Cycling Equipment · Public discussion

How To Re-Grease Sealed Bearings?

(PeteCresswell) · 2006-11-12T21:29:37+00:00

Original StumpJumper, front wheel. Pried off the bearing covers. There's plenty grease in there, but it's very thick and gummy. This thing is what... 20+ years old? Seems like I should replace that grease, but it also seems like the bearings are a press fit into the front wheel. Is there some special tool that will enable me to pull the bearings without damaging the wheel? Lacking that, is there a technique to get the grease out with the bearings in place without resorting to anything too nasty - like acetone or paint thinner? Tried a cursory application of citrus cleaner, but it doesn't look too promising. -- PeteCresswell

Started by (PeteCresswell) · 12 November 2006 · Last activity 14 November 2006 · 11 posts · 644 views

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01 / Original postHow To Re-Grease Sealed Bearings?(PeteCresswell) · 12 Nov 2006 02 / This pagePosts 1–11Page 1 of 1 · chronological order 03 / Latest replyPost #11Johnny Sunset · 14 Nov 2006

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Original section: Cycling Equipment
Published: 12 November 2006
Last activity: 14 November 2006
Original author: (PeteCresswell)
Posts: 11
Discussion status: Public discussion
Total views: 644
Views / 30 days: 0
Topics: Chain lube and cleaning Bottom brackets

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Original post
(PeteCresswell)
Archived post

12 November 2006, 21:29 UTC #1

Original StumpJumper, front wheel.
Pried off the bearing covers. There's plenty grease in there, but it's very
thick and gummy. This thing is what... 20+ years old?
Seems like I should replace that grease, but it also seems like the bearings are
a press fit into the front wheel.
Is there some special tool that will enable me to pull the bearings without
damaging the wheel?
Lacking that, is there a technique to get the grease out with the bearings in
place without resorting to anything too nasty - like acetone or paint thinner?
Tried a cursory application of citrus cleaner, but it doesn't look too
promising.
--
PeteCresswell

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Archived post

13 November 2006, 01:07 UTC #2

(PeteCresswell) said:
Original StumpJumper, front wheel.
Pried off the bearing covers. There's plenty grease in there, but it's very
thick and gummy. This thing is what... 20+ years old?
Seems like I should replace that grease, but it also seems like the bearings are
a press fit into the front wheel.
Is there some special tool that will enable me to pull the bearings without
damaging the wheel?
Lacking that, is there a technique to get the grease out with the bearings in
place without resorting to anything too nasty - like acetone or paint thinner?
Tried a cursory application of citrus cleaner, but it doesn't look too
promising.
--
PeteCresswell
It sounds like the grease has dried, so 'wet' it.
Get some synthetic motor oil ( $3.00 - $4.00/quart) and drip some into
your bearings.
Thats not as good as new bearings but would be a temorary fix for you.
Lewis
*****

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Phil, Non-Squid
Archived post

13 November 2006, 03:29 UTC #3

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:

(PeteCresswell) said:
Original StumpJumper, front wheel.
Pried off the bearing covers. There's plenty grease in there, but it's
very
thick and gummy. This thing is what... 20+ years old?
Seems like I should replace that grease, but it also seems like the
bearings are
a press fit into the front wheel.
Is there some special tool that will enable me to pull the bearings
without
damaging the wheel?
Lacking that, is there a technique to get the grease out with the
bearings in
place without resorting to anything too nasty - like acetone or paint
thinner?
Tried a cursory application of citrus cleaner, but it doesn't look too
promising.
--
PeteCresswell
It sounds like the grease has dried, so 'wet' it.
Get some synthetic motor oil ( $3.00 - $4.00/quart) and drip some into
your bearings.
Thats not as good as new bearings but would be a temorary fix for you.
Lewis
*****
Often oiling the bearings introduces dirt and abrasives into the bearing...
you'll know instantly if you've contaminated them or not by the "loose" and
gritty feeling.
Pete didn't specify if they were sealed or cartridge. Sometimes they're
incorrectly used interchangeably.
I'd suggest replacing the cartridges if they are indeed pressed in.
--
Phil

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Matt O'Toole
Archived post

13 November 2006, 03:40 UTC #4

(PeteCresswell) said:
Original StumpJumper, front wheel.
Pried off the bearing covers. There's plenty grease in there, but it's very
thick and gummy. This thing is what... 20+ years old?
Seems like I should replace that grease, but it also seems like the bearings are
a press fit into the front wheel.
Is there some special tool that will enable me to pull the bearings without
damaging the wheel?
A drift of the appropriate size, and a press, vice, or a hammer. You
should be able to clean and relube them in place though.
Quoted message said:
Lacking that, is there a technique to get the grease out with the
bearings in place without resorting to anything too nasty - like acetone
or paint thinner?
Tried a cursory application of citrus cleaner, but it doesn't look too
promising.
Soak it longer, but there's nothing more effective than the nasty stuff.
A shot of carb cleaner will blast things clean in a jiffy, and dry
without residue. You can catch the dirty stuff in a paper towel, and
dispose of it properly.
Don't be so swayed by the green marketing -- citrus degreaser is pretty
nasty too, as is the grease you're rinsing away with it.
Environmentally speaking, I doubt using citrus degreaser is any better
than the nasty stuff, especially in small quantities. In some ways it may
actually be worse.
Matt O.

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Dave Mayer
Archived post

13 November 2006, 17:46 UTC #5

"(PeteCresswell)" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Original StumpJumper, front wheel.
Pried off the bearing covers. There's plenty grease in there, but it's
very
thick and gummy. This thing is what... 20+ years old?
Seems like I should replace that grease, but it also seems like the
bearings are
a press fit into the front wheel.
Is there some special tool that will enable me to pull the bearings
without
damaging the wheel?
Lacking that, is there a technique to get the grease out with the bearings
in
place without resorting to anything too nasty - like acetone or paint
thinner?
Tried a cursory application of citrus cleaner, but it doesn't look too
promising.
--
PeteCresswell
Peter: done this many times. Pry off the seal very carefully with a tiny
screwdriver or a pin. Do not remove the bearings unless they are toast;
this will require the correct tools, and care so as to not ovalize the
aluminum (soft metal) shells that they are seated in. Even then, there is
about a real chance of something going wrong, such as finding that the
bearings are corroded tight into the hubs. This is why you want to do this
maintenance proactively.
To clean, run varsol or paint thinner through the bearings whille spinning
them. Water-based degreasers are plain useless. Air dry for a day or so for
solvent evaporation. Use compressed air if you have it.
Push grease back into the bearings and reinstall the seals. Clean up any
surplus grease so as to not to attract dirt.

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(PeteCresswell)
Archived post

13 November 2006, 21:42 UTC #6

Per Phil, Non-Squid:
Quoted message said:
Pete didn't specify if they were sealed or cartridge. Sometimes they're
incorrectly used interchangeably.
Pete doesn't know the diff.
I had to take a razor knife and pry off a donut-shaped cover. Does that
identify it as one or the other?
--
PeteCresswell

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(PeteCresswell)
Archived post

13 November 2006, 21:44 UTC #7

Per G.T.:
Quoted message said:
Interesting. I've done that several times over the years and they still
spin just as well as my barely used XTRs.
These barely rotate and the wheel stops almost as soon as one stops spinning it.
The goop that's in there fills them up completely, but it's too thick for fresh
grease to push it out of the way.
--
PeteCresswell

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(PeteCresswell)
Archived post

13 November 2006, 21:46 UTC #8

Per Dave Mayer:
Quoted message said:

To clean, run varsol or paint thinner through the bearings whille spinning
them. Water-based degreasers are plain useless. Air dry for a day or so for
solvent evaporation. Use compressed air if you have it.
Push grease back into the bearings and reinstall the seals. Clean up any
surplus grease so as to not to attract dirt.
Sounds like a plan to me.
I'm on it.
Thanks.
--
PeteCresswell

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G.T.
Archived post

13 November 2006, 21:47 UTC #9

"(PeteCresswell)" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Per G.T.:
Quoted message said:
Interesting. I've done that several times over the years and they still
spin just as well as my barely used XTRs.
These barely rotate and the wheel stops almost as soon as one stops

spinning it.
Quoted message said:

The goop that's in there fills them up completely, but it's too thick for

fresh
Quoted message said:
grease to push it out of the way.
Well, then, you may need to resort to nastier chemicals to get that stuff
out.
Greg

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Phil, Non-Squid
Archived post

13 November 2006, 23:55 UTC #10

"(PeteCresswell)" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Per Phil, Non-Squid:
Quoted message said:
Pete didn't specify if they were sealed or cartridge. Sometimes they're
incorrectly used interchangeably.
Pete doesn't know the diff.
I had to take a razor knife and pry off a donut-shaped cover. Does that
identify it as one or the other?
--
PeteCresswell
Likely cartridge. Sealed-loose-ball-bearing sets usually have a rubber dust
cover. It's an old bike with pressed bearings... as GT said, throw some
light lube in there... the worst that could happen is that it could get
grindy. For a 20-year-old bike, why not?
--
Phil

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Johnny Sunset
Archived post

14 November 2006, 01:14 UTC #11

Dave Mayer said:
"(PeteCresswell)" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Original StumpJumper, front wheel.
Pried off the bearing covers. There's plenty grease in there, but it's
very
thick and gummy. This thing is what... 20+ years old?
Seems like I should replace that grease, but it also seems like the
bearings are
a press fit into the front wheel.
Is there some special tool that will enable me to pull the bearings
without
damaging the wheel?
Lacking that, is there a technique to get the grease out with the bearings
in
place without resorting to anything too nasty - like acetone or paint
thinner?
Tried a cursory application of citrus cleaner, but it doesn't look too
promising.
--
PeteCresswell
Peter: done this many times. Pry off the seal very carefully with a tiny
screwdriver or a pin. Do not remove the bearings unless they are toast;
this will require the correct tools, and care so as to not ovalize the
aluminum (soft metal) shells that they are seated in. Even then, there is
about a real chance of something going wrong, such as finding that the
bearings are corroded tight into the hubs. This is why you want to do this
maintenance proactively.
To clean, run varsol or paint thinner through the bearings whille spinning
them. Water-based degreasers are plain useless. Air dry for a day or so for
solvent evaporation. Use compressed air if you have it....
What about an open flame for drying? 😉
--
Tom Sherman - Post Free or Die!

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