Wheel bearings, first time cleaning.

qwerty1982

Well I have had a look on you tube and park tools website, but does any one have any good sites/links for walk throughs on how to clean/repair them?
Or any tips advice you can give would be great. Remember I'm new to all this so give it to me in layman terms!!!

cooldad

If they are cone and cup, just take them apart, clean the bits and put them back together with lots of grease. Cant really go wrong - only a cone, and lock nut on each side, plus lots of balls.
Tightening is a matter of tightening until they run smooth and not notchy, normally takes a bit of fiddling to get it just right.
Only tip - try not to drop any bearings into the hub, bugger to get out. If you do a blob of grease on a thin screwdriver works. Or a magnet I suppose.

qwerty1982

Thanks mate, sounds nice n simple! Do wiggle and places sell bearings if new ones needed. Also any type grease?

cooldad

I just use wheel bearing grease from Halfords (for just about everything) Big tub is about a fiver.
You will probably need a set of cone spanners - one to hold the cone, and one to set the locknut, again cheapies on Ebay are fine, again about a fiver a set. Just check the size of your nuts with a normal spanner first. Most sets actually have four different sizes in each spanner, just make sure they are the ones you need.
Balls are different sizes front and back, again plenty on Ebay, or call /email a bike shop (or someone clever like Supersonic or Nicklouse will know the sizes in their head).(I have junky wheels lying around if I need some) But normally they are ok, just easy to lose, especially if you are dumb enough to strip the wheels on the lawn.
Stick lots of grease in the cup in the hub when you are putting them back to hold the balls in place.

getonyourbike

I use Rock N Roll Red Devil and it's a top allround grease. I use it for anything that requires grease, hubs, pedals, the like and it's red so it makes you go faster, obviously
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... delID=4508

qwerty1982

Thanks again guys.

Is there a way to find out what size ball bearings I need then? Or hope that Supersonic etc read this... I have a 2009 Spesh Stump Jumper...?

cooldad

SS must still be asleep.
Rear are 1/4", front are 3/16″ in diameter and each race contains 9 bearings.

nicklouse

cooldad wrote:

SS must still be asleep.
Rear are 1/4", front are 3/16″ in diameter and each race contains 9 bearings.

sorry to correct. BUT the front has 10 bearings

qwerty1982

Cheers guys!

cooldad

Numbers over 3 are hard.

qwerty1982

Lithium greese, is that ok for the wheel bearings?

ali69er

any tips on getting the cassette off. Been a right pain of a job as my lock nuts are too big for the cone wrench, had to buy an adjustable one to get those off

Chunkers1980

Tip: a HG tool and chain whip to get the cassette off.

ali69er

An HG tool, to break the chain? Do I need that? To take the cassette off

redvee

There are sellers on Ebay doing stainless bearings quite cheap. I bought 25x1/4" for £2 but had to buy a pack of 3/16", 5/32" & 1/4" for a fiver for the front hub I recently serviced. I didn't bother re-using, just replaced them.

anjs

You need a lockring too l like this

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... delID=7975

And a chain whip

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... delID=4598


Guide to using them here:-

http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-hel ... el-removal

getonyourbike

I find the utorials on bicycle tutor easier to follow, eventough his voice can get a bit annoying.

http://bicycletutor.com/guide/

qwerty1982

getonyourbike wrote:

I find the utorials on bicycle tutor easier to follow, eventough his voice can get a bit annoying.

http://bicycletutor.com/guide/

Really good site that, had a little looky and have now book marked it!