Topic: Any opinions on Ceramic Bearings

[vfourfreak]

Spotted a few clips on youtube regarding these bearings, and seeing as I'm about to renew the whole front end of my NC35 I wondered if this was an opportunity to improve matters. Are they worth it ??

Kev

[Retro Rocket]

I could be wrong but, I think Forum member Bill Benton has some fitted to his drag bike wheels, I'm sure it was Bill that posted a video that showed them roll for a very long time when spun by hand.

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Yeah check in with Bill. Those suckers sure spin. Pricey though.

[Medyo Bastos]

yeah got some in both my drouins


...Save a tree, eat a beaver...

[754]

My buddy that has quite a few Bonneville records runs them in his bikes.

[scottly]

How pricey are they, compared to standard bearings?

[754]

I think a lot of them are like 70-90 bux..

[Bailgang]

While replacing all the bearings in the trans of my F2 I really wanted to try out the ceramic bearings but as has already been noted they go for around $70 to $100 ........ each and I would've bought them if it weren't for the fact that my wife's car needed a new set of tires and brakes and I couldn't talk her into driving the car for a year on bald tires and squealing brakes. Are they worth it? That's a tough one to answer because it depends on what your expectations are and what you're willing to spend.

[Fastbike]

And here comes Debbie downer .  I put all ceramics in my kawasaki dragbike this past winter.  Already had front wheel bearings.  Installed in transmission and outboard bearing support plate from World Wide Bearings.  I installed 3 new rear wheel ceramics a friend gave me (SKF brand).  First, noticed no performance improvement.  I'm sure everything spun more freely, but it didn't show up on the time ticket. THEN!!, I noticed the wheel bearing on the sprocket side of the rear wheel leaking grease.  Pulled it out and discovered 3 shattered balls in the bearing.  I think the shock load on the launch did it.  Put the MicroBlue steel bearings back in the rear wheel.  So far, no problem from the transmission or front wheel bearings.  My 2 cents.

[scottly]

First, noticed no performance improvement.  I'm sure everything spun more freely, but it didn't show up on the time ticket. THEN!!, I noticed the wheel bearing on the sprocket side of the rear wheel leaking grease.  Pulled it out and discovered 3 shattered balls in the bearing.

I think I'll pass; imperceptible gains + added cost alone tip the scales for me.

[Bailgang]

First, noticed no performance improvement.  I'm sure everything spun more freely, but it didn't show up on the time ticket. THEN!!, I noticed the wheel bearing on the sprocket side of the rear wheel leaking grease.  Pulled it out and discovered 3 shattered balls in the bearing.

I think I'll pass; imperceptible gains + added cost alone tip the scales for me.

Great real world evaluation, makes me question their benefits as well especially if ET's remained the same.

[Bill/BentON Racing]

Just curious,  the one that failed, was it a Microblue ceramic?
Just for the record Kenny used them in and on his roadrace bike, Microblue ones. Same as what I've used but now those wheels aren't on the bike anymore....they are pricey, the big one in the rear is $95.00!  Bill

[vfourfreak]

Thanks guys. I think I'll stick with good quality steel ones for the moment. Maybe in the future the price of ceramics will drop radically . . . .

Kev

[dragracer]

Heck, I just keep the steel ones replaced from time to time. Works for me and rolls fine.

[POPS 911]

My son the Mill-right contractor got me precision ground GERMAN MADE bearing with a order he had for a big job he was running in California........ for a $500 million factory for a JAPANESS company. For equipment they were building that ran 24-7 and 7 days a week = non stop. Could not fail and no out of round flat spots BALLS, ceramic bearing were good for the Hyabusa drag bikes in motor and wheels. You think JOEY at 227mph in 1320' might have them  

[Captain]

 The ones needed in this situation are known as "Hybrid Ceramics" (steel inner and outer, 100% ceramic balls) and I have used them with a 100% success, every bearing in the bike has them except for one needle roller. As to the comment about shattered balls, something is not quite apples with apples there as these bearings will take "Three" times the load and have 5 times the life.  Also you don't pack them with grease just a light coating of oil is enough and used correctly do make a difference.
In fact the bearings inside the engine I removed any oil passages directing oil at the bearings and rely purely on splash feed with total success.  I even broke a primary gear that then went through 4th gear and destroyed both (gears) and the Hybrid Ceramic bearing adjacent was unaffected. These bearings have proven themselves without question to me and I highly recommend them.

 Brent





   

[Bailgang]

  Also you don't pack them with grease just a light coating of oil is enough and used correctly do make a difference.

I feel kind of stupid for just now learning this, I always wondered how the ones used as wheel bearings were lubed because the idea of packing them with grease to me at least seemed to defeat the purpose due to the drag created by the grease. Makes sense now.

[Retro Rocket]

Thanks for the post Captain, It may help to let the folks here know that your boldor twin cam engines are producing well over 150HP, thats far more hp than any engines on this forum that would possibly use these bearings. Thanks for the info on the hybrids..

[Captain]

Thanks for the post Captain, It may help to let the folks here know that your boldor twin cam engines are producing well over 150HP, thats far more hp than any engines on this forum that would possibly use these bearings. Thanks for the info on the hybrids..

 Not trying to impress but we are now over 180 + RWHP and 12000 rpm and these bearings are still in service without issue. In fact they are still the same ones !!!

 Brent

[Retro Rocket]

Thanks for the post Captain, It may help to let the folks here know that your boldor twin cam engines are producing well over 150HP, thats far more hp than any engines on this forum that would possibly use these bearings. Thanks for the info on the hybrids..

 Not trying to impress but we are now over 180 + RWHP and 12000 rpm and these bearings are still in service without issue. In fact they are still the same ones !!!

 Brent

Thanks for chiming in Brent, great information...  I've read quite a bit about your bikes and the work you've put into them, don't be shy, we like detail round here..

[Bill/BentON Racing]

They recommend 4 drops of their oil, I used one do on each ball, definitely no grease,  Bill

[Fastbike]

Sorry guys, been busy setting up my new trailer.

Bill, no these were not Microblue ceramics.  They were SKF ceramics.  I put my Microblue treated steel bearings back in the rear wheel.  Still have the Worldwide Bearing transmission bearings in the tranmission, no problem noticed. 

This is just my experience with the rear wheel bearings.  Yours may differ.  As stated, I didn't see any performance difference with ceramics in the time slip.  I replaced every ball bearing with ceramics: front wheel bearings, rear wheel bearings, transmission ball bearings, outboard bearing support plate bearing.  It was an experiment for me as I had the money to do it and I can't help myself sometimes  .  For a bracket bike or index bike that can already run the numbers needed, I wouldn't do it again.  For a heads-up class, do what ya got to do!  Maybe SKF bearings are inferior, they were free. Lots of shock loads in a rear wheel.

[754]

Brent , are those bearing with the external grrove off the shelf, or did you get the grooves cut ?

[Captain]

Brent , are those bearing with the external grrove off the shelf, or did you get the grooves cut ?

 No, these particular bearings were used OEM bearings that I sent to a company in the US who disassembled and rebuilt with ceramics. I even did the double row output bearing and this would be guaranteed to handle the load from any drag racing launch (a 12 inch slick couldn't hurt it) In fact the reality is that these bearings can take more than three times the load (includes shock) so there is no way a steel roller can survive where these can and I have confirmed this with my own experiences.
 I'll dig up a picture of that one (double row) and post tomorrow.

 Brent

[Captain]

 Double row version (output shaft).  Look closely as is harder to see but this one retains the steel cage and only the balls were changed.

 Brent