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Cracks on rear wheel flange


albury

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Went looking for trouble today and wouldn't you know I found it... While changing final drive oil I noticed hairline cracks in the flange which rear wheel & brake rotor are bolted to. Probably due to my over enthusiastic torquing of back wheel. Need a new one... Beemer Boneyard doesn't have one... Any other used parts outlets? Repair seems straightforward enough once I get a bigger c-clip remover... Or am I wrong?

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Evening Albury

 

Not rocket science but a little more involved than just the C clip. Once the C clip is removed you need to (evenly) heat it to 100°c or so then use a gear puller (or similar) to pull it (the flange) off. (You will probably need to find or make a stepped center for the hollow axle hub so the gear puller has something to push against)

 

You need a cool final drive splined axle then heat the new flange to the same 100°c for it to slide on easily (no lubricant at all on the splines)

 

Make sure the C clip is installed as it was with the same side out as it was originally (mark it before removal).

 

If you get a new flange from BMW try to make sure it is the new improved one with the spacer included.

 

Your flange breakage probably wasn't due to your wheel torquing as there have been quite a few of those failures so you might see if your dealer will do a (good will) warranty for you.

 

Also be sure to file a complaint with NHTSA or your state attorney general.

 

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Exactly the kind of info I was looking for... Thanks. For heating it up... Torch? Hot air (paint stripper)? Tell it I slept with its sister?

How bout clever tricks if I don't have the right size gear puller?

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My cracks are on the wheel lug holes. Thought I'de live with one till I got the new part, but noticed two are cracked. Hairline... Barely noticeable...

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Evening Albury

 

On the removal heating --I have used both a high temp heat gun & a small flame torch both with good results.

 

On the heating for re-install I put the flange in the oven for about 1/2 hour at 215°f as that heats it evenly. Work quickly once heated as it will cool quickly as it touches the splined axle. Should just push on when heated but have a lead hammer handy in case it sticks a bit.

 

I have always use a gear puller & an aluminum stepped center I machined up to fit the axle.

If I had to do it without a gear puller I would bolt something on the flange across the center hole then go in through the center of the hollow axle from the other side & drive the flange off (that is a bit hard on the axle bearings so it would be a last resort)

 

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If it's of any consolation BMW changed the part around 2008.

Old parts number was 33117699631. New parts number is 33117722831.

If you find a used part make sure it's from a 2008-2009 bike.

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What year is your bike? Do not assume you caused the problem! I had the same issue on an '05 GS. It was cracked on wheel lug holes and on the brake rotor holes. My dealer was able to get NA to replace it, including labor at no charge even though the bike was long out of warranty and I was not the original owner.

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Joe Frickin' Friday
Can you post some Pix,???I would like see what Im looking for,,,Thanks,

 

Good pics at all three of these links, originally provided by Keith in one of the other threads on this subject:

 

Link 1

 

Link 2

 

Link 3

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If it's of any consolation BMW changed the part around 2008.

Old parts number was 33117699631. New parts number is 33117722831.

If you find a used part make sure it's from a 2008-2009 bike.

 

Interesting. I just checked the online parts catalogue at Max BMW and they still show the "old" part number (...631) for the flange. That's for 2005-09 R1200RTs. I had my FD, including the flange, replaced under warranty in mid-2007, so I presumably have the "old" flange. That said, did the part number change for the RT's flange, or just for the GS flange (yes, I know they're the same drivetrain). Indeed, I see the same part number no matter which model year I select for the RT, including the 2010+ camheads.

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If it's of any consolation BMW changed the part around 2008.

Old parts number was 33117699631. New parts number is 33117722831.

If you find a used part make sure it's from a 2008-2009 bike.

 

Interesting. I just checked the online parts catalogue at Max BMW and they still show the "old" part number (...631) for the flange. That's for 2005-09 R1200RTs. I had my FD, including the flange, replaced under warranty in mid-2007, so I presumably have the "old" flange. That said, did the part number change for the RT's flange, or just for the GS flange (yes, I know they're the same drivetrain). Indeed, I see the same part number no matter which model year I select for the RT, including the 2010+ camheads.

 

33117722831 is standard equipment on all Camhead models, plus the HP2 series and the K1300S/R/GT. It has superseded the old parts number for all Hexhead models and the K1200S/R/GT series.

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Yea I noticed that too... Very frustrating. Max BMW has the part pictured, and listed, but it's the older aluminum one...

My bike's an 06 with embarasingly low 26k miles, and my research so far suggests this is mostly 04 - 07 problem. Mileage/ torquing unimportant ... The service guy here in Miami wasn't very helpfull ("call BMW")...

I'll probably go ahead and order the parts and put it behind me... Any suggestions out there of a deserving dealer to order from?

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  • 2 months later...
If it's of any consolation BMW changed the part around 2008.

 

Perhaps good to check with a magnet, as I understand the original part is aluminum and the new part is steel.

 

On my 2008 (built 8/2007) a magnet doesn't stick ... and there are so far no cracks.

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