I have an 07 Rancher. I use it Mon-Fri for work about 8 hours a day. I posted not to long ago about the front tires having some play in them. Then I posted that I got them to tighten up by putting new wheel bearings in and packing grease around the bearings real good.

Well it all did good for a while. The problem I have now is about every two weeks I have to pull the tire off, take the brake caliber off and take a grease needle and put grease back into the tire. And I shouldn't have to do that.

Is there a thicker grease that Honda uses to make it last longer? What else could be wrong? Like I said once you fill it with grease it is tight as it was when the day i bought it.

Any help would greatly be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

What brand bearings did you use? Front wheel bearings should not need any grease. If you are getting play in them again, the bearings need replaced again!

 

I used all ***** wheel bearing. I even took the blue seal out of the bearing and packed them better than what they came from the factory. Then put the blue seal back in and packed grease inbetween the dust seals and the wheel bearings. Then once it was all back together i took a grease needle on a grease gun and put a little more in there.

Like I said once you get it all put back together it is like it is brand new. You ride it for a week and the play is back.

What is the best bearings to use? I use this atv everyday and need it to be running good as there are times that I am 20 miles from the truck.

Thanks.

 

I don't ride Honda, but I would guess that all wheel bearings are similar in design. I understand your concern...I get close to 100 miles from the truck at times (a bad time for a breakdown). I have used All ***** bearings and can tell you that I have had no luck with them! I got 100 miles out of them at one point and they were shot again. Buy OEM bearings...they cost three times as much and last much longer...if nothing else you don't have to tear it down as often! Now...you may call your local dealer about install...not to have them do it, but to get some info. Yamaha does not recommend grease in the bearing or in the hub...maybe Honda is different or maybe I have missed something somewhere along the line. I would try to gather some info, order OEM bearings and be done messing with it! Oh yeah and keep us updated on what you learn about grease!

 

Will do. I am about 70 miles from the dealership so it maybe a day or two before I can get there to get some. Will let you all know what I find out about grease. I know i have the service manual for my rancher and it shows to put grease inbetween the dust seals and the bearing. Not unless i read it wrong.

 

If you are 70 miles from your dealership, I would order online (they will mail directly to your house)...I usually use cheapcycleparts.com for OEM parts...if your service manual is calling for grease then I would say grease it up...an email to your dealer will probably get a response (at least I always get a response from my locals)...I know that my local dealership doesn't stock OEM wheel bearings so you may check before you just drive there and hope you can pick them up!

 

K will do. Thanks for all the help and I will give you an update when i find something out.

 

What grease are you using, what speeds are you driving?

Think of grease like you are walking on a beach. You are walking on the dry sand and you get a liltte bit on you, you will start to chaff and get rubbed raw, this is like not having any grease and the seals are bad, now walk a little into the water it is keeping you a little cooler and for a lack of a better term providing lubrication. Now go out waist deep and you will now have to work harder and you will start to get hot even though you are in water. The same thing happens with grease. If you have too little it will allow metal to metal contact and if you have too much it will cause them to heat up and be more likely to slide the rolling elements on the races than have them roll like designed. This is even more true the faster you drive. But from what you have said, it sounds like you are in water over your head if you want to compare it to the amount of grease you are using.

I would say your first set were worn out and the grease tighened them up, you then over greased the new ones and then they trashed themselves prematurely from the excessive grease. Try new bearings, but don't over do it on the grease.

 

K thanks for the help. I will try that. I am riding at slow speeds. It is usually checking fence line and things like that. I am going to go get some new bearings in the next couple days i think. Again thanks for the help.

 

Ordered bearings and seals last week. Actually we ahead and got the knuckle kit. Comes with knuckle, bearings, seals and one ball joint for $70, or you could buy just one bearing for $45. So thought the knuckle kit was a better deal. Got the other ball joint also. Might as well change them since it will be tore a part. Anything else I may need to change while I got it tore down this far?