Disabled EV in Hot Springs Arkansas

[drdwb]

We’re traveling around Arkansas now in Hot Springs. The EVs front wheels bearings decided to go. Had to have the bike towed back to our camp site.I can load it on the utility trailer so we’re not desperate or stranded, and considering when and how they went it could have been a whole lot worse, nobody got hurt.

But if there are any guzzi folks around Hot Springs I’d like to know where I can find replacement bearings  for the front wheel. On line the reference say they should be 20mm x 47mm x 14 mm, can anyone reference these?
2003 EV
I can probably get to a NAPA store about 20 miles away
The guzzi parts # says 92204220/20021804
SKF 6204-2RSH
The online reference says there were some variations.

My ideal plan would be go to Harbor Frieght get a small floor jack, a wheel bearing removal kit and grease and try to do it at the camp site, probably dumb idea, but we’re down here for another 2 weeks and we were planning on attending the Arkansas Guzzi rally. But if I can’t find parts and fix it we’ll probably just head back to Mn.

Any technical assistance or well wishes are appreciated

[pehayes]

I know some local Guzzi people near Hot Springs.  PM me a phone number.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[michaell32]

Take the front wheel off and see if one of the bearings has a number etched on the outer race on either side. 6204 sounds right to me but it's been two years since I've done mine.

Edit:  I just checked my order history. It was 6204 for the front and 6304 for the rear.

[ridingron]

If I'm not mistaken, the the 6204 is a fairly common bearing. If NAPA doesn't have one, they can probably get one in a day or so. Do you need 2?  The "2RSH"refers to the seal on the bearing. Tell NAPA that number also.

[SIR REAL ED]

I would imagine that a city the size of Hot Springs has an industrial bearing supply vendor.

If not, the internet and FedEx.

[PeteS]

Jeff has them.

https://www.amazon.com/20x47x14mm-Pre-Lubricated-Performance-Effective-6204-RS/dp/B0CZKYPDDB/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2U3XSVFUTDSTA&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.zLn9qusu0rNsYVQozZWg5Z0LYPUrbLz-IMwN6O_Qqy0Zdq4t-Ue33YGChzB_7t-BjY7GE0J3lYhqktJGi6gTCigvaPlDyaqK6W47CYyIFXf5-zQcCXOz2g6UfI2dAlCMpc5e8hsdzUIjD2jmaxX8rxC7LEof4G0q53clgRsL4ARip2_bHuhirMYYwNbd2cMOZIGd2ucdGX8Cje1pZ45Zj9odeqmQDWZVJ2AcAFCQSFc.2n1QDbw1bg5MjoBDxZhjvEC8FexxI-NXr3T1VtUFMlE&dib_tag=se&keywords=6204%2Bbearing&qid=1775044636&sprefix=6204%2Bbearing%2Caps%2C199&sr=8-3&th=1

Pete

[Bob Wegman]

I had my rear wheel bearings fail at the Virginia rally several years ago.  Thought I was doomed but, the local NAPA store had them in stock.  Changed them on the side of the road and enjoyed the rest of the rally, and the six hundred mile ride home.

[Wayne Orwig]

Replaced my EV front bearings somewhere in Montana. The NAPA store had them in stock and gave me a 'farmers' discount'. 
Probably was 6204 2RS.

[moto]

I bought my last set at a farm supply store so I suppose I got the farmer's discount too. Those stores are common.

[73 sport]

    If all these bearings were greased and adjusted properly, why did they fail?

[drdwb]

Thanks for the reference number.  Had to chuckle at the link to Jeff on Amazon for a 12 pac of them from Pete.

In the spring of 2024 we attached the side car to the EV, I had to replace the rear bearings in July of 24 when I saw bearings dropping out during a tire change. So I probably should have done the front ones at the same time, would have been much easier in my home shop where I have all the necessary tools and equipment.

I guess this is one of those character building learning experiences. I was very lucky yesterday, cus when they went I was approaching a stop sign, about to enter a freeway ramp. I lost all front brakes and there were vehicles and my wife in front of me on her Stone, when I realized I had no brakes and couldn’t stop, I saw a drive way on the right and managed to narrowly miss my wife and vehicles and muscle it into the driveway to a flat open lot on the corner where the rear brake finally grabbed enough. We’ve been riding on back country roads here in the Ozarks of Missouri and Arkansas ,where curve signs are posted saying “ Curvy and Steep”. So I’d guess the Guzzi Guarding Angels were looking out for me.

Thanks again for the help. Now looking for the nearest parts store.  This will be a memorable April Fool’s Day .

[guzzisteve]

I would not use a bearing that has no Mfg marked on it or not from a western country, cept Japan. All Balls is junk Chinese had them last only 11mi on one bike.

With a sidecar attached you have side load, something radial ball bearings are not made for. My sidecar rig needs them around every 25K mi, I have swapped them 4 times already since installation of sidecar. Earles front fork helps.

[ccoli]

2RS means sealed both sides.  So pregreased. No need to buy additional grease. Like Steve says pay a little more for euro or American brand SKF , Fafnir etc
Don't get Cheaper Chinese! Fronts don't wear out as fast as rear or sidecar bearings. I carry a spare set of sidecar bearings with me as I go through them around 10k.miles.

[lazlokovacs]

I once rode all the way from Paris to London on my Lemans V with front wheel bearings that were slowly disintegrating. .  I only discovered this about an hour outside of some of the most hellish Parisian rush hour traffic that I had no desire to return into. Deciding that the superslab would be safer than the traffic, I ventured on, stopping to check them every 50 miles or so and tried to keep as steady a speed and load as possible.

It gets worse as I had a pillion as well

My mechanic 'friend' had recently powder coated my wheels but left the bearings in!
 
I made it to the outskirts of London before the bearings finally gave out and it was no longer possible to use the front brake due to the disk no longer being properly located. Steering was pretty weird by then as well.

Later that evening I spilled brake fluid all over my new hardwood oak flooring

Isn't it great being young and just stupid enough

Good luck to the OP, the bearings are pretty common

[PeteS]

I would not use a bearing that has no Mfg marked on it or not from a western country, cept Japan. All Balls is junk Chinese had them last only 11mi on one bike.

With a sidecar attached you have side load, something radial ball bearings are not made for. My sidecar rig needs them around every 25K mi, I have swapped them 4 times already since installation of sidecar. Earles front fork helps.

Thats why Jeff sells ten of them for a buck apiece. You can swap out your bearings every 11 miles until you find some good ones.

Pete

[guzzisteve]

Yea, be cheap. A good bearing is bout $25 not 10 with no country etched on it. Be cheap,

[drdwb]

I got bearings from NAPA, I told the guy I needed the races and he said these have double sided inserts, which are better than races,and they are  factory sealed and lubed. Now to jack up the front end high enough to get the tire out and check brake pads .Hopefully only couple hour job, tougher without the bearing removal tools I have at home., but  I have tools and am confident it will be done.
Thanks for all the feedback. 80 degrees here in Hot Springs and humid, it snowed at home yesterday and there’s still 2 ft of ice on the lake in front of our house. also the wood ticks are hungry and numerous right now in Arkansas.
Later
Dave

[johnwesley]

Glad you got it figured out. I’m about 1.5 hrs away if you need anything. Some good riding in the area too if you just looking for a nice ride.

[bigbikerrick]

reading this thread, tells me I had better check/replace the bearings on my 98 EV.  I put a sidecar on it a few years ago,but have never checked the bearings.  I do like to fly the chair occasionally, so Im sure thats hard on  wheel bearings.
Rick.

[drdwb]

reading this thread, tells me I had better check/replace the bearings on my 98 EV.  I put a sidecar on it a few years ago,but have never checked the bearings.  I do like to fly the chair occasionally, so Im sure thats hard on  wheel bearings.
Rick.

The Vetter Taraplane is a very heavy side car, I’ve had it since 1996. It was on an 78 Yamaha XS1100 ( The Brute). Put several thousand miles on it. Put it on the EV  in 2024, now a couple thousand miles on this rig. Even driving with it completely empty I’ve never come close to flying the car, I’m not sure it could be flown, perhaps someone more experienced could, personally that scares me. Interesting thought about cheap bearings, The Japanese Yamaha bearings must be higher quality than the Guzzi bearings cus the XS had well over 40,000 miles on with the side car and never had bearing problems. I now have changed bearings in rear, last year, and front this season, due to bearing failure.

[Bob Wegman]

The rear wheel bearings on my xs650 Yamaha are much bigger than the bearings on my EV1100. 

[guzzisteve]

If you have 4 connecting arms to the Teraplane it will be a little less stress on the bearings.

[michaell32]

I just looked at my bike because I remember there was something weird about 2003 when I ordered my bearings.  The ones in my wheel are 6304-2rs.  I don't know where the 6204 went because it's not in my tool box.  Check your bike to make sure before you buy the right bearings.

[Littlefield]

Need some seals, too, eh?

[guzzisteve]

Could be the hubs for chrome BMW wheels are different that the earlier wheels.

[michaell32]

This would explain it.  I ordered both.  Now where did I put the bearings I didn't use.


heads tails flip online

[drdwb]

I just looked at my bike because I remember there was something weird about 2003 when I ordered my bearings.  The ones in my wheel are 6304-2rs.  I don't know where the 6204 went because it's not in my tool box.  Check your bike to make sure before you buy the right bearings.

I had 6204 and 6304 -2RS on the paper in front of me when I called NAPA. Guy on the phone said he’d have them out on the counter. I was sure I told him 6304-2RS and emphasized the 2RS were races, which resulted in miscommunication, I picked up the ones on the counter cus he said they were the ones I said I needed.
So finally after the brutal extraction process, I’d cleaned and de burred the hub, went to put the new ones in and they dropped straight through the hub, 6204 are small enough to fit in side the inner hub. So called NAPA they had the 6304-2RS, sent my wife back in with the good one from the left side. Back together, we rode today. It’s hot 81 with high humidity, here in Hot Springs, meanwhile at home in Minnesnowta they are getting another 3-6” of snow temps in the 30’s. So even with minor bike problems I’d rather be here, fighting deer ticks, and biting flys, riding and fixing bikes.
Life is “GOOD”.

[johnwesley]

I had 6204 and 6304 -2RS on the paper in front of me when I called NAPA. Guy on the phone said he’d have them out on the counter. I was sure I told him 6304-2RS and emphasized the 2RS were races, which resulted in miscommunication, I picked up the ones on the counter cus he said they were the ones I said I needed.
So finally after the brutal extraction process, I’d cleaned and de burred the hub, went to put the new ones in and they dropped straight through the hub, 6204 are small enough to fit in side the inner hub. So called NAPA they had the 6304-2RS, sent my wife back in with the good one from the left side. Back together, we rode today. It’s hot 81 with high humidity, here in Hot Springs, meanwhile at home in Minnesnowta they are getting another 3-6” of snow temps in the 30’s. So even with minor bike problems I’d rather be here, fighting deer ticks, and biting flys, riding and fixing bikes.
Life is “GOOD”.

Glad you got it sorted out. Looks like some rain today. I’m not sure what food you are into but there is a little Mexican grocery store with a restaurant in the back. Good authentic Mexican food. They have the best torta I’ve had, torta cubana.

La Bodeguita restaurant y Tienda Latina

1313 Central Ave
Hot Springs National Park, AR  71901
United States