K100RS front wheel bearings fall out of hub

[lostbearings]

Hi all, when I roll my 89 K100RS around the garage, I hear a odd clicking sound, I removed the front wheel and the front wheel bearings fell out of hub! They should be in really tight. I measured the bearings and they appear to be the correct bearings so I guess the bore of the hub is too large. If I grab the wheel, I can move side to side so it is loose.

anyone seen this, have a guess as to how it could have happend?

Can I fix it without buying a new rim? Can I use a metal expoxy like JB Weld to hold in the bearings?

Most importantly, CAN I RIDE IT LIKE THIS?

thanks,

Lostbearings
81R100, 89K100RS

[Dick]

I am no expert on wheel bearing but the answer is NO!

Seriously, have it towed to a shop or go get the parts and replace them. It would be dangerous to you and harmful to the bike to ride it without wheel bearings. Although I do wonder how far it would go. :uhoh

[jdiaz]

The wheel may be ruined. The outer race of the bearing is an interference fit with the wheel, and if the bike was ridden when the bearings ran out of grease and seized, then outer race may have "spun" and damaged the interference fit. The stock bearings won't fit in there anymore.

[Polarbear]

If the bearings are very very close fit, just enough to fall out easily, you can use Green Locktite for very good answer to this problem. This stuff is designed for such applications and is extremely hard for locking bearings, races into place. I worked in gear shop for years and we used this stuff countless times for loose bearings in their housings on giant truck trannys. It works! "Locktite"is found at almost every auto parts store and comes in Blue,Red and Green; Green being the toughest and meanest. Don't use Green on any bolt applications that you want to ever take apart again; it will tear the threads, its so good! Try it, before you spend big bucks on a wheel..I've used the Green in my rear wheel bearings(races) on R100 for years, without fail. They were loose, too

[deilenberger]

I would be VERY hesitant to do anything except replace the rim and bearings. Trying to glue or epoxy (or Loctite) them back in still leaves a risk of something bad happening, and since it's a front wheel - it's not where I would want bad things to happen (a truck transmission isn't quite as "mission critical" IMHO).

Go to the IBMWR marketplace or ebay autos and start looking for a good used one. This isn't the spot on a bike to be "thrifty"..

[Polarbear]

My Locktite suggestion is good info.,from past experience and one has to make good judgement related to ones own bike, especially wheels and bearings. Big Rig tranny's have a rough life and bearings in there surely have it a ton rougher than an m/c wheel, imo. We, I would never had done business if these tranny's came back from bad rebuilds. I take your comment as fair and good advice, however because one has to be responsible for himself and ride with clear mind! One should never take advice here as a final authority, imo. WE(as individuals) are the final authority and take our own paths in the end run...BMW should listen to some of this; my KLT rearend main bearing failed, without warning and I've heard many,many others have done the same. Too many to number! From Master Tech(BMW) friend, these should have never done so, with proper installation at factory. Speculation, I know. What I'm saying is; Even the factory gets it wrong, quite often,imo. We just have to plug along in life and sometimes come up with better ideas. Happy Trails to all, Randy13233

[lostbearings]

Hey guys

thanks for your thoughts. A local shop I trust, sees this often with Goldwings and fixes them all the time. He increases the bore slightly, puts in a sleave and then the bearing with the traditional method of heating the wheel and freezing the bearing. This fix of course is a 1 time fix.

I asked about the strenght of the hub afterwards and he assures me there is no problem.

I am going to give it a try.

Lostbearings