Cup and cone bearings

trail jacker
trail jacker Posts: 844
edited November 2011 in MTB workshop & tech
Hi all,

I got a Shimano MT15 wheelset about 6 months ago, which have cup and cone bearings. I was wondering if it is a good idea to get them stripped and regreased for winter riding? The wheels spin fine, I have just heard horror stories about hubs seizing up if the grease isn't replaced a few times a year, and what with it coming to the wettest bit of they year I though it may be a good idea. Is this a good idea? Or unnecessary?

Ta
Carbon 456... http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/8854609/

Comments

  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    If you have the cone spanners, can't hurt to pen them up, clean and regrease.
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  • trail jacker
    trail jacker Posts: 844
    I don't have the spanners unfortunately, but I get cheap labour at a local bike shop that my club / team is sponsored by. Worth a shot?
    Carbon 456... http://www.pinkbike.com/photo/8854609/
  • rhialto
    rhialto Posts: 277
    I have XT wheels with cup and cones and I re-grease them every year at least. Like SS says, it can't hurt and doesn't take very long if you have the right tools. After 12 months, I find much less grease than when they were last overhauled and it's always discoloured (I should probably do them more often). Depending on your riding conditions, 6 months may be a good time to have them overhauled. Better early than late. Too late may result in permanent damage to the cups.
  • plugp7
    plugp7 Posts: 298
    I've had my M525 hubs for about 5 years now and grease and adjust the hubs before and after winter. The grease is usually discoloured like dpaulett says and occasionally has water drops in it!
    Invest in the spanners, they aint expensive.
    Cotic Soul 26 inch. Whyte T130
  • baznav73
    baznav73 Posts: 111
    Good Advice here you realy need to look after cup and cone hubs, if you wait until they are rough before doing it its already to late and the damage is done.
    you can buy new cones for the axle and bearings but once the races pressed into the hub are damaged thats the end of them, when i service any cup and cone hub i will always replace the bearings even if they look ok they only cost a couple of quid.
  • supersonic
    supersonic Posts: 82,708
    nce the races pressed into the hub are damaged thats the end of them

    Surprisingly not always, with a suitable sized socket you can knock them out and replace.
    GT ZASKAR CARBON TEAM

    VOODOO CANZO

    Come and see me at https://www.facebook.com/biketyke/
  • mrmonkfinger
    mrmonkfinger Posts: 1,452
    supersonic, how do you get inside to do that? I guess on the rear you could pull the freehub?
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  • nicklouse
    nicklouse Posts: 50,675
    they just drift out after removing the cover. the freebody you bin and replace if the race has gone.
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  • baznav73
    baznav73 Posts: 111
    supersonic wrote:
    nce the races pressed into the hub are damaged thats the end of them

    Surprisingly not always, with a suitable sized socket you can knock them out and replace.

    There is truth in the concept but not for shimano hubs because in all my time working with bikes i have never seen shimano hub body races available as spare parts, campagnolo yes shimano no.

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