Author Topic: Rear hub bearing install question CB500/4  (Read 1124 times)

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Offline Cevan

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Rear hub bearing install question CB500/4
« on: February 23, 2025, 07:52:47 AM »
I am installing new bearings in the rear hub. I have the smaller right side bearing fully seated. The two collars   are installed, and I have the larger left side bearing installed most of the way I think. The depth of the retainer is about 13.4 mm. The bearing is seated in about a 10.8 mm. I presume I have more to go in terms of pressing it in. Just looking for advice as to how to get it seated in fully.

1972 CB500/4
1974 CT70

Offline bryanj

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Re: Rear hub bearing install question CB500/4
« Reply #1 on: February 23, 2025, 08:47:03 AM »
You may have pushed the other side in a bit too far,  only thing i can suggest is a BIG socket that bears on the outer race and drift in til its definately home all the way.
Dont forget the sprocket carrier goes on before the retainer complete with its bearing and spacer
Semi Geriatric ex-Honda mechanic and MOT tester (UK version of annual inspection). Garage full of "projects" mostly 500/4 from pre 73 (no road tax in UK).

Remember "Its always in the last place you look" COURSE IT IS YOU STOP LOOKIN THEN!

Offline Cevan

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Re: Rear hub bearing install question CB500/4
« Reply #2 on: February 23, 2025, 09:52:15 AM »
You may have pushed the other side in a bit too far,  only thing i can suggest is a BIG socket that bears on the outer race and drift in til its definately home all the way.
Dont forget the sprocket carrier goes on before the retainer complete with its bearing and spacer

Yes you’re right, I forgot to take into account the sprocket carrier.  Both bearings appear to have shelfs built into the hub so that they can only go in so far so can I just drive them both in until they bottom out?
1972 CB500/4
1974 CT70

Offline HondaMan

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Re: Rear hub bearing install question CB500/4
« Reply #3 on: February 23, 2025, 11:01:37 AM »
The brake-side bearing goes in LAST. Install the sprocket-side bearing fully to its seat, then install the threaded retainer collar, THEN install the axle spacer and the brake-side bearings - it may stick out slightly, because the new bearings my be ISO-compliant instead of JIS-style, which means it will stick up about 1mm maximum (usually more like 0.2mm),
See SOHC4shop.com for info about the gadgets I make for these bikes.

The demons are repulsed when a man does good. Use that.
Blood is thicker than water, but motor oil is thicker yet...so, don't mess with my SOHC4, or I might have to hurt you.
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Link to Hondaman Ignition: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=67543.0

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Offline Cevan

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Re: Rear hub bearing install question CB500/4
« Reply #4 on: February 23, 2025, 03:27:26 PM »
Damn.  Looks like I’m gonna destroy at least one of these bearings.  Oh well. Live and learn.
1972 CB500/4
1974 CT70

Offline HondaMan

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Re: Rear hub bearing install question CB500/4
« Reply #5 on: February 23, 2025, 07:18:09 PM »
Damn.  Looks like I’m gonna destroy at least one of these bearings.  Oh well. Live and learn.
Destroy?
They can take some [light] hammering, no troubles. It's when the sledge comes out that they get damaged. ;)
See SOHC4shop.com for info about the gadgets I make for these bikes.

The demons are repulsed when a man does good. Use that.
Blood is thicker than water, but motor oil is thicker yet...so, don't mess with my SOHC4, or I might have to hurt you.
Hondaman's creed: "Bikers are family. Treat them accordingly."

Link to Hondaman Ignition: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=67543.0

Link to My CB750 Book: https://www.lulu.com/search?adult_audience_rating=00&page=1&pageSize=10&q=my+cb750+book
Link to My CB500/CB550 Book: https://www.lulu.com/search?sortBy=RELEVANCE&page=1&q=my+cb550+book&pageSize=10&adult_audience_rating=00
Link to website: https://sohc4shop.com/  (Note: no longer at www.SOHC4shop.com, moved off WWW. in 2024).

Offline bryanj

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Re: Rear hub bearing install question CB500/4
« Reply #6 on: February 23, 2025, 09:49:30 PM »
Ifvyou drift the big bearing with a big socket on the outer race the internal collar will move the smaller bearing which has a less tight fit, as Hondaman says they will take a light load just not a big twack
Semi Geriatric ex-Honda mechanic and MOT tester (UK version of annual inspection). Garage full of "projects" mostly 500/4 from pre 73 (no road tax in UK).

Remember "Its always in the last place you look" COURSE IT IS YOU STOP LOOKIN THEN!

Offline Little_Phil

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Re: Rear hub bearing install question CB500/4
« Reply #7 on: February 24, 2025, 02:21:40 AM »
Some heat will help.

Offline Oddjob

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Re: Rear hub bearing install question CB500/4
« Reply #8 on: February 24, 2025, 06:56:41 AM »
Don't forget to fit the D shaped oring before installing the sprocket carrier and you MUST grease the inner bushing of the sprocket carrier or it will wear out and deform quite quickly, it's the bit that slides on that nice shiny surface on the outside of the bearing. They oval out when not greased and that's it trashed. There is some debate regarding which way round the D shaped oring fits, flat side out or curved side out, you'd think flat side out but any picture I've found of the ring NOS shows it's been made with flat side in, which sort of sounds like that's the way it's meant to be fitted. You can't even really on people who say it was one way or the other when they removed the carrier as it can easily flip as the carrier is pulled off. I fit mine flat side down, stops it flipping and why have a flat side if not to go against the flat side of the fitment groove is my opinion.

Don't also forget to install that odd bush that sits inside the sprocket side bearing, it fits inside the hub before the spacer. It's called Axle Collar B by Honda, 42625-283-000. If it's damaged there are some stainless steel copies I asked a former member to make available on Ebay, great job he did of them too.

Offline Cevan

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Re: Rear hub bearing install question CB500/4
« Reply #9 on: February 24, 2025, 07:15:21 AM »
Well I got the bearings out and they appear to spin as new but can't help but think I comprised them by hitting the inner races.

Duly noted about the two collars.  I did have those installed correctly.   

Having a little trouble sourcing the D shaped o-ring.  Mine was broken in pieces when I disassembled the wheel.  Have only found them on Ebay but haven't been able to confirm they are the actual o-ring witht he D shape cross-section.  I do have 2.62mm x 77.5mm o-rings that do fit.   Wondering if these will work.
1972 CB500/4
1974 CT70

Offline bryanj

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Re: Rear hub bearing install question CB500/4
« Reply #10 on: February 24, 2025, 08:16:00 AM »
Those D rings have been obsolete a long time, a memer on the uk forum but in europe had some made but dont know if he has any left
Semi Geriatric ex-Honda mechanic and MOT tester (UK version of annual inspection). Garage full of "projects" mostly 500/4 from pre 73 (no road tax in UK).

Remember "Its always in the last place you look" COURSE IT IS YOU STOP LOOKIN THEN!

Offline HondaMan

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Re: Rear hub bearing install question CB500/4
« Reply #11 on: February 24, 2025, 08:49:11 AM »
Well I got the bearings out and they appear to spin as new but can't help but think I comprised them by hitting the inner races.

Duly noted about the two collars.  I did have those installed correctly.   

Having a little trouble sourcing the D shaped o-ring.  Mine was broken in pieces when I disassembled the wheel.  Have only found them on Ebay but haven't been able to confirm they are the actual o-ring witht he D shape cross-section.  I do have 2.62mm x 77.5mm o-rings that do fit.   Wondering if these will work.

Yep, those will work: the original was just a normal O-ring. The installation chamber and years made them D-shaped.
See SOHC4shop.com for info about the gadgets I make for these bikes.

The demons are repulsed when a man does good. Use that.
Blood is thicker than water, but motor oil is thicker yet...so, don't mess with my SOHC4, or I might have to hurt you.
Hondaman's creed: "Bikers are family. Treat them accordingly."

Link to Hondaman Ignition: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=67543.0

Link to My CB750 Book: https://www.lulu.com/search?adult_audience_rating=00&page=1&pageSize=10&q=my+cb750+book
Link to My CB500/CB550 Book: https://www.lulu.com/search?sortBy=RELEVANCE&page=1&q=my+cb550+book&pageSize=10&adult_audience_rating=00
Link to website: https://sohc4shop.com/  (Note: no longer at www.SOHC4shop.com, moved off WWW. in 2024).

Offline bryanj

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Re: Rear hub bearing install question CB500/4
« Reply #12 on: February 24, 2025, 08:59:40 AM »
Sorry Mark the original part was definately a D ring, i had a bag of several NOS about 12 years ago, long gone now to various members.
Only reason i can see for it being that shape is to stop it rolling over when fitting the carrier
Semi Geriatric ex-Honda mechanic and MOT tester (UK version of annual inspection). Garage full of "projects" mostly 500/4 from pre 73 (no road tax in UK).

Remember "Its always in the last place you look" COURSE IT IS YOU STOP LOOKIN THEN!

Offline Oddjob

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Re: Rear hub bearing install question CB500/4
« Reply #13 on: February 24, 2025, 10:10:14 AM »
I think I still have a spare D ring Cevan, I seem to recall you're in the UK? If so PM on the UK forum and we'll take it from there, if I still have a spare of course. I bought 5 when the Euro member had them made, they weren't cheap but not expensive either, around £9 with P&P IIRC, might be wrong. I didn't need 5 but I did know others would need them before long, so I stocked up.

He can still get them made IIRC, well that was a couple of years ago he said that, maybe I should ask him to get some more made.

They are 100% D shaped Mark, if you study a picture of the part you can see the flat side, it faces inward so you'd imagine that's the way it fits.

Offline HondaMan

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Re: Rear hub bearing install question CB500/4
« Reply #14 on: February 24, 2025, 11:02:37 AM »
Ah. You're talking about the one inside?
My mistake: I was thinking of the one under the sprocket.  ::)
I've never changed the one inside!
See SOHC4shop.com for info about the gadgets I make for these bikes.

The demons are repulsed when a man does good. Use that.
Blood is thicker than water, but motor oil is thicker yet...so, don't mess with my SOHC4, or I might have to hurt you.
Hondaman's creed: "Bikers are family. Treat them accordingly."

Link to Hondaman Ignition: http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=67543.0

Link to My CB750 Book: https://www.lulu.com/search?adult_audience_rating=00&page=1&pageSize=10&q=my+cb750+book
Link to My CB500/CB550 Book: https://www.lulu.com/search?sortBy=RELEVANCE&page=1&q=my+cb550+book&pageSize=10&adult_audience_rating=00
Link to website: https://sohc4shop.com/  (Note: no longer at www.SOHC4shop.com, moved off WWW. in 2024).

Offline Cevan

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Re: Rear hub bearing install question CB500/4
« Reply #15 on: February 25, 2025, 06:53:36 AM »
I think I still have a spare D ring Cevan, I seem to recall you're in the UK? If so PM on the UK forum and we'll take it from there, if I still have a spare of course. I bought 5 when the Euro member had them made, they weren't cheap but not expensive either, around £9 with P&P IIRC, might be wrong. I didn't need 5 but I did know others would need them before long, so I stocked up.

He can still get them made IIRC, well that was a couple of years ago he said that, maybe I should ask him to get some more made.

They are 100% D shaped Mark, if you study a picture of the part you can see the flat side, it faces inward so you'd imagine that's the way it fits.

I'm in the US.  I tried the 2.62mm x 77.5mm o-ring and it seems to fit nice and snuggly.  Not sure exactly what the purpose of this o-ring is anyways as there are four large holes in the hub between the damper side and the brake side and the brake side is not sealed to the elements. 
1972 CB500/4
1974 CT70

Offline Oddjob

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Re: Rear hub bearing install question CB500/4
« Reply #16 on: February 25, 2025, 07:14:35 AM »
There should be grease on the hub where the sprocket carrier sits, the ring is there to stop any of that grease finding it's way into the brake drum. As the hub heats up due to braking etc that grease becomes more liquid and could quite easily get onto the brake surface, don't forget the centrifugal force at work as well.

Offline Tracksnblades1

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Re: Rear hub bearing install question CB500/4
« Reply #17 on: February 25, 2025, 06:20:22 PM »
You cleaned the hub up nice..😇

Not sure whether you can use heat on yours or not. When it’s an aluminum bore and a bearing, I like to use low heat on the aluminum and freezer on the bearing. They’ll usually fall in and fully seat in the aluminum bore by themselves or pushing by hand..Doesn’t take much heat on aluminum bores due to their greater expansion ratio than the steel bearing..
« Last Edit: February 25, 2025, 06:30:50 PM by Tracksnblades1 »
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