are wheel bearings a warrenty item?

m800mm · 03-19-2012, 07:26 AM

Hey all I was 20 miles from home when my 2011 990 dakar
shuttered for a second then I slowed down to 10-15 mgh and
it felt like I was on a grooved pavement, the bike pitching
left to right, I stopped and put it on the center stand and
rolled the wheels they seemed ok but the rear had a little
play, so I nursed it home. The bike has 5500 mile
and never in water I know the chain needs slack I did
adjust it awhile back maybe to tight. I haven,t taken it apart
yet because I wanted some opinions from you all.

THANK

Unstable Rider · 03-19-2012, 07:31 AM

I see your point, but I think they are going to consider them a "consumable" type of thing, like with chain wear and tires. Bearings not terribly spendy for my bike, but it is a pain to have to fix one more thing.

Some bikes come with unsealed wheel bearings yet, and are more prone to issue. I dont know about yours though.

DirtyADV · 03-19-2012, 01:06 PM

My 950 from -04 at least had sealed wheel bearings.

And guess they are called consumable and not covered.

If there is play in the wheel double check that its not loose spokes, that I would complain about should that be the case.

/Johan

Gustavo.Ramos · 03-19-2012, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m800mm

Hey all I was 20 miles from home when my 2011 990 dakar
shuttered for a second then I slowed down to 10-15 mgh and
it felt like I was on a grooved pavement, the bike pitching
left to right, I stopped and put it on the center stand and
rolled the wheels they seemed ok but the rear had a little
play, so I nursed it home. The bike has 5500 mile
and never in water I know the chain needs slack I did
adjust it awhile back maybe to tight. I haven,t taken it apart
yet because I wanted some opinions from you all.

THANK

Dunno, but i work for an automaker in the warranty dept, and in base warranty everything is covered except if it is past due replacement. Bearings are not serviceable, hence they should be covered by warranty.... but i'm no ktm specialist.

m800mm · 03-19-2012, 01:24 PM

Well I tried to take the axle out and it appears the bearings are
froze to the axle, I took a piece of wood and hammer and it will not budge
anyone have any suggestions? Also called the local dealer and KTMUSA
and nobody has called back yet.

v8toilet · 03-19-2012, 01:59 PM

I would at least see if they can help out. While it may be consumable if it failed prematurely it should be replaced.

Unless subjected to fairly harsh use or abuse a modern bearing should last more than 5,500 miles. Of course if you pressure wash your bike with detergents any lubricants in the bearings could be compromised leading to early failure without much external evidence.

m800mm · 04-14-2012, 05:40 AM

well the good news is they did warrenty, they put 2 new bearings, seal, snap ring,
spacer and spindle. but they couldn't give me any reason why. was there a bad
batch of bearings?

grinns · 04-14-2012, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m800mm

well the good news is they did warrenty, they put 2 new bearings, seal, snap ring,
spacer and spindle. but they couldn't give me any reason why. was there a bad
batch of bearings?

My bearings have 20k and do not have any apparent play...

motomark39 · 04-14-2012, 09:54 AM

Froze to the axle? probably heat treated to the axle from that chain being too tight

m800mm · 04-14-2012, 12:07 PM

Yes I thought the chain might have been too tight but it was
the right side bearing that failed, go figure?

erappaport · 06-11-2012, 11:37 AM

What are folks getting for life out of wheel bearings? I'm at 22K, no obvious problems, but it's time for tires and I was thinking about whether I ought to do them while the wheels are off...

geometrician · 06-11-2012, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m800mm

was there a bad batch of bearings?

Nope...

Quote:

Originally Posted by m800mm

I know the chain needs slack I did adjust it awhile back maybe to tight.

There's your answer- if it's tight enough to notice when you are checking it, it is even tighter as the bike's rear swingarm moves through its suspension travel- sometimes to the point of limiting how far the rear end can travel

Worst case scenario you would have lost the output bearing on your countershaft & that would require splitting the cases, a very spendy proposition on the LC8

I've had to rebuild several engines over the years from too-tight of a chain, so you should be glad KTM NA warranteed this for you... you still may have damaged the bearing- they can't take that much stress. Your saving grace is the engine oil helped take away the massive amount of frictional heat being created there. Hard to tell with the chain & sprocket in place & the engine together if the bearing is going to give you trouble...

NJEnduroBiker · 06-12-2012, 08:24 PM

I had a similar problem with the front wheel on my 07 SE. I had the bike for about a year and when I attempted to remove the front wheel for the first time to change the tire, the axle would not budge. I was tempted to take the "find a bigger hammer" approach but figured I'd check with the dealer first. They ended up warrantying new bearings and a new axle. I don't remember them giving much of an explanation and I was just happy I didn't have to pay. I had not done much wet riding and only had a couple thousand miles on the bike. I've changed tires a few times since and have had no problems.

03-19-2012, 07:26 AM	#1
m800mm ^OP Adventurer Joined: Oct 2010 Oddometer: 65	are wheel bearings a warrenty item? Hey all I was 20 miles from home when my 2011 990 dakar shuttered for a second then I slowed down to 10-15 mgh and it felt like I was on a grooved pavement, the bike pitching left to right, I stopped and put it on the center stand and rolled the wheels they seemed ok but the rear had a little play, so I nursed it home. The bike has 5500 mile and never in water I know the chain needs slack I did adjust it awhile back maybe to tight. I haven,t taken it apart yet because I wanted some opinions from you all. THANK

03-19-2012, 07:31 AM	#2
Unstable Rider World Wide Inmate Joined: Jul 2010 Location: 10,000 Lakes Oddometer: 2,112	I see your point, but I think they are going to consider them a "consumable" type of thing, like with chain wear and tires. Bearings not terribly spendy for my bike, but it is a pain to have to fix one more thing. Some bikes come with unsealed wheel bearings yet, and are more prone to issue. I dont know about yours though. __________________ ´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸ ><((((((º> `·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸ ><((((º> ´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸ ><((((((º> Everything happens for a reason. "Still seeking the reason"

03-19-2012, 01:06 PM	#3
DirtyADV Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jan 2007 Location: SWEDEN, Skellefteå Oddometer: 1,433	My 950 from -04 at least had sealed wheel bearings. And guess they are called consumable and not covered. If there is play in the wheel double check that its not loose spokes, that I would complain about should that be the case. /Johan __________________ Have changed name, was previously Dirty950 www.dirtyadv.com (under construction)

04-14-2012, 09:54 AM	#9
motomark39 I reckon so Joined: Feb 2007 Location: Odenville, Alabama Oddometer: 1,037	heated Froze to the axle? probably heat treated to the axle from that chain being too tight __________________ 2006 KTM 640 Adventure 2013 HusabergTE300

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: .
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

03-19-2012, 01:24 PM	#5
m800mm ^OP Adventurer Joined: Oct 2010 Oddometer: 65	Well I tried to take the axle out and it appears the bearings are froze to the axle, I took a piece of wood and hammer and it will not budge anyone have any suggestions? Also called the local dealer and KTMUSA and nobody has called back yet.

03-19-2012, 01:59 PM	#6
v8toilet Nothing to see here. Joined: Jul 2005 Location: Northwest U.S. Oddometer: 1,573	I would at least see if they can help out. While it may be consumable if it failed prematurely it should be replaced. Unless subjected to fairly harsh use or abuse a modern bearing should last more than 5,500 miles. Of course if you pressure wash your bike with detergents any lubricants in the bearings could be compromised leading to early failure without much external evidence.

04-14-2012, 05:40 AM	#7
m800mm ^OP Adventurer Joined: Oct 2010 Oddometer: 65	well the good news is they did warrenty, they put 2 new bearings, seal, snap ring, spacer and spindle. but they couldn't give me any reason why. was there a bad batch of bearings?

04-14-2012, 12:07 PM	#10
m800mm ^OP Adventurer Joined: Oct 2010 Oddometer: 65	Yes I thought the chain might have been too tight but it was the right side bearing that failed, go figure?

06-11-2012, 11:37 AM	#11
erappaport pray for rain Joined: Jun 2004 Location: Maine Oddometer: 225	What are folks getting for life out of wheel bearings? I'm at 22K, no obvious problems, but it's time for tires and I was thinking about whether I ought to do them while the wheels are off...

06-12-2012, 08:24 PM	#13
NJEnduroBiker '07 KTM950SE Joined: Jul 2008 Location: Central NJ Oddometer: 153	I had a similar problem with the front wheel on my 07 SE. I had the bike for about a year and when I attempted to remove the front wheel for the first time to change the tire, the axle would not budge. I was tempted to take the "find a bigger hammer" approach but figured I'd check with the dealer first. They ended up warrantying new bearings and a new axle. I don't remember them giving much of an explanation and I was just happy I didn't have to pay. I had not done much wet riding and only had a couple thousand miles on the bike. I've changed tires a few times since and have had no problems.