Comments on: How To Overhaul Wheel Bearings http://bicycletutor.com/overhaul-wheel-bearings/ Bike repair videos show how to fix your own bike. Bicycle maintenance and repair instructions by Alex Ramon. Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:06:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Jake W http://bicycletutor.com/overhaul-wheel-bearings/#comment-2197 Jake W Tue, 03 Mar 2009 02:46:43 +0000 http://bicycletutor.com/overhaul-wheel-bearings/#comment-2197 This site should show the different styles of hubs that are out there and how to overhaul each specific type. Mine look nothing like the ones in the movie and that makes it very difficult to follow. Just a suggestion! This site should show the different styles of hubs that are out there and how to overhaul each specific type.

Mine look nothing like the ones in the movie and that makes it very difficult to follow.

Just a suggestion!

]]> By: Eric http://bicycletutor.com/overhaul-wheel-bearings/#comment-2196 Eric Tue, 03 Mar 2009 02:36:06 +0000 http://bicycletutor.com/overhaul-wheel-bearings/#comment-2196 Good information. But you did not have any info about checking the axle for bends. I use the procedure in Barnett's Bicycle manual. Without it adjustment of the hub is a trail and error fiasco. Eric Good information. But you did not have any info about checking the axle for bends. I use the procedure in Barnett’s Bicycle manual. Without it adjustment of the hub is a trail and error fiasco.

Eric

]]> By: Luke http://bicycletutor.com/overhaul-wheel-bearings/#comment-2128 Luke Fri, 27 Feb 2009 15:15:41 +0000 http://bicycletutor.com/overhaul-wheel-bearings/#comment-2128 This site is excellent! I was having trouble refitting the back-wheel mechanism and replacing the bearings for my much loved mountain bike. Having used Google a couple of weeks ago only to find my search was fruitless, I was beginning to lose hope in ever finding a site or video tutorial from an expert that would tell me exactly what I needed to know. Thanks a lot guys, this video was a great help. I will be recommending this site to friends no doubt. This site is excellent!

I was having trouble refitting the back-wheel mechanism and replacing the bearings for my much loved mountain bike. Having used Google a couple of weeks ago only to find my search was fruitless, I was beginning to lose hope in ever finding a site or video tutorial from an expert that would tell me exactly what I needed to know.

Thanks a lot guys, this video was a great help. I will be recommending this site to friends no doubt.

]]> By: Snortley http://bicycletutor.com/overhaul-wheel-bearings/#comment-1993 Snortley Mon, 23 Feb 2009 04:51:37 +0000 http://bicycletutor.com/overhaul-wheel-bearings/#comment-1993 Yes, bearings of course vary in size, and they're measured in fractions of an inch. They can differ in material, too. I've read of trade-offs in corrosion resistance versus wear resistance. I'm not sure you have much choice in that department unless you're buying huge wholesale lots. They're also sold in a variety of grades, the better ones being smoother and closer to perfect roundness. Grade 25 is tops. Seals have to have some seepage, or they wouldn't work at all. There has to be at least a tiny bit getting through to lubricate the seal itself, otherwise its surface would get torn up. That said, the grease in the bearing race can be replenished if the rest of the hub has a generous helping, too. Even with that, a time will come along when a repacking is needed, a good opportunity to change the bearings, too. Yes, bearings of course vary in size, and they’re measured in fractions of an inch. They can differ in material, too. I’ve read of trade-offs in corrosion resistance versus wear resistance. I’m not sure you have much choice in that department unless you’re buying huge wholesale lots. They’re also sold in a variety of grades, the better ones being smoother and closer to perfect roundness. Grade 25 is tops.

Seals have to have some seepage, or they wouldn’t work at all. There has to be at least a tiny bit getting through to lubricate the seal itself, otherwise its surface would get torn up. That said, the grease in the bearing race can be replenished if the rest of the hub has a generous helping, too. Even with that, a time will come along when a repacking is needed, a good opportunity to change the bearings, too.

]]> By: peter http://bicycletutor.com/overhaul-wheel-bearings/#comment-1978 peter Sun, 22 Feb 2009 06:06:15 +0000 http://bicycletutor.com/overhaul-wheel-bearings/#comment-1978 Hey, Thank-you so much I really appreciated this! My free wheel wasn't spinning without y peddles turning and this really helped me. Couple questions, are all ball bearing the same or do they vary in size and composition? Also, where do the grease disappear to, isn't this the point of the seals? Thanks so much for your help.:) Hey,
Thank-you so much I really appreciated this! My free wheel wasn’t spinning without y peddles turning and this really helped me. Couple questions, are all ball bearing the same or do they vary in size and composition? Also, where do the grease disappear to, isn’t this the point of the seals? Thanks so much for your help.:)

]]> By: Alex http://bicycletutor.com/overhaul-wheel-bearings/#comment-1899 Alex Thu, 19 Feb 2009 03:14:51 +0000 http://bicycletutor.com/overhaul-wheel-bearings/#comment-1899 Here you can order the <a href="http://bicycletutor.com/go/finishlinegreasegun" rel="nofollow">grease gun</a>, and here you can get a <a href="http://bicycletutor.com/go/philwoodgrease" rel="nofollow">tube of grease</a>. Here you can order the grease gun, and here you can get a tube of grease.

]]> By: Paul Catalano http://bicycletutor.com/overhaul-wheel-bearings/#comment-1897 Paul Catalano Thu, 19 Feb 2009 01:09:56 +0000 http://bicycletutor.com/overhaul-wheel-bearings/#comment-1897 Where can I pick-up that small fine tipped grease gun? Where can I pick-up that small fine tipped grease gun?

]]> By: Rich http://bicycletutor.com/overhaul-wheel-bearings/#comment-1070 Rich Fri, 16 Jan 2009 03:17:39 +0000 http://bicycletutor.com/overhaul-wheel-bearings/#comment-1070 Thanks for the tutorial!! I just repacked my front hub and it feels GREAT!!! I've had this Schwinn Impact for about 20 years and will ride it until one of us breaks! I bought it from one of my Wife's coworkers that was getting married. I remember the good old days when I had the rear wheel buried in the mud up to its axle... good times. Now it's a daily commuter in the warm months. It really is a fine line between just right and too tight. My front hub had nine bearings though. Thanks again! :-) Thanks for the tutorial!! I just repacked my front hub and it feels GREAT!!!

I’ve had this Schwinn Impact for about 20 years and will ride it until one of us breaks! I bought it from one of my Wife’s coworkers that was getting married. I remember the good old days when I had the rear wheel buried in the mud up to its axle… good times.
Now it’s a daily commuter in the warm months.

It really is a fine line between just right and too tight. My front hub had nine bearings though.

Thanks again! :-)

]]> By: Snortley http://bicycletutor.com/overhaul-wheel-bearings/#comment-882 Snortley Fri, 19 Dec 2008 04:15:51 +0000 http://bicycletutor.com/overhaul-wheel-bearings/#comment-882 One thing that's useful for this is a bench vise. I don't know of any other way to securely hold the axle immoble while you crank the cone in and out until you get that perfect spot of no play and smooth rotation. make sure the side you're not adjusting is locked down tight, then clamp the locknut on that side in the vise. Gauge the degree of turn on the cone you're adjusting by watching how the cone wrench points at the spokes. Turn in increments of, say, 1/4 spoke spaces at a time, or whatever fraction works, and you'll have an idea of how much you're tightening or loosening. To get an idea of how smooth or tight the rotation is, it's necessary to keep removing the wheel from the vise and putting it back in. That's a bit of a pain, but ultimately it's easier because you get great control over how much you're moving the cone. One thing that’s useful for this is a bench vise. I don’t know of any other way to securely hold the axle immoble while you crank the cone in and out until you get that perfect spot of no play and smooth rotation. make sure the side you’re not adjusting is locked down tight, then clamp the locknut on that side in the vise. Gauge the degree of turn on the cone you’re adjusting by watching how the cone wrench points at the spokes. Turn in increments of, say, 1/4 spoke spaces at a time, or whatever fraction works, and you’ll have an idea of how much you’re tightening or loosening. To get an idea of how smooth or tight the rotation is, it’s necessary to keep removing the wheel from the vise and putting it back in. That’s a bit of a pain, but ultimately it’s easier because you get great control over how much you’re moving the cone.

]]> By: Alex http://bicycletutor.com/overhaul-wheel-bearings/#comment-397 Alex Wed, 29 Oct 2008 02:13:30 +0000 http://bicycletutor.com/overhaul-wheel-bearings/#comment-397 The bearing size is critical. The first thing to do is to find the brand of the hub. Is there any markings or brand name on it anywhere? Most front hubs need 10 3/16″ bearings per side, while rear hubs usually need 9 1/4″ bearings. The bearing size is critical. The first thing to do is to find the brand of the hub. Is there any markings or brand name on it anywhere?

Most front hubs need 10 3/16″ bearings per side, while rear hubs usually need 9 1/4″ bearings.

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