R75/6 rear wheel bearings......

[schrader7032]

It's hard to tell on the fiche but I'm sure there are two seals, one on each side...the only question is if they're the same part. It seems to me that the outside seal (driver's left) is 36 31 1 230 334. The inner seal (driver's right) is 36 31 1 231 701. Not sure if they felt seals these days. They're probably more automotive-like, with a steel outside retainer and a rubber-spring reinforced inner portion that goes around the axle.

I'd be careful about riding with a wheel that loose. You might be doing damage, certainly to the bearings, but maybe also the hubs. Has the wheel ever felt OK or has it always been this loose? If it has gotten worse while you've had the bike, then something has gone wrong...possibly a bearing has spun in the hub. If it's always been like this, then maybe the PO didn't set the preload right and one of the inner spacers (called the wedding ring) is oversized. In any case, it definitely requires getting the bearings out and finding out what the problem is.

Kurt in S.A.

[khill]

Wow Leroy it does not sound good. As Kurt knows I changed my R65
rear wheel bearings yesterday and my rear wheeld didn't shake at all.
Those bearings really sound loose. Have you taken the old bearings out
yet? One of my bearings did have some metal flaking on it but the other
was fine. I'm sure your seals are different than mine but A & S BMW
out in California has a pretty good fiche deal on the internet. I think Bob's
might as well. I live in Southern NM and I know of a guy that really knows
the older airheads. He lives in Las Cruces. In fact I now think there are
three pretty good airhead guys down there. That is a little far for you
but I took my wheel down yester and in a little over an hour I was good
to go.

Kirk

[Thickasabrick]

Thanks for the replies. I actually just bought the bike. I mostly ride it around town for now. For the most part it is in very good shape. I just rebuilt the carbs and plan to remove the bearings this weekend from the rear wheel. The front squeek, and they are next. I'd like to hear more about any and all resources in NM.....

Thanks again, guys.

[schrader7032]

Being in the suburbs of ABQ, I would think you could find a gaggle of Airheads (what's a group of Airheads callled??) closer to home. I primarily joined VBMWMO because of my /2. There are other fora that you could join and find out if there are people close to you...airheads.org, boxerworks.com, etc. There are dealers in ABQ and Santa Fe...maybe trolling there and/or asking at the parts counter to see if there are any local meetings or clubs...

Kurt in S.A.

[khill]

Leroy I am new at the BMW bikes but I have heard that the Santa Fe
BMW dealership has a really good mechanic and I think he does airheads.
They do seem to have a high hourly rate but I guess that is normal for
dealers. As far as good independent mechanics in your area I have not
found to much but maybe I am not aware of the total resourses there.
I would be happy to give you a name or two but they are in the LC area
which is probably to far for you. I did hear that the Albuquerque dealer
does not work on airheads but that could be wrong information. I know
when I first purchased my R65 I did call several dealers in the Midwest
and many said they now did little work on the airhead bikes. There are
one or two pretty good mechanics that are members of the Land Of Enchantment BMW riders but I know little about them.

Good luck

Kirk

[Thickasabrick]

Oh yes, he is a great wrench. I go to them and the sister shop in ABQ for work on my complex K1200GT. By the way, the Santa Fe and ABQ dealerships are actually owned by the same guy. They share in the shop work and parts and such.

I like the airhead for the chance to work on it in the garage. Nothing quite like having a fresh pot of coffee at the ready, and the tools all laid out.....the mp3 cranking out your favorite tunes....eh?

LC is never too far for me to travel to meet with beemer people. In fact my favorite road it just to the west on AZ 191. Thanks for the info. When I pull out the seals, I'll let you all know what was in there....I hope it was stock.

[khill]

I'm not sure the LC people that I now know thanks in part to Kurt are
the type of folks that you might find in the club type of organizations
but I know the one that helped me just loves to work on the older
airheads. He has taken the parts of several older airhead bikes and
made one good one. It isn't the most pretty bike but it sure sounded
nice. Also his hourly rate is very good plus he explained what he was
doing and why it needed to be done. If I need more complex work done
I'm willing to give him a chance at it. I know the wheel bearings that my
R65 needed were a standard bearing that is available at pretty much any
auto parts store. It's stock # is 30203 I think. Yours could be different
though. I think I paid about $42 for the two bearings. Good luck.
Kurt and Darryl have really got a lot of experience and are very helpful
on this forum.

Kirk

[Thickasabrick]

Thanks for the information.

[schrader7032]

Another possibility for NM Airhead support. This from Kent Christensen on the Airheads list - join the NM club at http://www.nmbmwmc.org/.

Someone else posted this:

"In Santa Fe, check out the motor scooter dealer. I cannot remember the
name, but he is on the main drag, and also sells Royal Enfield
motorcycles. I went in to ogle scooters while on a trip, and it turns
out that he is also a BMW mechanic, and even maintains a few in the area ".

Kurt in S.A.

[khill]

I'm pretty sure they are talking about Centaur scooters on Cerillos Rd.
In Santa Fe. They are across from Walmart or close to that area.
The owner, Richard has a lot of airhead experience and I think the full
time mechanic also has a lot of BMW airhead experience. I have to see
them next week about my scooter. They are a big Kymco Scooter
dealer. I have heard good things regarding their BMW work but I have
only talked to a few people on this subject and do not have any firsthand
experience with them on beemers.

Kirk