Rear wheel bearing failure

[showkey]

The exact part number is used on the the bikes in the list.
The generic 6204UU bearing number……. I might guess there’s 40 more HONDA part numbers for that size earring spanning 50 years and 500 motorcycles and ATV models ?

Honda BEARING, RADIAL BALL (6204UU) 91053-MGS-D31​

Looking at the list there are many biked with more power and more weight than the NC.
The front wheel uses the same bearing Part number.

Its also possible the OEM replacement part could be a different manufacturer than the part used in the factory.
The NC were also built in several locations over 10 year span.
Honda usually tracks parts manufacturers and changes the the last two digits to identify the vendor or manufacture.

 

[potter0o]

For the second time my bearings have begun to squeal and honk. Last time I replaced all of my bearings with Honda's OEM parts. With a sample size of two, my average bearing life is ~28k miles.

Since it has happened before I don't feel inclined to just use the expensive but seemingly inadequate official recommendation. I don't ride particularly hard. I normally forget about the NC's tendency to dive and squat because I'm gentle on the inputs. I have hit more potholes on pavement than dirt. I wash the bike with a hose once or twice a year. I keep it parked in a garage.

Is there such a thing as a better bearing available for the NC700? Alternatively, is there anything that can be done to extend the lifespan on the 'sealed' OEM bearings? I grease the axle whenever I remove it, but are there other spots which need grease that I'm missing? Short of repacking sealed bearings

I really pack the grease in underneath the dust seal. I fill the openings with the exception of the axle hole. Basically I want no air pockets under the dust seal. So far so good and I ride in a lot of rain.

 

[670cc]

The exact part number is used on the the bikes in the list.
The generic 6204UU bearing number……. I might guess there’s 40 more HONDA part numbers for that size earring spanning 50 years and 500 motorcycles and ATV models ?

Honda BEARING, RADIAL BALL (6204UU) 91053-MGS-D31​

Looking at the list there are many biked with more power and more weight than the NC.
The front wheel uses the same bearing Part number.

Its also possible the OEM replacement part could be a different manufacturer than the part used in the factory.
The NC were also built in several locations over 10 year span.
Honda usually tracks parts manufacturers and changes the the last two digits to identify the vendor or manufacture.



View attachment 47504

None of the models listed are more than a decade old. Maybe there are older example that you didn’t bother to list. But it smells a little like Honda could have gone to a lower cost bearing in these models? It weird that the replacement bearing price is a little less than the seal.

As Griff had suggested, maybe water intrusion on the right side swingarm/axle interface is a problem. This is one of the cheapest designs of axle adjuster I’ve ever seen. I don”t see how water could get in the bearing, but something is going on.

Another possibility is the bearing does indeed just wear quickly. Once the bearing has some wiggle, it enlarges the seal opening, then water does get in, then wear is accelerated to the point that it’s a cascading failure.

 

[MZ5]

Hmm…that’s odd, indeed…
Makes one wonder whether there’s something just slightly off in a casting or machining somewhere, which puts an odd and undesirable load in the bearing(s) on your particular bike.

Usually, one can get a particular bearing from any of a few to several manufacturers (maybe these days it’s more common for them all to sub contract all of any given bearing to one outfit?). I guess at this point in your situation I’d call a bearing house in the area and see if a better-quality replacement is available.

 

[the Ferret]

I noticed the CB 1100 is on that list as using those bearings so I went to the forum and checked if any of our forum members there (several of which have between 75K and 130K miles on their bikes..I have 63K on mine) to see if any were having issues there in the last 9 years and nope. Two guys thought they had a bearing issue but ended up a chain alignment issue

 

[showkey]

More info on 6204 as far as other models.
All these parts numbers end up to be the same bearing size.
There are likely many more.

Supersedes part: 91052-MT3-004
Supersedes part: 91052-MAJ-G50
Honda 91052-MAE-004 BEARING, RADIAL BALL (6204UU)
Manufacturer: Honda
OEM Part Number: 91052-MAE-004
Part: BEARING, RADIAL BALL (6204UU)

Other models
CB900F 919 2002-2007CBR600F2 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994CBR600F3 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998CBR600F4 1999, 2000CBR900RR 1993-1999DN-01 NSA700 2009GL1500A Gold Wing Aspencade 1991-2000GL1500CF Valkyrie Interstate 1999, 2000, 2001GL1500CT Valkyrie Tour 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000GL1500C Valkyrie 1997-2003GL1500I Gold Wing Interstate 1991-1996GL1500SE Gold Wing Special Edition 1991-2000NT700 ABS 2010, 2011NT700V 2010ST1100 1991-2003ST1100 ABS 1992-2002ST1300 2004-2010ST1300 ABS 2003-2018VF750C V45 Magna 1998-2003VFR1200X ABS 2016, 2017VFR1200X DCT ABS 2016, 2017VFR800A Interceptor ABS 2002-2009VFR800 Interceptor 1998-2009VT1100C2 Shadow ACE1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999VT1100C2 Shadow Sabre 2000-2007VT1100C3 Shadow Aero1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002VT1100C Shadow 1995, 1996VT1100C Shadow Spirit 1997-2007VT1100T Shadow ACE Tourer1998, 1999, 2000, 2001VT750C2 Shadow Spirit 2013, 2014VT750C Shadow Aero 2013-2020VTR1000 Super Hawk 1998-2005

As far as older remodels that used 6204 bearing:

This Honda 96140-62040-10 BEARING fits the following models and components:
There 87 other models that use the 6204 bearing cutting and pasting the list exceed the 10,000 character limit of the forum post. (Think they are in hyperlink format)



6204 compared to other common axle bearings 6203 and 6202.
6204 is actually large for 700cc bike.

Universal	6204
Inner Dimension d(Ø)	20
Outer Dimension D(Ø)	47
Width B (or T)(mm)	14

Universal	6203
Inner Dimension d(Ø)	17
Outer Dimension D(Ø)	40
Width B (or T)(mm)	12

Universal	6202
Inner Dimension d(Ø)	15
Outer Dimension D(Ø)	35
Width B (or T)(mm)	11

 

[yojimg]

I wonder if the inner spacer sleeve on the axle is the wrong length(maybe it's short by a few tenths of an inch?) which might add too much preload on the bearings, killing them prematurely?

 

[martyG]

An overtight drive chain can kill the rear wheel bearings

 

[Hondafan]

Update. It was the right hand bearing that failed, on the Disc side. However the Shop ( M50 Honda in Dublin ) replaced all three bearings and seals. Given that I removed the wheel myself today and brought it over to them, they did it while I waited. That is good service. Delighted to be back on the road again.

I re[laced that same bearing on my 2012 at 18K miles.