final drive temperature

blueten

New Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2020
Messages
22
Location
Washington DC
I recently replaced two bearings of my rear wheel, I bought the bearings from parzilla and after replacing the bearings when I went to put the wheel back on, the axel was just a little bit tighter going in through the new bearing on the brake side than the original one. With the old bearings I was able to pull the axel out with just my hands but with the new bearings I had to use a hammer to *lightly* tap the axel back in. After tightening all bolts from what I can feel just spinning the wheel by hand it rotated without any noticeable resistance, very minor resistance is there because of brake like before.

After I put the wheel back together the first thing that seemed different was that with old bearings whenever I had the bike on center stand and engine running in neutral, the rear wheel used to rotate very very slowly but continuously, after changing the bearings the wheel do not rotate anymore, so it seems there is just a little bit more resistance than before.

Additionally after taking the bike for a quick 30 miles ride, when I checked the temperature of the final drive cover with my hand, it was hot enough that I could not hold it with my bare hands for more than a second or two. I never though of feeling the final drive temperature after a 30-40ish minute ride so I'm not sure if this temperature is unusually high or expected.

So my actual question is this, could anyone check and confirm if it is usual for the final drive housing to become hot enough after a 30 minute ride that you cannot hold it with bare hands for more than a second or two. Or does it remain much cooler than that.

TLDR - replaced bearings and now I am suspecting that final drive is getting too hot because of extra resistance.
 

Checkswrecks

Ungenear to broked stuff
Staff member
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11,489
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Damascus, MD
I recently replaced two bearings of my rear wheel, I bought the bearings from parzilla and after replacing the bearings when I went to put the wheel back on, the axel was just a little bit tighter going in through the new bearing on the brake side than the original one. With the old bearings I was able to pull the axel out with just my hands but with the new bearings I had to use a hammer to *lightly* tap the axel back in. After tightening all bolts from what I can feel just spinning the wheel by hand it rotated without any noticeable resistance, very minor resistance is there because of brake like before.

After I put the wheel back together the first thing that seemed different was that with old bearings whenever I had the bike on center stand and engine running in neutral, the rear wheel used to rotate very very slowly but continuously, after changing the bearings the wheel do not rotate anymore, so it seems there is just a little bit more resistance than before.

Additionally after taking the bike for a quick 30 miles ride, when I checked the temperature of the final drive cover with my hand, it was hot enough that I could not hold it with my bare hands for more than a second or two. I never though of feeling the final drive temperature after a 30-40ish minute ride so I'm not sure if this temperature is unusually high or expected.

So my actual question is this, could anyone check and confirm if it is usual for the final drive housing to become hot enough after a 30 minute ride that you cannot hold it with bare hands for more than a second or two. Or does it remain much cooler than that.

TLDR - replaced bearings and now I am suspecting that final drive is getting too hot because of extra resistance.
They definitely get too hot to put a hand on.
 

blueten

New Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2020
Messages
22
Location
Washington DC
Thanks a lot for all the replies, makes me feel much better that I didn't screw things up. I was initially thinking that I'll have to replace the bearing again else I'll damage the drive.
 

WJBertrand

Ventura Highway
Joined
Jun 20, 2015
Messages
4,516
Location
Ventura, CA
The amount of heat any bearing friction contributes to the overall temperature of the final drive is insignificant to the friction and heat generated by the gears meshing.


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