GhostRider2 Posted October 1, 2012 Posted October 1, 2012 I'd like to service my own hubs. How often do they require service? Do you use standard grease, the kinds stuff you'd use on your car, or the super duper fancy stuff from the bike shop?
GhostRider2 Posted October 1, 2012 Author Posted October 1, 2012 What hubs do you have? Fulcrum hubs on the MTB. They have sealed bearings. DT Swiss hubs on the road bike. Haven't got them open yet to take a look.
Vinnydabutcher Posted October 1, 2012 Posted October 1, 2012 On the Fulcrums - only replace the bearing when you feel is getting scratchy - other than that you can just re-grease the bearing with marine - waterproof - grease if you like. Dont use too much grease on the freewheel connection point - just a light finger swipe is enough. Fulcrum`s in general dont give many problems - if the bearing gets scartchy - just get a new one from the bearing shop. Havent don DT swiss but Im sure its pretty much the same.
GhostRider2 Posted October 1, 2012 Author Posted October 1, 2012 (edited) Thanks Vinny. Do I remove the sides of the sealed bearings and fill the inside with grease or are they sealed and that's that? Edited October 1, 2012 by GhostRider2
Vinnydabutcher Posted October 1, 2012 Posted October 1, 2012 Jip - thats about it. Just try not to damage the seal when you lift it - use something with a thin point. Use marine grease - not normal grease. Fill the one side and push back on the seal - the old grease should peal out the other side. Wipe it off and fill from the open side and put the second seal back on again. Wipe the excess and your done.
GhostRider2 Posted October 1, 2012 Author Posted October 1, 2012 Jip - thats about it. Just try not to damage the seal when you lift it - use something with a thin point. Use marine grease - not normal grease. Fill the one side and push back on the seal - the old grease should peal out the other side. Wipe it off and fill from the open side and put the second seal back on again. Wipe the excess and your done. Thanks Vinny!
Let's Ride Posted October 1, 2012 Posted October 1, 2012 I have absolutly no clue what you guys are talking about. Must do some reading. How do I even get to the seal. If they sealed bearing hubs then can they still be greased?
GhostRider2 Posted October 1, 2012 Author Posted October 1, 2012 @audio - I found the exploded views in the technical manual I downloaded for my hubs a good start to understanding how it all works
Let's Ride Posted October 1, 2012 Posted October 1, 2012 http://www.howtofixbikes.ca/2006/08/how-to-grease-bicycle-wheel-bearings.html
Let's Ride Posted October 1, 2012 Posted October 1, 2012 http://www.wikihow.com/Grease-Bicycle-Wheel-Bearings
Vinnydabutcher Posted October 1, 2012 Posted October 1, 2012 @audiovansa - the links you posted are old school but the principal remains the same. With most wheels now days - excl shimano which has cup and cone bearings - has seal bearings on either side op the hub. Most wheels just have a dust cover that you can pull off - exposing the bearing. With Fulcrum/Mavic, here is a small allen key grub screw that you need to loose to get the cover off. the bearing are just seated inside the hub - so you can just gently knock them out from the other side of the hub using something with a dull end as to not damage the bearing. the bearing then has 2 rubber seals - one on each side - that protects the bearing from contamination. You can list these seals with something sharp or blade like that you can wedge underneath and then lift the seal out. You will then see the actual bearings. Just grease them there and replace the seal wen done. lightly grease or copper paste the hub spaces that the bearings fit into and gently tap the bearings back into place - use a socket head or something similar to get equal pressure on all side to make sure it goes in straight - make sure the bearings sit flush in the openings - refit the dust covers and your done. If the wheel seems to wide ti fit into the frame it prob means the bearings weren`t inserted all the way flush. Just pay attention when you take it apart and you`ll be fine.
Let's Ride Posted October 1, 2012 Posted October 1, 2012 Thanks Vinny. So I need a new seal for everytime I grease the bearings? I have a set of Mavics that I can play with, I would still need to undo the cone on the one side to get to the seal?
Johan Bornman Posted October 1, 2012 Posted October 1, 2012 Use marine grease - not normal grease. Why?
Johan Bornman Posted October 1, 2012 Posted October 1, 2012 Guys, don't confuse a sealed bearing with a cartridge bearing. Cartridge bearings can be sealed or unsealed.Cup and cone bearings can be sealed or unsealed. Therefore an unsealed bearing can't be equated with cup and cone bearings and a sealed bearing cannot be equated with a cartrige bearing. A note on Fulcrum wheels - some Fulcrum MTB wheels use extremely expensive proprietary cartridge bearings that you won't find at any old Bearing Man.
GhostRider2 Posted October 1, 2012 Author Posted October 1, 2012 Guys, don't confuse a sealed bearing with a cartridge bearing. Cartridge bearings can be sealed or unsealed.Cup and cone bearings can be sealed or unsealed. Therefore an unsealed bearing can't be equated with cup and cone bearings and a sealed bearing cannot be equated with a cartrige bearing. A note on Fulcrum wheels - some Fulcrum MTB wheels use extremely expensive proprietary cartridge bearings that you won't find at any old Bearing Man. Yip I was quoted R1400 a wheel for new bearings, per wheel! Importing them for a fraction of the price. Johan is standard grease fine then? What is the difference between sealed bearings and cartridge bearings?
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