Topic: Replacing rear wheel bearings a bit tougher than I expected.

[Ambrose Erkenswick]

So I’m chooglin along with my 74 CB550k build.

Latest projects have been the wheels, back and front, pretty much complete rebuilding. Once I received some new parts I began disassembling them (found lots of rust under the tires), and found myself going down a rabbit hole working off 45 years of dust and grime. Front wheel is done, replaced bearing and spokes. Ended up destroying the bearing retainer as I removed it, thankfully found a replacement. However with the rear hub/retainer I am currently stuck. There are no replacements that I have found online, and I have yet to get it to budge. Ive drilled the peens, let it sit overnight with PB blaster, heat first with the heat gun and then with a torch. Ive drilled and tapped two holes 180 degrees from each other into the retainer to use as a pry point (no specialty bearing retainer tools here), but i havent gotten it to move at all. Ive tried using a punch to get it to budge. Nothing. Anything im missing? Anyone else have this issue? Would appreciate any tips and tricks! Not many videos out there on this topic for this specific model or year.



Thanks! Happy riding. Wear those helmets! Too many idiots on the road.


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[ralt12]

https://4into1.com/rear-wheel-left-bearing-retainer-41231-323-020-honda-cb500-cb550/
Got mine from these guys...
FWIW, it takes about ten minutes to get the hub heated up enough, the guy in the video has it right, 5-7 minutes won't do it.

[calj737]

An electric heat gun won’t do sh!t to heat up that mass of aluminum. Propane at a minimum, MAPP gas is preferred.

[przjohn]

Maybe it is the pic but I don’t see any punch marks or drill marks on thar retainer. Maybe a PO Loctited  it instead? You need a torch.

[Just John]

I put my hub in an old roaster oven at 350 degrees.  Removed the retained with little effort and the bearings fell out.

[Rocketman]

Um, unless I’m mistaken isn’t that a left hand thread?

[Just John]

I have an old turkey roaster that I use for heating parts.  Wheel hubs fit just fine. At 350 degrees the old bearings will fall out.  I found the roaster at a yard sale for $20 and it had worked fine for 20 years.

[Erwin83]

Um, unless I’m mistaken isn’t that a left hand thread?

Unless a 550 is different than a 500, yes, it is!
So in this case, righty loosy, lefty tighty 

[MCRider]

Um, unless I’m mistaken isn’t that a left hand thread?

Unless a 550 is different than a 500, yes, it is!
So in this case, righty loosy, lefty tighty 

That's what I thought, too. Different than a CB750 or most other bikes.

[MCRider]

Um, unless I’m mistaken isn’t that a left hand thread?

Unless a 550 is different than a 500, yes, it is!
So in this case, righty loosy, lefty tighty 

That's what I thought, too. Different than a CB750 or most other bikes.

[RAFster122s]

David Silvers Spares has a rear retainer tool that works well if it fits the existing four holes in the retainer. I had bought one but it was off by a small amount and all four pins would not align with the holes, only able to get three to engage. It was enough to remove the retainer. They took it back and pulled them until the supplier fixed the issue.

[MauiK3]

My K3 gave me the same fits. I ended up using a 3 foot long cheater and lots of clamps to a bench to move it. If I ever need to take it apart again I may look for a different hub, I swear my hub feels as thought the threads were not cut correctly. I may try to find a thread file some day to have on hand.
It was one of the toughest jobs of my project.