Topic: Did I just screw my bearings?

[rhinoracer]

I washed the rear hub with gasoline to get all of the brake dust off the drum and cush drive, also washed the inside of the bearing spacer cause the PO stuffed grease everywhere he could. Of course the gasoline entered the bearings.

Now the bearings won't spin freely. Is there a way to clean and lube them, or did I just ruin them? They are the original type with metal caps not sealed with rubber or plastic sides.

[Jim F]

you need to replace them

And why did you use gas to wash the brake dust off?

[rhinoracer]

It was brake dust/grease sludge, the previous owner packed with grease the whole spindle-sprocket-bearing assembly. I had gas and Diesel available so that's what I used, no particular reason. I am wiser because of that

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

you need to replace them

And why did you use gas to wash the brake dust off?

Big Jim,

What's your thought process on this? If they haven't been run why can't they be re-packed? If they haven't been run there should be no real damage.

[rhinoracer]

Big Jim,

What's your thought process on this? If they haven't been run why can't they be re-packed? If they haven't been run there should be no real damage.

Rxman, is there a way to repack these sealed bearings?

[Soos]

Now the bearings won't spin freely. Is there a way to clean and lube them, or did I just ruin them? They are the original type with metal caps not sealed with rubber or plastic sides.

Any grit/dirt/metal flakes that were in the drum area or near the bearings suspended in the grease may have creeped into the bearing(s) when you sloshed gas into that area...

I would personally de-grease the snot out of them until everything is clean as can be, and the bearings spin free again, then re-pack them correctly with grease.
It is possible to remove the metal seals, but good luck being able to get them to re-use those old seals.
You can however take the seals to a bearing supplier and buy replacment ones to replace the origionals.


But, while you got it this far down, why not get the bearing numbers, and call around to see if any places have your bearings in stock.
Or order a kit online.
(buying the bearings from a local vendor will probably save you money, and be able to get them same day)


l8r

[bryanj]

At the cost of bearings its an easy fix, plus you have to bash the hell out of the inner race to get the bearing out which usually damages the tracks whilst to push in on the outer race which isnt a problem

[rhinoracer]

It's mostly about the 5 day shipping than the price of the bearings. At the rate I'm destroying things I can't afford 5 days to get replacements.

I'll just try to get them at a local bearing place, if not I'll try and repack mine.

[750goes]

flush the bearings with kerosene or degreaser and repack them, if they were ok before, they will probably be ok for a few more thousand miles after the bike is running, but if after flushing they are still notchy to turn, then bite the bullet and get some new ones- then you don't have to do that job again..........