Husqvarna 550xp mk2 crank bearings

[kiwi mike]

Anyone put steel caged bearings back instead of the nylon caged in 550mk2?

If you have could you share the where you found them can't get an exact match on them so far

[adw]

Not to sure you will find a suitable bearing, also bear in mind the crank seals are pressed into the bearings, there is now yet another new material from another supplier for the bearing, there is no plan to to fit a steel cage bearing, the new supplier is also supplying the bearings for the 592xp with no issues.

[MattyF]

Is this a common failure? One of my mk2 550’s is running like a bag of nails like the crank seals have gone.. I have yet to strip it down though. 

[adw]

I would like to say it never happens, however I have seen more than I should, when they go it tears the crank seal which obviously effects the running, a pressure test will quickly tell you the seal is leaking, most common seal to leak is the flywheel side, once the seal is removed you will see if the cage has gone, if not the just replace the seal, they are not easy to fit as you need to get them over the inner race of the bearing without knocking the spring out of the seal, on the slightly plus side the cylinder and piston usually come away with no damage, another tell tail is if there is signs of melted plastic in the spark arrestor.

[kiwi mike]

Last batch of genuine  bearings I got were steel caged again and came with seals fitted 

[adw]

There has never been a steel cage bearing on the 550/560.