Servicing sealed bearings in your road, MT bikes

Wheels of Happiness

Bearing centers sell at very high prices say I bought 6802 for P150.00 at Ortigas.  However when I bought at Lazada, I got them for 10 pcs for 100.

If there is no play yet on the the bearings, they can be refreshed by:  removing the rubber seals, cleaning the grease, put light grease and oil.   Check out for smoothness, and then replace the RS (rubber seals)

If you can remove the entire bearing you can do thorough clean up of the races, the cage, and the ball bearings.   It is however tedious, and you may fail reassembling the bearing.  It is better to just soak the bearing in degreaser or mild solvent, let the dirt ooze out and then re lube (light oil and light grease

I have been doing that for about more than a year and the results have been excellent.  The important thing is to see the inside of the hubs, headsets and bottom brackets.  Clean and regrease the bearings.  You will thank me and the maker of the video.

Servicing sealed bearings

Wheels of Happiness

Most people say that the disadvantage of sealed bearing is that it is disposable.  And so I thought until I read an article or YT re sealed bearings. Unless there is a wobble or looseness in the hub or concerned bearing, I think this operation is possible to save the bearing.  

It happened that two bikes both rb developed whining and other sounds at the  rear hub.  Naturally the bearings are suspect.   One had two 6802 bearings and I was able to buy only one (the last remaining unit) at P200.00 .  However this were available at Lazada for only P200.00 for ten.  Sayang.

The other bike hub had grating sound when free wheeling.  Naturally the bearing is suspect 

I did not have to have the bearing removed nor replaced.  This post simply followed the advice.

1.  Pry  off the red or blue seal cover (with the bearing installed)with a sharp pointed cutter.

2.  When the bearing becomes visible inspect for grit or rust.   Spray WD 40 or other solvent to remove rust and grit.

3.  Put low density grease or even oil for chain to have lube inside the bearing.   

4.  Reinstall the seals.   

For me the grating sound and rough rotation were solved by this operation.   

Cleaning the bike after riding through rains and the flood

Wheels of Happiness

Rizal Philippines | March 23, 2015

I spent much of the afternoon cleaning and  greasing the bike I used (a SARS frame with Ultegra groupset and FSA crank) It  had grime all over, the front derailleur wont work again because of the sand clogging the moving parts, there was sloshing of water inside the BB, and the grime on the cogs, on the front chain ring, and the pulley was too much.