[JerryH]

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I just discovered the rear wheel on my '85 was one of the bad ones that were recalled way back then, but mine was never fixed. The right side bearing just fell out. I did a lot of research using the search function, and it seems the best way to go is to have the wheel machined and sleeved so the original size bearing will fit properly. The rubber "dampers" on this wheel are in perfect shape, and I would like to save it. Anybody know of a machine shop in AZ, preferably in the Phoenix area, that could do this job?

 

[blackknytecnc]

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I haven't had a lot of machine work done out here, but the two places I've gone is Jane's (I think that's what it's called) in mesa at center and southern (I think) and another place that I can't remember the name of, it's on university east of 24th st near Kaman Bearings, go east on university from 24th and just before the road bends right it's the last or second to last building on the right. I've never had either shop do any machining outside of from scratch stuff, and even then it was a/c's or appliances, but they did good work. There's another place at 43rd aveand Clarendon (south of indian school), it's on the north side of Clerendon east of 43rd, it's a Uhaul joint with a fab shop called AltraFab. The guy's got a machineshop there, but again, I'm not sure how qualified they'd be on a motorcycle wheel. But hey, it's worth checking, right?

Those are the only ones I know of off the top of my head, you might wanna call Bearing Belt and Chain or Kaman and see if they know of a good shop.

 

[Bike...and Dennis]

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Hey Jerry, you can use a GL15 wheel on there, I'm told.
You may be able to get a wheel, from a 12 or 15, from one of the members converting to trike.

 

[JerryH]

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I checked with a place in Mesa called D and D cycles, they install trike kits on Goldwings. They did indeed have some 1500 parts, and would sell me everything I needed, for $600. Not an option. I emailed a guy in Canada named Bob Henshaw, apparently he sells the spacer needed to install the original bearing in the wheel once it has been machined. It would already have the correct inner diameter for the bearing, and the outside diameter would give the machine shop the measurement necessary to machine the hub for a press fit. Now I just need to find a machine shop set up to work on motorcycle wheels. I know a couple of very good machine shops in Mesa (Lopers and Wilkys) both who have done car engine work for me, but they are not equipped to work on an aluminum motorcycle wheel.

At the moment I consider saving the wheel I have to be my only realistic option. I did find the wheel is made of VERY soft aluminum, I was able to quickly remove that ridge with just a piece of plumbers cloth. I also measured the recess in the wheel where the bearing goes, and it is almost perfectly round, and with no taper. Amazing since that bearing has likely been in there for nearly 100,000 miles. There is no sign of heat damage, and no scoring. I'm almost tempted to just replace the bearings, and go ahead and ride it. It would probably hold up just running around locally, until I can find a more permanent solution.

 

[blackknytecnc]

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I'm almost tempted to just replace the bearings, and go ahead and ride it.

If there's no visible damage or excesive wear, that's what I'd do.

 

[JerryH]

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There is excessive clearance between the bearing and hub, which I am assuming is wear, but I'm also assuming this is the original bearing, as it is a non sealed type, and if so, it has been in there for 93,000 miles. It's too bad they don't make some type of thin liquid, like locktite, that you could pour into the space between the bearing and hub, that would harden. Locktite will not harden in the presence of air. I was able to center the bearing in the hub with the ends of 4 small zip ties, at 12:00,3:00,6:00, and 9:00

This wheel is made of such soft metal, if I had some kind of lathe to mount it in, I could probably machine it myself. It is sandable just like wood.

 

[ceasefire49]

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Jerry I have an extra Rear wheel. It has an old elite II on it but the wheel itself appears to be okay. If you want it you can come out and get it. PM me or call me at 928 202 4905. I live just south of the Johnson Ranch area just past AZ Farms Road and on the Oasis Golf Course.

 

[ceasefire49]

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By the way..I just sent a spacer to some one here in Phoenix that machined one himself patterned after the one I sent him.

He said he did it himself and is sending the original back to me. Handle on here is deacon883

 

[ceasefire49]

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By the way no charge on the wheel..Just Pay it forward when you can.

 

[Parvin]

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Its called State Industrial, they have done a lot of work for me go see Bobby the shop forman

 

[Parvin]

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blackknytecnc wrote:

I haven't had a lot of machine work done out here, but the two places I've gone is Jane's (I think that's what it's called) in mesa at center and southern (I think) and another place that I can't remember the name of, it's on university east of 24th st near Kaman Bearings, go east on university from 24th and just before the road bends right it's the last or second to last building on the right. I've never had either shop do any machining outside of from scratch stuff, and even then it was a/c's or appliances, but they did good work. There's another place at 43rd aveand Clarendon (south of indian school), it's on the north side of Clerendon east of 43rd, it's a Uhaul joint with a fab shop called AltraFab. The guy's got a machineshop there, but again, I'm not sure how qualified they'd be on a motorcycle wheel. But hey, it's worth checking, right?

Those are the only ones I know of off the top of my head, you might wanna call Bearing Belt and Chain or Kaman and see if they know of a good shop.

State Idustrial on Univarsity just east of 24th st

 

[blackknytecnc]

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State Idustrial

Yep, that's the one, I thought it was State-something, but it's been 3 or 4 years so I wasn't sure.

 

[JerryH]

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I found a website for this place, they do not answer the phone, but this IS Saturday. It looks like from their website they mostly deal with commercial customers. Do they deal with just individual customers?

Several places where I get A/C parts will only sell to customers who have commercial accounts with them, as my employer does.

 

[AZgl1800]

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ceasefire49 wrote:

Jerry I have an extra Rear wheel. It has an old elite II on it but the wheel itself appears to be okay. If you want it you can come out and get it. PM me or call me at 928 202 4905. I live just south of the Johnson Ranch area just past AZ Farms Road and on the Oasis Golf Course.

Hey JerryH,

did you overlook this post?

sounds like a deal on a wheel to me.

 

[JerryH]

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No, I DEFINITELY saw that one. I have sent a PM to ceasefire, and left a message on his voicemail. Haven't heard back yet.

But I am determined to fix my rear wheel anyway. If I can get the one from ceasefire, I can just take more time doing it, then give him his wheel back, or if he doesn't want it, give it to someone else in need of a wheel.

 

[blackknytecnc]

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It looks like from their website they mostly deal with commercial customers.

Yeah, that's how they prefer to do things, but money talks. Our company only went there a couple times, but we never set up an account, they just treated us as cash customers. You'll find most companies will do that, I know ARS will, and if you know the guys at Johnstones, they'll do it too.

 

[JerryH]

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Ok, will just have to call them and see. I know ARS will sometimes sell to customers off the street, but I have never seen Johnstone do it. I have seen them refuse to sell to customers without an account, especially at their location on Hampton in Mesa. I don't even like going in there. They seem incompetent, and are never in a hurry to wait on their customers. There used to be a woman who worked there who knew more than all the guys put together.

 

[kirkcdl]

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I haven't seen anyone suggest a bearing supplier.Could you just replace the bearing with a bearing that fits the larger hole?All you would need is the ID of the original bearing and OD of the hole on the hub....Might even last longer than the stock bearing,as it would have slightlylarger rollers...

 

[Ken Bergen]

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kirkcdl wrote:

I haven't seen anyone suggest a bearing supplier.Could you just replace the bearing with a bearing that fits the larger hole?All you would need is the ID of the original bearing and OD of the hole on the hub....Might even last longer than the stock bearing,as it would have slightlylarger rollers...

The next size is the 6304 from the left side, 5mm larger diameter and 1mm deeper.

@ Jerry, I know of two big machine shops and at least one small one with big enough lathes to do the work in the small town I live in and they all take walk ins. Surely in Phoenix there must one.:?

Once you find one talk to the machinist and ask him which he thinks is the best, sleeving for an origanal bearing or deepening and widening for the larger bearing. I would be shocked if it cost you more than ½hr labour.

 

[blackknytecnc]

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especially at their location on Hampton in Mesa

Yeah, like I said, they have to know you, but usually if they do they're ok, but you have to be careful in that mesa store, they're not on hampton anymore I don't think, haven't been for a few years, unless they moved back. But they've really gone to hell since that overzealous jack ass took over as GM, he scared off all the good employees and brought in a bunch of pencil pushers who'd be just as effective as a cashier at Fry's. I don't even thinkSean works there anymore.

Anyway, give state industrial a ring on monday, I'm pretty sure they're closed on weekends, and they may even close around 3 or 4 on weekdays. But worst case they tell you they're not equiped for it.

I typed in "motorcycle machine shop" on Dex and got back a few hits in Phoenix and Mesa,they all said "Harley"specialists, but theyshould be able to doa GL too. After all, if they'reHarley specialists, they know all about engineering defects (sorry, couldn't resist).