Over tightened rear hubs on my hh 250ss?

Posts: 411

We have 2 hammerhead 250ss both have 500 ish miles...
We have had 3 rear hubs off bearings need replacing in all 3.
Not REAL bad but they need replacing. Anyone that knows bearings would know how they SHOULD feel. These bearing have a little bit of drag or "scratching". Not seized but just they need replacing. Makes me wonder how many people need new bearings but have no idea because they never pull it apart.

They just wonder why the top speed is 5+ mph lower then the friends kart.

I had to use a snipe to get the big nut off the rear hub on most of them....why the heck so tight when it has a cotter pin to lock it in? I would just do it snug and maybe a 1/4 turn more and throw in a cotter pin.

Are the chinease bearings just crappy or do you guys believe over tightening could have caused this?

When we first bought them after some abuse we had a bent rear hub (maybe 200 miles) when we took it apart alot of purpling from heat. Hind sight makes me wonder if the bearing was toast heated up and created a weekness on my hub. Not just my bent hub overheated the bearing.

I talked to a guy at my dealer and he said arnt you guys the guys with the video?

He said "Oh yah abusing them will cause premature wear"....I told him we use the SAME size bearing in machines at work (its exact because we checked the numbers just a different brand) We run the HEAVY machines 24 hours a day for like 6 months without a bearing failure sometimes...SO your telling me after 500 miles a bearing toast is normal? lol 25 hours ish of riding.

Abusing by jumping or impact would bend the hub before burning up a bearing imo.

Bearings are pretty structurally sound they can take the abuse what they cannot take is uneven contact on the inner race. Or pressure on the ball bearings themselves (restricting movement)

I have never had problems with my dealer and im sure they will make it right but im thinking im not sure i want oem replacement bearings.

Soo...
take out the cotter pin on your rear hub pull off the nut and pull your hub off let me know the condition of your bearings. Should have 2 bearings on either side with a spacer in between the spacer kinda floats around dont panick!

Posts: 1163

The problem is the Chinese bearings are junk! When I took mine apart they were only sealed on one side. The other side was open. Doesn't take long to get water and dirt in there to wash out the cheap grease either. Cross the number and get a quality double sealed bearing. If you get another OEM one from the dealer you'll be right back where you are now in another 500 miles.

Posts: 411

Yah I'm thinking different bearings are the ticket thanks for the reply. I have not checked the front bearings but I'd imagine it would be the same dilemma. Maybe I will pull those out tonight and take a look.

Posts: 2583

Most, if not all, of the parts that can be replaced on these buggies are cheaply made.

Posts: 1163

Posts: 411

Mines an 08 and bearings are already gone in the back in fact i cant even get the 1 rear hub back in because the bearing is soo bad. Its a holiday today so im not sure what will be open in Alberta here,(i am going to find different bearings) maybe they will have sunday hours and i will be lucky.

Posts: 238

Same problem with my 150.... rear bearings were gone in less then a year (only 5 months of riding time due to weather). Noticed a lot of side to side play in the axel, and I never took many jumps with it. Got new sealed bearings from NAPA a few months ago real cheap, checked them this week and still rolling smoothe, nice and tight and no side to side movement of the axel at all.

Can't understand why stock bearings are only sealed on 1 side. The logic just isn't there.

Posts: 2583

Posts: 411

Wow I found napa to be the most expensive by far they wanted 45 per bearing.

Posts: 238

ouch.. only 14 for mine. Big difference in bearings for a 150 vs 250? Sorry... Bearing and Transmission in Edmonton, not NAPA.