Topic: Cb550 rear wheel bearing install order?

[rosewood]

Hi just a quick question...

When installing new bearings on these bikes is there a correct procedure for the order in which the bearings are installed?

Do install the sprocket or brake side first? The manual doesn't go into this in detail

I am hoping this doesn't matter...

I did the bigger bearing(sprocket side) first but now I'm questioning which side should be seated onto the hub completely..

thanks in advance
rosewood...

[Scott S]

 Whatever you do, don't toss out this spacer with the old bearing! Ask me how I know....




  It's #12 in the diagram and goes on the inside of the wheel.



 I believe the correct order is big bearing (sprocket side) first, followed by all the other parts (cush drive, cover, retaining ring, etc.) and then ...AFTER MAKING SURE #12 IS IN... the other spacer (#11) and then the small bearing.

[DaveBarbier]

I just did the rear bearings in my 550 and the drum side ended up flush while the large side snugged up against the center tabbed spacer. I did the small bearing first so I could still slide in the center spacer. And yeah, hold on to that spacer insert in the above image. Had me confused for a bit then I had to fish out the bearing from my trash can

[my name is nobody]

CHECK THE HUB FIRST AND MAKE SURE THE HOLE IS BIGGER ON THE SPROCKET SIDE.(I cant recall if it is or not but)...STUDY IT FIRST.
If it is, install the sprocket side bearing LAST. that way you can work with the spacers etc. easier
through the larger hole. IIRC, I installed the  sprocket side bearing first, and had a heck of a time
getting the spacers in thru the smaller hole in the drum side. Really a pain if you drop one, as
the smaller hole limits access to anything inside the hub. Someone please correct this if wrong...

Edit:  oops...sorry for being late to the party with my post.

[tlbranth]

The bearing on the side with the retainer goes in first. There's a shoulder in the hub that the bearing has to contact. The spacer goes in next. The second bearing has to be put in veeeery carefully. You want it to just touch the spacer. Too much or too little and the bearings will bind.

[rosewood]

Thanks for all the replies..

So that's 3 people recommend sprocket side first and 1 for drum side. Now I'm second guessing exactly what I did as it was a couple of months ago. It all went together fine with the second bearing just touching the long spacer. it all spins freely on the axle. 

The reason I'm asking is I have a sprocket alignment issue which I'm trying to sort out. If there is reasonable tolerance in the hub for these bearings this may also effect how the hub sits relative to the bearings and spacer and could also have some effect on sprocket/wheel alignment. I'm hoping this tolerance is small so what I'm mentioning is negligible but you never know. (does that all make sense??)

Anyway I've also installed new brake shoes. When I have the wheel assembled on the swing arm and tighten the axle bolt the wheel doesn't spin very freely. I'm not sure if this has something to do with the bearing install or whether its just the new shoes rubbing slightly on the drum. I've read to deg-laze the drum surface with some emerald paper. I'm hoping this frees up the slight binding I'm experiencing.

Is this a common occurrence when installing new brake shoes?

 



       

[flybox1]

The bearing on the side with the retainer goes in first. There's a shoulder in the hub that the bearing has to contact. The spacer goes in next. The second bearing has to be put in veeeery carefully. You want it to just touch the spacer. Too much or too little and the bearings will bind.

^^this +1

[tlbranth]

If you install the bearings the way I outlined, the hub will always be aligned side-to-side because it's position is determined by the shoulder the first bearing snugs up to.
By the way, because the wheel doesn't bind prior to installation doesn't NECESSARILY mean the second bearing is correct. It means you didn't bang the bearing in too far. If you didn't put it in FAR ENOUGH, it'll bind when the axle is tightened up.
If you install the second bearing so it just touches the spacer, there'll be no binding. I find it tricky to get that second one just right. Sounds like you did it though.

[rosewood]

If you install the bearings the way I outlined, the hub will always be aligned side-to-side because it's position is determined by the shoulder the first bearing snugs up to.
By the way, because the wheel doesn't bind prior to installation doesn't NECESSARILY mean the second bearing is correct. It means you didn't bang the bearing in too far. If you didn't put it in FAR ENOUGH, it'll bind when the axle is tightened up.
If you install the second bearing so it just touches the spacer, there'll be no binding. I find it tricky to get that second one just right. Sounds like you did it though.

Thanks tl...that's the info I was looking for. I think I know what to do to double check whats wrong now. I'm just very conscious of tapping that second one in too far and ruining the whole install but I'm confident I got it so it was just touching..

[Scott S]

 And the retainer ring (#3) is reverse thread. And a fine thread at that. Be careful there. Sometimes, the edges around the holes have been peened over slightly.