Campagnolo U/T Chainset Bearings

ajb72

I am preparing to give my bike a thorough spring clean in the next few weeks - strip down, clean, re-grease etc. I am running Campag Chorus 11 speed.

I love to do my own mechanics where possible and it got me thinking about the bearings on the Ultra-Torque chainset. With the right tool it seems an easy enough job to replace them, but I wondered what sort of lifespan these bearings have and whether they should be replaced whilst the bike is stripped down?

I appreciate it depends on riding style and conditions as to how quickly they will wear, but wondered if any fellow campag users have had theirs replaced, and after how many miles? The groupset has done 2000+ miles now plus too many hours on the turbo. The chainset still feels smooth enough, so replacing them now would just be a convenience thing whilst the bike is in bits rather than emergency mechanics.

ajb72

From the silence, do I take it they don't need changing for a long while yet??

PieterM

If the chainset is still running smoothly and a visual inspection after taking the cranks off shows no rust or other issues, I would just leave them as is. They should last for much more than 2000 miles unless those are all wet/winter miles.

ajb72

I only have one road bike, so it's a mixture of winter miles and the odd rare dry day too!

Wappygixer

I used to strip my UT bearings on a regular basis.I don't rate the sealing on them to much so I thought prevention was better than cure.
For a regrease I used Dua-ace grease.
The park removal/refitting tool,. it pretty good to.I think you can pick them up for about £50 for the pair.

neeb

You are pretty unlikely to wear them out unless you have been seriously abusing them. Certainly not in 2000 miles! Strip, clean and re grease maybe about once a year, assuming everything is spinning smoothly (push the chain off the chainring and check that the cranks spin freely and smoothly without any grinding or play).

ajb72

I reckon you're right. A job for the end of this year perhaps.

Thanks all for the input.

Will.C

Just to add to this with a little problem of my own - I've shagged by chorus UT chainset riding it in all conditions through winter and the bearings seem to be completely knackered, lots of clicking and clunking and about 1 - 2mm of play in the bottom bracket, fixing bolt in the chainset is tight as a drum and when you spin the cranks with the chain off they deffo don't sound smooth, they spin nicely but not smoothley if you get me. I'm getting a proper service in march but will it be ok to carry on riding or could I do more permanant damage?

Ta