Tapered Wheel Bearing?

I've been gathering pats for my next build which involves a wheel and fork swap. The wheel hub I plan on using accommodates a 45mm outside bearing diameter, and the axel which fits the fork has a 25mm diameter. The only 25mm X 45mm bearings I can seem to find are tapered bearings from All Balls. The closest sealed bearings I can find from All Balls are 25mm X 47mm. The wheel I have (Harley) currently has tapered bearings, and I know that many older bikes used them. I do not know a whole lot about bearings. Is the main downfall of tapered bearings shorter life span/maintenance? Or, is there a failure/danger factor as well? Of course tapered bearings are the easiest answer, but if need be I can use my lathe to remove 1mm from the hub bore or machine a custom axel.

Thanks in advance.

tapered bearings do make a much stouter lash, able to handle hugely greater loads in all directions
they will last just as long as a radial ball bearing,but they do have more drag
and they must be installed in a way such as to maintain a certain preload
bottom line is stick with a radial ball bearing,when/if you bore the hub out just be sure to get the fit correct ,too much radial crush will ruin the bearing in short order

xb33bsa said:

tapered bearings do make a much stouter lash, able to handle hugely greater loads in all directions
they will last just as long as a radial ball bearing,but they do have more drag
and they must be installed in a way such as to maintain a certain preload
bottom line is stick with a radial ball bearing,when you bore the hub out just be sure to get the fit correct ,too much radial crush will ruin the bearing in short order

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Thank you.

contact an industrial bearing supplier (timkin for example) and ask them.
Chances are good that your bearing size exists somewhere under the sun.

Bozz said:

contact an industrial bearing supplier (timkin for example) and ask them.
Chances are good that your bearing size exists somewhere under the sun.

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I agree, I'm sure it exists. But, like the other bikes I've built this one will eventually be sold and I don't want the future owner to run into a problem down the road should they need to be replaced.

Just make a note of the model number for the bearings and the manufacturer and write it in a manual that you should sell with the bike anyway.
Problem solved

SONIC. said:

Just make a note of the model number for the bearings and the manufacturer and write it in a manual that you should sell with the bike anyway.
Problem solved

Click to expand...

That's not a bad idea at all, but it is proving to be pretty difficult to find the proper size anyway. I've checked some big suppliers including Timken and Fastenal with no luck. I would also bet that if I do find a quality bearing in the right size it will be pricey. I'm just going to bore the hub. I have a lathe in my shop. Removing just 1mm from the bore should give a perfect fit, and bearings in that size are everywhere.

Thanks for the help.