Recently have been doing an bit of an overhaul on my 2011 KTM 350 sx-f Cairoli dirtbike (linkage bearings replaced, wheel bearings front and rear replaced, brakes all around, clutch flush and bleed, new chain sprockets chain guide, valve shims,etc).
For my rear wheel, there was a badly rotten out wheel bearing. It was non-OEM "All balls" bearings and on my Honda I've also seen these fail pretty quickly. So replaced it with KTM OEM bearings from Italy. After going to reinstall my new bearing shaft seals, I noticed the previous owner used the same seals in the rear wheel which were from the front wheel (0760354771).
Comparing to what is in my manual that is the actual shaft seal ring for the rear wheel (0760324771) I can see why maybe he used the seals from a front wheel; the 32 in the part number I believe is the thickness (in depth) of the seal, and it doesn't seat up against the bearing leaving a 2mm gap (which can be filled with grease). If you use the seal from the front wheel it's 35 deep and fits right up to the bearing leaving almost no gap.
My question is, which is better for my rear wheel?
Use the actual rear-wheel bearing seal what is in the manual (0760324771) which has a gap between the seal and bearing?
OR
Use what the previous owner did and put the front wheel bearing seals into the rear-wheel leaving almost no gap between the bearing and seal 0760354771)?
For my rear wheel, there was a badly rotten out wheel bearing. It was non-OEM "All balls" bearings and on my Honda I've also seen these fail pretty quickly. So replaced it with KTM OEM bearings from Italy. After going to reinstall my new bearing shaft seals, I noticed the previous owner used the same seals in the rear wheel which were from the front wheel (0760354771).
Comparing to what is in my manual that is the actual shaft seal ring for the rear wheel (0760324771) I can see why maybe he used the seals from a front wheel; the 32 in the part number I believe is the thickness (in depth) of the seal, and it doesn't seat up against the bearing leaving a 2mm gap (which can be filled with grease). If you use the seal from the front wheel it's 35 deep and fits right up to the bearing leaving almost no gap.
My question is, which is better for my rear wheel?
Use the actual rear-wheel bearing seal what is in the manual (0760324771) which has a gap between the seal and bearing?
OR
Use what the previous owner did and put the front wheel bearing seals into the rear-wheel leaving almost no gap between the bearing and seal 0760354771)?