rear sprocket bearing failed today

[saggy0000]

  bang on 30000 miles,no warning atall,just a slight squeel then a lot of rumbling!! anyone else had this hapen?is it common ,thanxs S

[Kiwifruit]

Havnt had it happen to me but I did replace the rear wheel bearings and sprocket carrier bearing as apparently they have been known to give problems.

[seth]

they are a weak point i haven't had it happen but my first k2 did at about the same milage
not long after it was sold
i now change all the bearings and seals every time i change the chain or next tyre change after chain around 20000 miles or so.

[KiwiCol]

This is something I'll be keeping an eye (and ear) out for when the bike up around 50,000k (30,000 miles)  Think she's only done 38 - 39k atm, so fair bit of wear left yet, and, our roads are not covered in salt like your are over winter.


Be interesting to see how long the Aussies are getting out of their rear bearing assys, reckon the longevity would have a lot to do with the riding environment the bike is used in, warm n dry for Ockers & cold n wet for English folk.


@grog   @RickC  @Tony Nitrous @Snapey

[gsxbarmy]

The main problem(s) with the original sprocket bearings are lack of grease from the factory (wow there's a surprise) and that the dust seal is pretty pathetic. Sometimes over tight chains can contribute to early failure (although it would seem not in this instance)

As others have said a notable weak spot on the 14 and something to keep an eye on. Changing them every tim eyou change chain and sprockets is good practice IMO

[Tony Nitrous]

Be interesting to see how long the Aussies are getting out of their rear bearing assys, reckon the longevity would have a lot to do with the riding environment the bike is used in, warm n dry for Ockers & cold n wet for English folk.
@grog   @RickC  @Tony Nitrous @Snapey

Not something I've ever had a problem with, can't remember the last time I changed one unless I was getting wheels powder coated.

We get humidity here (in Qld), but not the cold and damp the UK gets.
I NEVER use a pressure washer, and VERY rarely wet-wash my bikes.
I always add a smear of high temp grease when the wheels are out for tyres.
My bikes get a lot more oil / grease / lube than they get cleaned.
I have other bikes running stock bearings after 18+ years and close to 100,000K's, unless the 14 has a different design or different bearings I'd expect the same.

[T 24]

Sprocket carrier bearing is the weak point with extra grease or not. I have tired with original style "2RS" bearings and "1RS" bearings with extra grease, the result is same. Now I change rear sprocket bearing at same time I change the rear tyre.

[grog]

i changed mine at 50th ks. was nothing wrong with original. key is, dont over tighten chain. ktm mechanic just down the road, cluey bloke, told me its the way rear brgs and even output brgs get stuffed.

[Tony Nitrous]

i changed mine at 50th ks. was nothing wrong with original. key is, dont over tighten chain. ktm mechanic just down the road, cluey bloke, told me its the way rear brgs and even output brgs get stuffed.

I always remember as a kid being told,
"Lose chains going to hurt the rider,
Tight chains going to hurt the bike"

[Mrg]

yes this  is somthing i am going to change while ive got my back wheel of and the bike done 27 thousand now . so a good as time as any to do it 

[saggy0000]

just to put things right,the chain was adjusted to manfac tolerance, not overtightened,im not an idiot,i was just asking if this is a problem!!! i have since found out (of ABEX BEARINGS,in WIGAN) that on the k4 they went to KOYO bearings that in that year were CRAP, cheap grease instaled,E,G FAIL, i have ordered full set of english bearings of them, will let you lot know asap thanx S

[Tony Nitrous]

Interesting topic.

If its a fault in the bearings then changing them once should solve it, its not normal for big Suzuki's to eat these bearings. Not something thats needed on a regular basis. I do pretty high mileage on various bikes and have never changed one from it failing.

Has anyone had a 2nd or 3rd fail?

If it was a weak spot in the bikes design what is different to any other bike?

Do some early / late models suffer more than others ?


EDIT: The over tightening of the chain is an interesting comment, but unless you've owned the bike from new, not really something that any owner can guarantee.

[gsxbarmy]

just to put things right,the chain was adjusted to manfac tolerance, not overtightened,im not an idiot,i was just asking if this is a problem!!! i have since found out (of ABEX BEARINGS,in WIGAN) that on the k4 they went to KOYO bearings that in that year were CRAP, cheap grease instaled,E,G FAIL, i have ordered full set of english bearings of them, will let you lot know asap thanx S

No-one suggested you were an idiot, the comment was that "tight chains could contribute (but clearly not in this instance)".

Have never had a problem with Koyo bearings personally, in fact its what I changed all the bearings on my K7 to, and they worked perfectly, and I would have no hesitation in recommending them over and above the standard Suzuki ones. Others who have used Koyo have found similar. As for cheap grease - there is no such thing, more the cause - as we have found out with Suzuki across all models - is that they were stingy on applying grease, on all bearings be they head, swing arm, whatever. Also the dust seal as fitted to the original (factory) bearing was pretty poor (as they left one side of the bearing open - crazy. Frankly I think Abex Bearings have spun you a line about Koyo and the K4 just to get you to buy their bearings as bearing failure and Koyo has never come up on this or the previous gsx1400.org before, and there are enough K4's out there with high mileage that I think we would have known about it from existing owners over the years. That's not to say they are not right but frankly I'm pretty doubtful, as they are not exactly industry suppliers, just an outlet.

[T 24]

If you read Hayabusa forums, you will notice that the sprocket carrier bearing is even bigger problem in busas than in 14:s. And Hayabusa is using the same bearing as GSX 1400.
Also from Hayabusa forums you can find instructions how to fit bigger and stronger bearing to sprocket carrier. Next time I may try that modification.

[Tony Nitrous]

If you read Hayabusa forums, you will notice that the sprocket carrier bearing is even bigger problem in busas than in 14:s. And Hayabusa is using the same bearing as GSX 1400.
Also from Hayabusa forums you can find instructions how to fit bigger and stronger bearing to sprocket carrier. Next time I may try that modification.

Thanks. That's interesting. I will have a read up if its a bigger problem with Busa's.  I've had a few Busa's, toured, drags etc, current one has had over 10 years of abuse,  Its not a problem I'm personally familiar with. Bit strange that some folk have drama's and others, irrelevant of use or mileage are fine. 

Maybe I've just been lucky so far.