So today I was forced to install the new 19000 rpm bearing.
The last replacement from NAPA burned to a molten glob today.
Strange thing is I was pulling in to a parking lot when it seized, so it was not even working hard.

Hope this new version lasts longer.

Also during replacement I noticed that the pulley appears to be slightly out of round. No vibration and the bolt is tight so I do not know what is going on there. (Jerry?)
I am also trying a slightly longer belt.

Just to be safe orders a backup bearing - it is very nice to have the spare in the garage.

So what is everyones experiences with the new 19k bearings? How are they holding up?

 

Its been working like a charm so far for me.

 

Which pulley is out of round?

 

Crank - very slight, but it is.

 

You better check the torque on the crank bolt and also make sure you didn't break any of the bolts holding the pulley to the hub. That pulley should be tracking straight as an arrow.

 

Everything is still tight and nothing broken.
Took a wax marker while running (no belt) and there is a "slight" high spot.

**On interesting thing I tried. With the lightly longer belt I was able to get the larger factory idler back on.
Even though I have the new bearing in the LET idler, since the lager idler will cut the rpms just about in half I think in may be the better choice.

Roughly the circumferences are:
LET: 4.43"
Factory: 8.63"
So there is a huge difference in rpms and the belt should get a bit more bit on the SC pulley due to a better angle.

 

Interesting trial and error, thanks for sharing! What is the spec on the longer belt you're using? TIA!

 

A longer belt with the factory pulley would be a real nice way to go, almost like a belt rap kit in one

 

Gates MicroV AT K081153

DSC00090.jpg

 

70GT6, that is the same belt that I put on mine to take some of the tension off the belt tensioner and some of the load off the pulleys..... maybe I should try my factory idler and see how tight it is...


MikeR

 

It is fairly tight - but not more so than the factory belt with the LET setup.
There is still some give on the tensioner.

I am just getting leary of the small idler - I have had 2 failures, granted not with the new 19K bearing but still...

 

I started to hear the dreaded squeak from my ride. I have both the LET bearing and two high speed cermaic bearings on hand and I still decided to go with the larger belt and stock idler pulley. The smaller idler pulley was close to toast..

BTW - I purchased the Gates K081153 belt from Amazon for $27 and change delivered to my door. The above picture seems to be missing the idler pulley cap...


Stock_Idler.jpg