Topic: Wheel Bearing Brands-differences, experiences, etc?

[MCRider]

What is the Honda OEM these days? HBC is Chinese but does that matter? Are they all made in China these days? Is Timken or Reynolds better?

Thoughts and comments.

I've searched some old threads, but want updated opinions.

[Clyde]

I have always bought NSK or a similar well known brand until recently, when I bought a set of eBay and they are to be unstamped except for the size- 6302 (China?).
They look and feel good, but I have no real long-term experience with them.
I guess you have to ask the question as to where do all the brand names make their bearings-China?
During the Olympics all the facts about China came out. One that surprised me was that China make 70% of the world's microwaves now, so bearings should not be a problem

[BobbyR]

I would like to change my wheel bearings for preventative maintenance this winter. What are the brands and sizes for both front and back. 1978 750K. Thanks. 

[Johnie]

Hey Bobby...I think the preventative maintenance thing is a good idea given the age.  I did the same on my KO last winter and at least I know where all those bearings stand now.  If I hear a noise I know it is not the bearings.  I got my bearings from a local shop.  The front two are brand name of FAG #6302.2RSR.C3.  And there are 3 in the back with 2 the same and one different.  The 2 of the same are brand FAG #6304.2RSR.C3 and the odd one which is larger than the rest is brand NTN #6305LLBC3/L627.  Now these are the numbers off the box.  You can just take your old bearings in when you get them out and they can also just match them up for you.  I would suggest getting the pre-packed and sealed bearings which will keep the dirt out better.  Apparently, they did not have the sealed one available when my KO was built.  You may have them already on the 78.  Good luck with it.

[Jonesy]

Timken no longer makes ball bearings.. they just make tapered roller bearings (they also own Torrington, which makes needle roller bearings).

I used NTN (Japan) electric-motor grade bearings for my wheel rebuild. The OEM bearings were NTN, but I opted for double-sealed ones. So far, they have been great.

[MCRider]

Thanks everyone. I bought a rear hub from Carpy (as I destroyed mine getting the bearings out) and had him polish it. (and my sprocket carrier and brake plate) Pictures this weekend. He replaced the bearings for me though I had not asked him too, and put HBC in them. I paid him for it and now its done. He was just being helpful.  HBC, from an internet search appears to be a LA based group wholesaler that just buys bearings from lord knows where (China) and has them tagged with their name and sells them. I'll just go with them.

[kghost]

Well I have some "All Ball" brand sitting on the shelf....haven't tried them yet.

The last set of wheel bearings I bought were from Purvis Bearing Supply....

They were made in Argentina of all places...go figure.

[chippyfive50]

love my SKF's.....real smoofh

[Bouncer]

I hate to be the one to dig this back up, but anybody else have experiences they would like to share?

Also what resources are their for these wheel bearings other then feebay. I have found a set of all balls and have considered going with that brand since I will be going with the for my steering neck tapered bearings.

[Faust]

I have always bought NSK or a similar well known brand until recently, when I bought a set of eBay and they are to be unstamped except for the size- 6302 (China?).
They look and feel good, but I have no real long-term experience with them.
I guess you have to ask the question as to where do all the brand names make their bearings-China?
During the Olympics all the facts about China came out. One that surprised me was that China make 70% of the world's microwaves now, so bearings should not be a problem

If the Chinese bearing industry is like most of their industry, the products are produced to the specs provided by the buyer. What the buyer requests is what he gets. That is why the big quality differences between Harbor Freight and Grizzley, even though they buy from the same manufacturers.

[MCRider]

I have always bought NSK or a similar well known brand until recently, when I bought a set of eBay and they are to be unstamped except for the size- 6302 (China?).
They look and feel good, but I have no real long-term experience with them.
I guess you have to ask the question as to where do all the brand names make their bearings-China?
During the Olympics all the facts about China came out. One that surprised me was that China make 70% of the world's microwaves now, so bearings should not be a problem

If the Chinese bearing industry is like most of their industry, the products are produced to the specs provided by the buyer. What the buyer requests is what he gets. That is why the big quality differences between Harbor Freight and Grizzley, even though they buy from the same manufacturers.

I'd say that's got to be true. If Timken is yourbrand for example, their website indicates they have production in China, so we can't get away from it.

But I'm curious as i don't know. Which are you saying is better, geneally, HF or Grizzly (not familiar with them)? Thanks.

[ev0lution7]

i replaced my bearings with a hole list of manufactors and it has been fine soo far about 4k miles on the bike so far!

[HavocTurbo]

Well I have some "All Ball" brand sitting on the shelf....haven't tried them yet.

The last set of wheel bearings I bought were from Purvis Bearing Supply....

They were made in Argentina of all places...go figure.

I only use all balls on my bikes. Only brand I haven't had a problem with.

[ev0lution7]

i have all balls in my pants

[HavocTurbo]

All balls and no stick shift?

I bet your woman feels cheated!!!

 

[ev0lution7]

well i couldnt think of anything whitty about the "stick" so i went with first instink

[HavocTurbo]

At least with expensive bearings like these you know you wont break....

[Alan F.]

In some machinery I work on at the day job I've used several different brands over the years, SKF is in there now and doesn't seem to be lasting any longer than any of the other brands I've been supplied,  this is a continuous-feed paper cutting system, very dusty, lots of vibration, and all of the bearing bores and shafts have been beaten up by other techs over the years so that nothing lines up quite right anymore.  My point being that cheap Chinese bearings, Korean, french, Spanish, South American, and even some old NOS American made bearings all lasted the same interval in this machine before sound and vibration prompted replacement. 

I'm a little undecided which bearings to use myself on my bikes, if my suspicion is right and they're all pretty much the same to a certain degree...  I could just use whatever's cheap enough and swap them out in a season or two. 

What kind of mileage are you guys getting out of bearings you're happy with?  And what kind of riding do you do....wet/dry/cold/hot/dusty/dirty?

That's the info I'd need to make an educated decision, if you're happy with your bearings because you think a 20 mile ride on a sunny day is 'where it's at'....I'm not talking to you, sorry for being plain and blunt about that.

[Bouncer]

Well I have some "All Ball" brand sitting on the shelf....haven't tried them yet.

The last set of wheel bearings I bought were from Purvis Bearing Supply....

They were made in Argentina of all places...go figure.

I only use all balls on my bikes. Only brand I haven't had a problem with.

That's good to hear because this is the setup I plan on going with on my bike.

http://www.z1enterprises.com/detail.aspx?ID=2790

http://www.z1enterprises.com/detail.aspx?ID=2797

[HondaMan]

What is the Honda OEM these days? HBC is Chinese but does that matter? Are they all made in China these days? Is Timken or Reynolds better?

Thoughts and comments.

I've searched some old threads, but want updated opinions.

Timken, Reynolds, KML, SKF is my best-to-least desired choices. This is based on their consistency in both tolerances and metal qualities, and their track records.

My bike gets only Timkens. 

[kach_me]

Timken no longer makes ball bearings.. they just make tapered roller bearings (they also own Torrington, which makes needle roller bearings).

I used NTN (Japan) electric-motor grade bearings for my wheel rebuild. The OEM bearings were NTN, but I opted for double-sealed ones. So far, they have been great.

I work for NTN in Macomb and a couple of years ago we ran into Timken making a 0 degree angle taper (slick marketing lingo for a cylindrical bearing huh?).  Needless to say they make more than tapers now. 

[HondaMan]

Timken no longer makes ball bearings.. they just make tapered roller bearings (they also own Torrington, which makes needle roller bearings).

I used NTN (Japan) electric-motor grade bearings for my wheel rebuild. The OEM bearings were NTN, but I opted for double-sealed ones. So far, they have been great.

I work for NTN in Macomb and a couple of years ago we ran into Timken making a 0 degree angle taper (slick marketing lingo for a cylindrical bearing huh?).  Needless to say they make more than tapers now. 

So, the old Bower Bearing plant is NTN now? I'm glad they didn't close it. Those were the people I went to in the 1970s and ordered the tapered steering head bearings for these bikes: they would call me back in 2 days to pick them up. Today, these must be custom-ground from stock units, so I wonder if they used to routinely do it as a service in those days? Good people.

I think you mentioned before that Timken is not making ball bearings. I picked up some 6205 and 6305 Timkens about 2 years ago when I was resurrecting my 5-year still bike. They must have been some old stock? Do you know when they stopped making these fine parts? I imagine SKF drove them out of the business with their Pacific-rim labor rates.

[Mach-5(50)]

I think you mentioned before that Timken is not making ball bearings. I picked up some 6205 and 6305 Timkens about 2 years ago when I was resurracting my 5-year still bike. They must have been some old stock? Do you know when they stopped making these fine parts? I imagine SKF drove them out of the business with their Pacific-rim labor rates.
[/quote]

most bearing brands are re-boxing these days. they have to have a complete product line, even if they don't manufacture every part number themselves. most are going to be sourced from around the globe, but as mentioned earlier i think, to each buyers specifications. unfortunately, to keep price competative, a lot of are "loosening" there tolerances. most of the parts buying public has been advertised to death, and lead to believe that parts are parts, so buy from us cause we are the cheapest, and we are looking out for you, the parts buying public. so quality is sacrificed. i guess its the nature of the beast. (sorry for the rant).

later,

ryan

[kach_me]

I forgot to ask, Hondaman, if you'll give me the steering head bearing parts numbers that you use from Timken, then I'll try to cross reference them with something that we make here.  I may be able to do the sealed needle bearings as well, but they'll come from another facility IF I can get them.  Anyway, it's worth a shot. 

[HondaMan]

I forgot to ask, Hondaman, if you'll give me the steering head bearing parts numbers that you use from Timken, then I'll try to cross reference them with something that we make here.  I may be able to do the sealed needle bearings as well, but they'll come from another facility IF I can get them.  Anyway, it's worth a shot. 

I think you offered me this 2 years ago (and did it, too!), and it all helped me find out that the old sizes were not made anymore. That trail led me to discover that KML and the oriental brands that offer drop-in kits were having them custom-ground. That discovery led me further to find that I could get the Timkens in their base part number (from the 1970s, but without a suffix added) and grind them to fit. So, I bought 10 sets of the bearings, got the OD ground on the lowers, then had to change jobs, and the uppers are still here in my home office, waiting to have their ID bored. I have to build a special fixture for my lathe to grind the ID on the bearings for the top. Once that's done, I can offer Timken kits.

Whew!