How to clean bearings.

dannyharris
dannyharris Posts: 217
edited July 2013 in Workshop
Maybe I named this topic incorrectly.

I need to sort my bearings out on my rear wheel. Have a slight play in the wheel and its starting to sound like a grinding noise.
Question is it a sealed unit? How do you tell?
If it can be done how easy is it?

Have a carrera tdf 2011.

Comments

  • smoggysteve
    smoggysteve Posts: 2,909
    If its not a sealed unit, you will have a nut on the threaded part you put the quick release through. You need to get a cone spanner to undo it to get to the bearing. They are easy to clean but a bit fiddly to stop all the ball bearings falling out and getting lost. After taking all the ball bearings out, give them and inside the case a good clean out with a cloth or something you can use to get inside and clean out the dirty grease. relube with shimano green bearing grease and place ball bearings back inside. When tightening back up, make sure you leave a small gap of around a mm or you will tighten it too much and will be stiff.
  • dannyharris
    dannyharris Posts: 217
    So a sealed unit would that mean changin the whole wheel or just that section?

    Halfords did advise I would need come spanners to change my cassette. Never did use them.

    Link for them below

    http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... tAodxw4A2g
  • smoggysteve
    smoggysteve Posts: 2,909
    They are the spanners. But you would also need a chain whip and cassette tool to remove the cassette from the hub on the rear wheel first or you cannot get to the nut.

    Its only the inside of the hub you need to worry about. the rest of the wheel is fine. you could get new hubs put on rims by someone who knows how to build them, how cost effective that is depends on the wheels.
  • dannyharris
    dannyharris Posts: 217
    That's great. Changed the cassette a couple of weeks ago along with a new chain.
    So it's starting to sound easier. Remove cassette undo the nut out pops the bearings.
    Thanks for the info.
  • wishitwasallflat
    wishitwasallflat Posts: 2,927
    dannyharris wrote:
    That's great. Changed the cassette a couple of weeks ago along with a new chain.
    So it's starting to sound easier. Remove cassette undo the nut out pops the bearings.
    Thanks for the info.

    Sadly it's not quite that simple - It is ok to do but there's more to it than this. Read up on servicing cup and cone bearings (Park tools maintenance site is great) before you open them up and usually best to put in new ball bearings as they are cheap. If its a sealed cartridge read up on how to knock the old ones out and fit new ones.
  • dannyharris
    dannyharris Posts: 217
    Ok so re greased my rear bearings.
    Feels good to ride.

    BUT

    When free wheeling I don't here the clicking noise I think it should make.
    Is this normal or have I done something wrong
  • smoggysteve
    smoggysteve Posts: 2,909
    That will be the grease baffling the sound. Its not wrong. Some free hubs are noisy, some are quiet. My Veltec hubs make a racquet but the my shimano ones not so. Fulcrums can be pretty quiet too.

    So long as the free hub catches on the forward turn and brings the power to the cassette then all is ok
  • dannyharris
    dannyharris Posts: 217
    Fingers crossed all is well. So worried I've either over tightened or not tightened something properly.
    Find out tomorrow going for a biggish ride.
  • smoggysteve
    smoggysteve Posts: 2,909
    How much gap did you leave on when you tightened up the hub with the cone spanner? I generally leave a 1mm gap so when you put the quick release on, it doesn't nip the hub closed too tight which would cause drag. If, with the wheel attached, you can spin it for more than a minute without it stopping it has enough play to not be causing resistance to your pedaling.
  • dannyharris
    dannyharris Posts: 217
    I just tightened it till it was just about touching. Feels ok.
    Just been on a 66 mile club run with no problems at all.
    Thanks for the help
  • andrew549
    andrew549 Posts: 35
    Assuming they are cup and cone bearings this is a good guide to rebuilding the hubs
    http://sheldonbrown.com/cone-adjustment.html you should aim that there is no play in the axle and that it doesn't bind after you've adjusted it all.
  • smoggysteve
    smoggysteve Posts: 2,909
    Considering he has rebuilt them and is happy they roll free, not sure what that bit of advice achieves. Think the horse has already bolted on this one.
  • dannyharris
    dannyharris Posts: 217
    It feels much smoother than before. It is cup and cone.
    I may losen the nuts a little and see if the wheel spins more.
    Seems to be good tho.
  • smoggysteve
    smoggysteve Posts: 2,909
    I would leave it. Getting just the right gap can be a hassle. Adjusting could make it worse. To narrow it has resistance and can wear the bearings. Too loose and the seal is not perfect at grease can get out, water in and too much movement can cause early wear too. Think you did it bang on first time.
  • dannyharris
    dannyharris Posts: 217
    Yea I think your right.
    Seen the weather report for this week!
    As I also commute on it I thought I'd see how it goes in the wet.
    Still feels good. Will leave it as it is.
    And again thanks everyone for the help.
  • dannyharris
    dannyharris Posts: 217
    Ok so I got absolutely soaked on my travels to work and back yesterday.
    And now I have a clicking sound intermittently.
    Could this still be down to my rear bearings?
  • smoggysteve
    smoggysteve Posts: 2,909
    Probably not, there are a multitude of things that can cause a clicking noise. If its intermittent and not in tune with a rotation of the wheel, ie the fast you go the faster the clicking. I would look elsewhere. Cleats are a big source of phantom clicks. Especially irregular clicks as you never really put the pedal down exactly the same way twice is that makes sense. Try a little oil on the flat clipping surface on the pedal and see if that helps. Also, try putting the bike on a stand or upside down and push the pedals around and see if click occurs. Run up and down all the gears. Even if you got water into your bearings which after one wet ride on newly greased hubs is unlikely , it would still take a while for ingresed water to start causing wear and damage. Maybe a week or so as the grease emulsifies but not immediately.
  • dannyharris
    dannyharris Posts: 217
    I will oil my pedals before my Thursday commute.
    Will let you know how it goes. Might try greasing my bottom bracket too on Friday.
    I seem to remember last winter had the same kind of noise.
  • dannyharris
    dannyharris Posts: 217
    No joy with the pedals.
    Took rear wheel off and can feel a slight grinding when I spin it and hold the nuts.
    Inside the hub where the bearings sit is slightly corroded.
    Think a new hub is my next step.

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