hot rods main bearings

dirtbikr99

Member
Nov 21, 2002
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I just went to put together a yzf250 and I picked up the hot rods main bearings, in my opinion they are junk. The felt light, then i spun them and they were VERY loud. Then I checked to see how loose they were, very loose. I ended up not using them in the engine.

The hot rods crank seemed to be good quality. Better than the wiseco crank. However the wiseco main bearings were very good.

Anyone notice the hot rods main bearings are junk?
 

whenfoxforks-ruled

Old MX Racer
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Oct 19, 2006
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You may have got some bearings that hit the floor during an earthquake in Indonesia? I always figured the Wiseco as being the better crank. They use all new parts, hot rods refurbishes. The bearings really are not from the same company? Aside from the box! Vintage Bob
 

Patman

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Dec 26, 1999
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Ever think that might be why it was a less expensive crank kit? That being said I am quite sure they would not still be in business if they were selling junk. I prefer to use quality parts when I am making repairs so if something seems not right I'll go find a better quality park like you did. Not the cheapest way but it makes me feel better and often ends up with an order for OEM parts from Service Honda.
 

Rich Rohrich

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dirtbikr99 said:
I just went to put together a yzf250 and I picked up the hot rods main bearings,

Who did you buy the bearings from? Direct from Hot Rods or from someone else?
 

dirtbikr99

Member
Nov 21, 2002
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They were purchased from a yamaha dealership somewhere in the north east.

I do not care about getting them replaced or anything. I was lucky enough to know they were no good to put in an engine.

Maybe hot rods just switched factorys or something to cut costs.
 

Patman

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Dec 26, 1999
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:whoa: I don't get it. Were the bearings part of the crank kit from Hot Rods or did you get the bearings from a Yamaha shop in the northeast?
 

dirtbikr99

Member
Nov 21, 2002
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I ordered a hot rods crankshaft, and then hot rods main bearings from a dealership. It does not come all packaged together like the wiseco bottom end kit comes. The main bearings were in a separate package.
 

wake_rider

Member
Feb 21, 2007
481
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since we're on the subject, how do you guys feel about Wiseco Cranks? I'm planning on rebuilding the bottom end of my bike and figured I'd go ahead and just go with an entirely fresh crank. Wiseco any good, or is oem the only way to go?
 

Rich Rohrich

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Jul 27, 1999
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dirtbikr99 said:
Maybe hot rods just switched factorys or something to cut costs.

... or maybe the parts were switched AFTER they left Hot Rods. I spent a bunch of time working in Eric Gorr's shop and we routinely got phone calls from people asking to purchase the empty boxes from name brand products like Hot Cams, Hot Rods, Wiseco etc.

There are a lot of low lifes in the motorcycle business who remove good product from name brand boxes and replace it with inferior or even used stuff and then sell it. It's such a big problem that Parts Unlimited had to change their return policy. People would return "new" stuff to them for refunds and the parts would go back in stock to be resold. The next dealer who bought those parts from PU got what ever junk the scumbag returned. They usually didn't find out till the end customer said something. This behavior is a big part of what fuels Ebay sales.

Hot Rods is a good company that doesn't sell junk. If you received junk it's worth letting them know so they can do something about it and protect the integrity of their name.

One more reason to buy parts from companies you know you can trust like www.servicehonda.com :cool:
 

dirtbikr99

Member
Nov 21, 2002
180
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Very Very interesting!

That is some great information right there. Imagine how many things could be cleaned up and sold for "new." For example a timing chain. Its so cheap and so important.


I will be checking my "JE" 2mm over piston very carefully now.

Thanks guys .
 

whenfoxforks-ruled

Old MX Racer
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Oct 19, 2006
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Merrillville,Indiana
Ha, now I want to buy another 00 YZ125 crank from Hotrod to see if its a refurb! It came from a local dealer '07, that is now closed. It was a crank only, and stopped me from hitting the top of the rod to listen to its resonance. It tinged and the pin bosses was already blue! Also since then, my son and I go Wiseco engine kits only! And it comes from Forward Motion. I have seen the gasket sets switched also on fleabay, save more money is usually close by.
 
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