Topic: Polishing the hubs? and wheel bearing question?

[runutz698]

Hello Huys,

I have just spent a while taking the old wheel bearings out of the hubs and de-lacing them out of the rim for polishing and in wait of the new rims.

Now a question about putting in the new bearings, should I do it before I polish them and re-install the retaining ring?? Or after the polshing?

My bearings are completely sealed type not open on either side, do most people just install them like this or do some of you take out the seal on one side?

Also how do you get the pipe or spacer in the middle to sit back where it needs to be??


Cheers
TOm

[spitfire]

Hi Tom, don't know the right way but I replaced the wheel bearings first, removed the inside seal on each bearing and packed the hub with grease. Then sent the wheels away to be relaced with new rims, then spent quite a lot of time with my Dremel polishing the hub. Should be easier for you with no spokes to catch your fingers on.

Cheers

Den

[mystic_1]

I wouldn't install the bearing until everything is polished and reassembled.  Polishing compound would do bad things to bearings and you dont want to even risk getting it in there.

If the bearings are the double-sealed type then they should already be lubed and ready to go.  You can install them like that.  You can leave off the inner seals as there's nothing to seal against inside the hub, but then your bearing lube will tend to fling out of the bearings a bit.

The center spacer can be positioned approximately for now, when you install the front axle that'll center the spacer for you and also seat the bearings against the spacer.

mystic_1

[Gamma]

Just done my front hub.  I stripped it then popped the old bearings back in so I could refit the axle and spin it in a pillar drill to clean and polish it.  I used a piece of thick wire through the bottom of the axle up into a bolt hole in the hub.  Doing this in a pillar drill can be quite hazardous, so the wire would pull out if I caught my pinkies.
I first hand filed the rough ridges in the centre grooves using a round file, then ran the pillar drill and used 180 grade emery, then finer grades until I could polish it.
I then fitted the new bearings with the centre spacer and retainer, which I restaked.
The wheel builder will probably need wheel bearings fitted to do the relace job.
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z293/galaxy8155/emeryhub.jpg[/img]]
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z293/galaxy8155/emeryhub1.jpg[/img]]
http://i192.photobucket.com/albums/z293/galaxy8155/DSC02503.jpg[/img]]

[mystic_1]

Quite ingenious.  Turned out nice.

mystic_1

[754]

Would be safer if you support lower end of axle.
 ie, pointed wooden dowel fastened to the base somehow..

[Gamma]

Yes, there is probably room for improvement.  The most important thing is to be very very careful if using a cloth etc: as it could grab, so the wire has to release the hub and let the axle spin freely if this happens.

[przjohn]

Quite ingenious.  Turned out nice.

mystic_1

I do basically the same thing except using a couple of freeze plugs and a 3/8 carriage bolt in our American, "Drill Press"  The 3/8 Carriage Bolt takes the place of the freeze plug bolt. I then use a pre drilled piece of 1/4 stock clamped to the base of the press as the holder for the lower bolt. This is what I call "A Poor Man's Lathe" Though t I had a pic somewhere but can't find it.

[evanphi]

This is something I wrote up for the "Proven tips and tricks" section of the forum on reinstalling your bearings.

http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php/topic,149489.0.html

Don't remove any seals. They are double sealed for a reason!