Fitting '10 - '13 wheels in your '14 YZ450

[zeuszuki]

Story goes like this; just brought brand new wheels for my '11 450 , then decided I would purchase a '14.

Problem - front axle went from 20mm to 22mm .

Solution - purchase 38x30x4mm seals ( readily available at bearing supply store ).

- purchase 37x22 bearings ( currently sourced from "Shockcraft" here in NZ ) , will see how long they last. They are MR2237 Enduro bearings.

- machine original bearing spacer from 20.1mm to 22.1mm ID

Assemble and enjoy :-)

Rear wheel - bolts straight in without modification.

Nb: '09 front wheel can be modified as above to fit . Gray , can you confirm this?

Edited September 27, 2013 by zeuszuki

[grayracer513]

The '09 (and earlier, back to '98) front wheel is the same as the '10- '13 except for the brake rotor and spacers, and the wheel bearings are the same through that year range, so I would assume that what you can do to an '11 you can do to an '09.

[DDMX18]

Thanks for the info. I'm in the same predicament lots of spare fronts that now don't fit. In looking at the '14 hubs compared with the earlier ones, it looks like the outer diameter of the bearing/seal is the same and they have just gone with a larger inner circumference bearing and seal to accommodate the larger axle. It would be interesting to know if the newer bearing and seals will fit straight into the older wheels?. The only issue might be the bearing spacer, but you've given us a good idea to solve that. 

[zeuszuki]

Thanks for the info. I'm in the same predicament lots of spare fronts that now don't fit. In looking at the '14 hubs compared with the earlier ones, it looks like the outer diameter of the bearing/seal is the same and they have just gone with a larger inner circumference bearing and seal to accommodate the larger axle. It would be interesting to know if the newer bearing and seals will fit straight into the older wheels?. The only issue might be the bearing spacer, but you've given us a good idea to solve that.

Outside diameter of '14 seal and bearing is larger than earlier models, the reason why I went this route. You could machine the hub if you have the gear. This was the easy way for me, if I ever had to strip the wheel down then machining could be an option.

[rickallen124]

I would like to know how well it lasts as I was told by TCR that the bearings would not have enough surface, thickness, to handle the load.

[zeuszuki]

I would like to know how well it lasts as I was told by TCR that the bearings would not have enough surface, thickness, to handle the load.

14.6 hours so far and zero play, and i Huck everything lol