Repack bearings **SUCCESS**

Bentwheel · Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 7:29 pm Post subject: Repack bearings **SUCCESS**

I'm trying to repack my wheel bearings. Does anyone have a tip for successfully removing the steel shield on the bearing to expose the grease inside. I've had success popping off rubber or plastic shields before, but can't seem to get the metal ones to come off and still be usable.

KirkN · Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 8:05 pm Post subject:

Hmmm.... I've never repacked a sealed bearing. Aren't bearings, like, 5 or 6 bucks each? I'm not sure I'd run the risk of damaging one for that. On the other hand, I'm as thrifty as the next guy... Smile

Good luck and report back on it, please.

Kirk

zjeppe · Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 11:41 pm Post subject:

Don't, replace Exclamation

rdaystrom · Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2011 5:54 pm Post subject:

You have several options. You could replace it. That's what I would do. Many wheel bearings have no seal or shield on the inside so you could remove the shield, repack the bearing, and put it back in. The best option is to replace it as the guys already said. You cannot replace the shield very good once it is removed.

zjeppe · Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2011 1:10 am Post subject:

Plus, as most bearings are press fit, forcing them out 'll however give some damage, and have you ever had a failed bearing Shocked

Bentwheel · Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2011 10:33 am Post subject:

Tango911 · Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2011 1:02 pm Post subject:

buy new bearings they are not that expensive

KirkN · Posted: Wed Feb 02, 2011 1:12 pm Post subject:

Gotcha - so the real problem is getting the old one OUT. I'm assuming that if you could get them out easily enough, you'd just replace them rather than try to repack.

So, now, how to get that shield off...

If the bearings in your wheel are like that one in the picture, you'd need to have a VERY sharp tool to get in there, either at the ID, or at the OD. It looks, from the picture, like the OD of the shield is kinda pressed / punched against the outer race. Maybe that'd be your approach, to try to get in there at that fit...

On the other hand, you might not have enough 'swing' for the tool, what with the interference from the wheel itself. How deep in are the bearings set?

Your better bet might be at the ID. In the picture, it looks like you'd be able to get in there with a less-sharp tool and maybe be able to 'pry' towards the axle against the inner race. Maybe with something very sharp, yet rigid enough to apply some torque - say, a large-ish sewing needle?

Good luck with it, but I still think you're going to need to just figure out a way to get the bearings out of the wheel. Maybe tack weld something to the inner race and attach a small slide-hammer?

Hmmm.....

rdaystrom · Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2011 12:08 am Post subject:

It's funny how we can spend more time talking about something on a forum than it takes to actually do the thing. Those bearing shields come out if you look at them wrong. A small screwdriver or similar tool can just flick it out but it will not be good to put back in. New bearings.

KirkN · Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2011 6:25 am Post subject:

What! Take action!?? No, we need to involve at least half a dozen more folks, and at least one argument, and maybe even a cancelled-membership-in-a-huff...

Laughing

Bentwheel · Posted: Fri Feb 04, 2011 8:43 pm Post subject:

Well I managed to grease my wheel bearings without having to remove them. I picked at the shield with a small screw driver to make an opening.

My brother is a diabetic so I got some used pharmaceuticals from him. I loaded a 10ml syringe with fresh wheel bearing grease and with a large bore needle, I pressed almost 2 ml of grease into the bearing through the shield opening.

I tapped the shield with a socket to close up the opening. I think it's going to work, what do you think?

rdaystrom · Posted: Fri Feb 04, 2011 10:19 pm Post subject:

That's being creative. It should work just fine as long as the bearing is in good shape.

Bentwheel · Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2011 12:00 pm Post subject:

Russell · Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2011 12:26 pm Post subject:

Two issues with wheel bearings have happened more than once in my 40 plus years of riding.
Twice I've had 70's era bikes 'grow' the alloy hub that the wheel bearing is contained in, so that the bearing can potentially turn in the hub.Away back then we 'fixed' it by a combination of 'tinning' up the outside of the bearing with solder and running a ring of heli-arc weld around the hub, which 'shrunk' the hub tight again on the bearing.
More recently Loctite products have done the job for me.

The other issue has happened twice on off-roaders doing a very long ride with deep water crossings involved. SEveral hours of road speed travel later and the wheels have developed considerable 'play' in the bearings.

Have not experienced a bearing seizure as yet.

zjeppe · Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2011 11:34 pm Post subject:

I once had a bearing that lost it's balls Rolling Eyes

that is like riding a flat tyre, but then on 40 years and around a million of km, that is not to much Wink

(still dooing 40.000 plus a year, motorcycle instructor Cool

)