Rear Hub Problems

[Burts]

Hi Hubbers.

 

So after as very rainy trip last week, and not cleaning my bike, I realized a sudden sqeeking and kracking sound on my rear hub. Being too far from a LBS, I started disassembling the hub. Everything seems still in perfect working order. There was some water in the hub and not enough grease. I cleaned everything properly and now I just have to assemble it again. My question to you is: Which type of grease should I use? Is there a certain type with a certain viscosity? Is there a certain name that I should ask for?

 

Your info would be much appreciated!!

[RodTi]

Useful question this.

 

Bump it tomorrow morning if you don't get any responses tonight!

[bikemonster]

Given recent Hub activity when I saw a thread titled "Rear Hub Problems" I thought that this might be another thread about man love.

 

Anyhoo, moving swiftly on, any light(ish) automotive grease should be fine.

 

In the navy (see what I did there?) the rule was:

If it moves fast, oil it.

If it moves slowly, grease it.

If it's brass, polish it.

If it's utterly useless, salute it.

 

And just for the record, I have no experience of either man love nor being in the navy but I do believe that those are not necessarily synonynmous activities.

[Slowbee]

Given recent Hub activity when I saw a thread titled "Rear Hub Problems" I thought that this might be another thread about man love.

 

Anyhoo, moving swiftly on, any light(ish) automotive grease should be fine.

 

In the navy (see what I did there?) the rule was:

If it moves fast, oil it.

If it moves slowly, grease it.

If it's brass, polish it.

If it's utterly useless, salute it.

 

And just for the record, I have no experience of either man love nor being in the navy but I do believe that those are not necessarily synonynmous activities.

 

 

give that man a bells !

 

brilliant

[R3SL]

Use oil rather , grease causes chain suck as there is to much resistance. R3SL

 

Example Mavic specify only oil, and so does American Classic. I have found that shock oil works well as its quite thick , if its a Mavic wheel use only mineral oil as the seals will be affected otherwise. R3SL

[FlashJordan]

I had a similair problem with my rear hub, also a cracking sound (scary!). Especially with the chain under tension on climbs. Sorted and has not come back since my LBS mech used Shimano grease. Its luminous green in colour!

[Burts]

Given recent Hub activity when I saw a thread titled "Rear Hub Problems" I thought that this might be another thread about man love.

 

Anyhoo, moving swiftly on, any light(ish) automotive grease should be fine.

 

In the navy (see what I did there?) the rule was:

If it moves fast, oil it.

If it moves slowly, grease it.

If it's brass, polish it.

If it's utterly useless, salute it.

 

And just for the record, I have no experience of either man love nor being in the navy but I do believe that those are not necessarily synonynmous activities.

 

 

Good one!!

[MaxUmis]

Hi Hubbers.

 

So after as very rainy trip last week, and not cleaning my bike, I realized a sudden sqeeking and kracking sound on my rear hub. Being too far from a LBS, I started disassembling the hub. Everything seems still in perfect working order. There was some water in the hub and not enough grease. I cleaned everything properly and now I just have to assemble it again. My question to you is: Which type of grease should I use? Is there a certain type with a certain viscosity? Is there a certain name that I should ask for?

 

Your info would be much appreciated!!

Hi Burts,

What is the brand of the hub you're trying to service?

 

I think R3SL might have gotten mixed up with a free hub body and a hub.

 

There has been some discussion about grease before. Some peeps like the lumo green shimano grease, some like "water proof" grease and some swear by just plain grease.

I've used all 3 and the only comment I can make regarding performance is that "water proof" grease can still get pretty dirty after a wet ride.

 

I do recall something about not wanting to get 2 different types of greases mixed / cross contaminated. So make sure to clean all the parts as best you can.

 

I currently use normal toffee colored all purpose bearing grease on all my shimano bearings. Also, you don't need to PACK the bearings like they're heading on a long oversees trip. Enough to just cover the bearing balls should be ample. I was amazed to see with how little grease Shimano ships their hubs.

 

One last tip is to note how many balls are used on each race of your bearing. If there were nine when you started, make sure there are nine again when you finish. even if there is space for a 10th. Adding an extra ball will change the way the cone sits in the bearing.

 

Hope you come right

[Burts]

Hi Burts,

What is the brand of the hub you're trying to service?

 

I think R3SL might have gotten mixed up with a free hub body and a hub.

 

There has been some discussion about grease before. Some peeps like the lumo green shimano grease, some like "water proof" grease and some swear by just plain grease.

I've used all 3 and the only comment I can make regarding performance is that "water proof" grease can still get pretty dirty after a wet ride.

 

I do recall something about not wanting to get 2 different types of greases mixed / cross contaminated. So make sure to clean all the parts as best you can.

 

I currently use normal toffee colored all purpose bearing grease on all my shimano bearings. Also, you don't need to PACK the bearings like they're heading on a long oversees trip. Enough to just cover the bearing balls should be ample. I was amazed to see with how little grease Shimano ships their hubs.

 

One last tip is to note how many balls are used on each race of your bearing. If there were nine when you started, make sure there are nine again when you finish. even if there is space for a 10th. Adding an extra ball will change the way the cone sits in the bearing.

 

Hope you come right

 

Hi MaxUmis. Thanx for the info. It is an A-Class Hub by Alex. It is a little bit too late to notice how many balls there were on each side. I did not realize that I should check. Anyway. Tuition Fees.

 

Another thing that I have noticed is that the balls are 2 different sizes and were packed one big one small. Should it be like that?

[vanniri]

Hi Burts,

What is the brand of the hub you're trying to service?

 

I think R3SL might have gotten mixed up with a free hub body and a hub.

 

There has been some discussion about grease before. Some peeps like the lumo green shimano grease, some like "water proof" grease and some swear by just plain grease.

I've used all 3 and the only comment I can make regarding performance is that "water proof" grease can still get pretty dirty after a wet ride.

 

I do recall something about not wanting to get 2 different types of greases mixed / cross contaminated. So make sure to clean all the parts as best you can.

 

I currently use normal toffee colored all purpose bearing grease on all my shimano bearings. Also, you don't need to PACK the bearings like they're heading on a long oversees trip. Enough to just cover the bearing balls should be ample. I was amazed to see with how little grease Shimano ships their hubs.

 

One last tip is to note how many balls are used on each race of your bearing. If there were nine when you started, make sure there are nine again when you finish. even if there is space for a 10th. Adding an extra ball will change the way the cone sits in the bearing.

 

Hope you come right

 

 

Good reply with good advice!

[HeartCoppi]

Strange to have two different size balls.

 

(waiting for it)

 

Anywhoo, moving along swiftly.

 

All the balls in a typical race should be the same size and bear equal load.

 

Use any general purpose grease. green blue or red, castrol, valvoline or shell

We hubbers do not discriminate.

[Guest Big H]

Hi Hubbers.

 

So after as very rainy trip last week, and not cleaning my bike, I realized a sudden sqeeking and kracking sound on my rear hub. Being too far from a LBS, I started disassembling the hub. Everything seems still in perfect working order. There was some water in the hub and not enough grease. I cleaned everything properly and now I just have to assemble it again. My question to you is: Which type of grease should I use? Is there a certain type with a certain viscosity? Is there a certain name that I should ask for?

 

Your info would be much appreciated!!

 

If you want to grease the bearings. Any all purpose grease. If you are talking freehub which I doubt as you cannot disassemble or service it you may be able to get some white lithium gease into it.

 

If the bike has sealed bearings get new bearings. No need to get proprietary bearings...... Just make sure they are the correct size.

 

Anything else be more specific in your question.

[Burts]

Thanx for all the great info and advice guys!! The different ball sizes still worries me. No pun intended. Anybody have some info regarding this??

[Guest Big H]

BTW I use Park Bicycle grease, a tube with a minuature grease gun ensures it goes into the correct place and you do not waste.

[Burts]

Hi MaxUmis. Thanx for the info. It is an A-Class Hub by Alex. It is a little bit too late to notice how many balls there were on each side. I did not realize that I should check. Anyway. Tuition Fees.

 

Another thing that I have noticed is that the balls are 2 different sizes and were packed one big one small. Should it be like that?

 

I see that I am going to pay tuintion fees on this one. I am now not even shure if the balls were packed one big one small. I am pretty shure that the lefthand side had the bigger balls in it. Could it be that the one side (say the freehub side) had the smaller balls and the other side the bigger?

[Dicky DQ]

I see that I am going to pay tuintion fees on this one. I am now not even shure if the balls were packed one big one small. I am pretty shure that the lefthand side had the bigger balls in it. Could it be that the one side (say the freehub side) had the smaller balls and the other side the bigger?

Yes