Rhino wheel bearings

Has anyone running 14" wheels had any problem with them killing wheel bearings?

The Rhino is the king of killing wheel bearings with any size wheel. The only way to get miles out of them, like when the machine was new, is replace everything associated with them with new. Mine had 5000+ miles when I sold it and the bearings were replaced 7-9 times. I lost count. The passenger side was the worst.

I run 12" rims, and I can get about 1700 miles on a set......Just pack them with grease. Also it depends on which brand you use. I think the spindles get "slop" in them and that will reduce their life.

u pack grease in new ones. I've replaced them both sides probably 3 times in 2yrs what brand u guys like to run and last longest?

All balls racing or just OEM yamahama ones. Also get a blind bearing puller, best 50 bucks you will ever spend. I had 14 inch rims and 27 inch outlaw tires I went through 3 sets in 2 years.

jerr_81 wrote:

u pack grease in new ones. I've replaced them both sides probably 3 times in 2yrs what brand u guys like to run and last longest?

Absolutely!!! I like the green waterproof stuff available at Tractor Supply. I pop the sides off, wash out the factory grease, and pack them completely full with waterproof grease. This has doubled and even tripled bearing life for me.

jerr_81 wrote:

u pack grease in new ones. I've replaced them both sides probably 3 times in 2yrs what brand u guys like to run and last longest?

I got about 1500 miles on the first set of bearings, 500 on the second then 300 on the third. I think you should change out the spindles after the second set of bearings.

This is from an old thread. I would add that torque on the axle nut should be 190 lbs, if I remember correctly, or they could be too loose or too tight.

I have wondered why wheel bearings should be packed to 1/3 of capacity. Here are some answers around the Inet.

I sell bearings for a living....the LU is NTN's suffix for rubber sealed bearings and the RS stands for rubber seal as well. When a bearing is manufactured it is filled with a pre-determined amount of gease that is good for the LIFE of the bearing. For all you who seem to think overpacking these brgs with grease is going to work for you...all I say is good luck. All you doing is creating alot of excessive heat and drag as the rolling elements (brg balls) are skiding in the raceways not turning thus causing more premature failure. If your that hard up my next advice is to buy new ones even offshore make from a BEARING DISTRIBUTOR for a couple bucks is better than what you are doing by damaging the seal, overpacking etc and save your time and effort!
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Roller bearings should be "packed" with grease to 1/3 the surface area. More than that amount will cause skidding of the balls to the race. The good news is that on the 6205, the seal allows an over packed bearing to release the excess grease and, because of the excessive lube, keep the water out causing it to live longer.
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With these explanations my understanding is over packing causes the excess grease to "trap heat", and the actual balls in the bearings to "skid" or not turn, all the time, as intended. I would say that causes wear on the race and tiny flat spots on the balls. I have always thought more is better when packing or re-packing bearings.....guess I was wrong.
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That said, there are comments that say over packing is better, but the 1/3 capacity comments far out number the over packing comments.

Big-R wrote:

jerr_81 wrote:

u pack grease in new ones. I've replaced them both sides probably 3 times in 2yrs what brand u guys like to run and last longest?

I got about 1500 miles on the first set of bearings, 500 on the second then 300 on the third. I think you should change out the spindles after the second set of bearings.

I don't think it is the spindles as much as the outer axle ends! They get rusty and wear after hard use causing the seals to leak prematurely, clean them as best you can when installing new bearings and seals.. I have tried all balls, moose, cheap ebay, pivot works, and machine shop bearings and they all last about the same other than the cheap ebay bearings which only lasted about 100 miles. I have a set of the QuadBoss bearings on the shelf for the next go.. I put the QuadBoss rear spindle/a-arm rebuild kit on mine a while back and it is tighter than the Yamaha parts and seems to be lasting better so I am hoping the bearings will do they same. Always remember If you freeze the bearings before pressing them in you can almost slide them in by hand so the only wearing on the spindle is the little wear from removal..

Mud-and-Guts wrote:

Big-R wrote:

jerr_81 wrote:

u pack grease in new ones. I've replaced them both sides probably 3 times in 2yrs what brand u guys like to run and last longest?

I got about 1500 miles on the first set of bearings, 500 on the second then 300 on the third. I think you should change out the spindles after the second set of bearings.

I don't think it is the spindles as much as the outer axle ends! They get rusty and wear after hard use causing the seals to leak prematurely, clean them as best you can when installing new bearings and seals...

I agree with Neil on this also. I just went thru this process on my Rhino. I bought this Rhino Used and it was a mess. 3000 miles on it. I replaces all 4 knuckle assemblies. They had New OEM Bearings installed in them already. Rear's came with Bushings installed and Fronts came with the Lower Ball Joint. While I was there I took a Brass Brush Wheel for my drill and carefully cleaned the the Axle area that contacts the Rubber Inner Seals. It was rusted and you could see how it was sandblasting the Rubber Seal and I believe that is alot of the problem. Once that seal goes water and corruption can get to the wheel bearing real easy. If you are not doing the work yourself, then I doubt the dealer is cleaning this area up before putting in new bearings.

Also I would recommend new seals every time you change the bearings. As Dan said, that Mean Green Grease at Tractor Supply is good stuff. I have used it on my KingQuad forever and never had a Bearing or Bushing problem.

All bushings and bolt for the a arms will also contribute if worn.