Rear wheel noise. Bearings maybe?

[Dru]

My apologies if this has been posted before, so please point me in the right direction if it has.

 

While cleaning my bike over the weekend, i heard a strange noise coming from the rear wheel. To try and describe the sound accurately, it almost sounds like the metal balls in a  bearing rolling over each other. 

To try and isolate the noise, I even took off the back wheel and spun it while holding it, and the noise is definitely coming from around the hub, and almost sounds like the bearings dried up and are rolling over each other (if that makes sense).

A bit of background, this was after riding Red Barn on Sunday where I hit the trails pretty hard, then proceeded to degrease my chain using Cleen Grean. I did spray some onto the cassette, and let it sit for about 15 mins, not sure if this has any harmful effect. At a loss as to whether the bearings are fried, what else I could do to make 100% sure, and if damaged, what the cost of replacing is. I'm a noob at this.

The bike is still new (less than 100km), and it's the first time I'm hearing the noise (I always give the bike a thorough check when washing). Anyone?

[Ryno.]

If it's a Shimano hub it is likely that the cones may be dented or a bearing is damaged , take it to your lbs and they will have a look.

[velomonatiCT]

some more ordinary shimano unsealed cup and cone hubs will make that balls in a cup noise wether they are broken or not

a bit of use and the grease moves and there you go a slightly grumbling hub

you have to use a lot of clean green to mess up your hub

but if it really bothers you take it back to lbs and ask

[Dru]

Thanks guys, just wanted to see if it was a "quick fix" before actually scattering back to the lbs. Will do that to save me the headache. Didn't want to even touch the bike incase it escalates to something else.

[Martin PJ]

Try spinning the wheels on some new bikes in the LBS, I have seen this problem on a "new" bike wheel. Take it back.