoire buying that stuff
 
TrueBlue said:
I am still using the original bearings on my 2000 SXr with 7000 miles.
Clean & repack every year.
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X2 Clean and repack every year. Wish the people i bought my sled from last year would have followe that rule. One did the other didnt. CCC
 
Snowsnake said:
I buy a sleave of 10 brg's for less than $30.They're not NTN'S(which I don't think are any better anyway),but are not offshore either.I don't have the time or inclination to be cleaning and repacking brg's so for that kind of money I just bang in as many new ones as I need every year.I only go over the skid in the fall and have never had a problem over the winter.Up until 2 years ago I was averaging 3,000 miles a season on this sled.

P.S.If you pull a seal out of any new brg(NTN included) there is barely enough grease in it to see,so not much wonder the water and crap get in them.
Click to expand...

Same here a sleave for $27, go through everything and get it over with. It's time vs. money. How long does it take to repack bearings...way too long. You can make enough money to buy a sleave and change them all out for a fraction.
 
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