Wheel Bearings

Av8torTom · #1 11-17-2015, 09:27 AM

I notice Grove offers their nose wheel with either tapered roller bearings or ball bearings. Which one is more desirable? Also, looking for a pirep on those index roll pins that are installed into the nose wheel fork? They seem like a weak point to me.

Thanks,

Tom

RONSIM · #2 11-17-2015, 10:54 AM

While working on my nose wheel, as part of the condition inspection, I noticed the old Cleveland (early RV-6A) was pretty beat up. I was just getting ready to start shopping for a Matco or Grove replacement.

Recommendations, please, based on experience?

Ron

Walt · #3 11-17-2015, 10:59 AM

Don't forget this great option...

PS: If anyone is interested I can beat the ACS price by $75

Av8torTom · #4 11-17-2015, 01:04 PM

Thanks gents - as per my original question:
Tapered roller bearings or ball bearings. Which one is more desirable?
Also, looking for a pirep on those index roll pins that are installed into the nose wheel fork? They seem like a weak point to me.

Larco · #5 11-17-2015, 02:23 PM

I?ll jump in here. Having a ton of exposure to the wheels, here is my take. Beringer is good, Grove is good, Matco, because of it?s bearing seal combo sucks. Many of the Matco nose wheels have been changed over to the Grove brand. The pins are there to add security to keep the large spacer from turning inside of the fork which seems to work well and is easy to install and work with. I have personally not seen anything but a tapered roller bearing on a grove wheel but http://www.antisplataero.com/Home.php will convert the matco wheel to sealed bearings. and they do a great job.
You might consider the Grove tubeless wheel, it will rid you of the problematic inner tube.

Good luck, Larry

Av8torTom · #6 11-17-2015, 02:49 PM

They said that the tapered roller bearings were better than the sealed ball bearings - better side load performance. The tubeless wheel only comes with a sealed ball bearing. They did this to make it like the Beringer wheel. In their (Grove's) opinion they thought the tube wheel with the tapered roller bearing was a better wheel.

Thoughts? Comments?

Larco · #7 11-17-2015, 03:13 PM

I would guess now that the next step is get out the credit card. :-)

RVDan · #8 11-17-2015, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Av8torTom

They said that the tapered roller bearings were better than the sealed ball bearings - better side load performance. The tubeless wheel only comes with a sealed ball bearing. They did this to make it like the Beringer wheel. In their (Grove's) opinion they thought the tube wheel with the tapered roller bearing was a better wheel.

Thoughts? Comments?

There are several threads in the forum arguing the benefits of each. I think that it can easily be argued that taper bearings can indeed take higher side loads. However consider that almost all modern automotive wheel bearings are ball bearings today. Certainly auto applications can see higher sideloads that we see, except one could argue for a sideloaded touchdown.

That said, I think that the advantage of tubeless tires is an offsetting factor. There are many comments about failed tubes. I would go tubeless as a blown tube is more likely than the sideloads causing a problem. Just my .02

Av8torTom · #9 11-18-2015, 10:55 AM

Anyone see a clear difference between the Grove tubeless and Beringer wheels?... Other than the Beringer wheel being a piece of art.

Thanks,

Tom

BSwayze · #10 11-18-2015, 12:24 PM

Tom, before you do anything else, take just 5 minutes and watch this video clip. Many of us have had this nose wheel modification done by Anti-Splat. He addresses the very issues you're concerned about. Even if you don't go this route, you'll learn some things in just five minutes. I hope it helps.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpfazTrtbyY

Wheel Bearing Modification