Bicycle Mechanics - Overhauling hubs: Replace or clean bearings

I am new to bike mechanics and was planning on cleaning and repacking the hubs this weekend on my 2003 Specialized Hardrock. The bike has between 1200-1500 miles on it and has been through heat, salt, snow, high water, etc. Will it make a noticable difference to just clean the BBs and repack them or should I replace them? I could order new ones online, but I don't know the size and I wouldnt get them by the weekend. Anyone know what size would be required for the Alex wheels this bike has? Would my 2003 Specialized Allez Elite Cr-Mo use the same size bearings? In the conditions I ride, how often should I repack the hubs? I was thinking every 1000 miles from now on. Thanks for the help.

Look the bearings over closely. Unless they are pitted or dull looking, clean them up and reuse them. Look closely at the cones though and make sure they aren't pitted where the bearings roll. If you see any roughness, get new cones and bearings. Try your LBS for new parts. bearings are pretty standard sizes and they should have lots of them cheap.

Since your bike is only a year old, you should be able to just clean and repack.

Yeah, your LBS should have them. We sell every size you could need for a wheel for about $0.05 a peice. If they are in good shape you can put them back in, but at that price why not just replace them.

I am new to bike mechanics and was planning on cleaning and repacking the hubs this weekend on my 2003 Specialized Hardrock. The bike has between 1200-1500 miles on it and has been through heat, salt, snow, high water, etc. Will it make a noticable

I'm of the opinion, if it ain't broke, don't fix. If the balls are in pristine condition keep using em. Just tore down and rebuilt a set of Acera hubs from 1996. Have maybe 5000 miles on em. Things looked brand new inside. Those damn cheapies just keep going and going.

That being said, its handy to have a complete change out available. Spent a good two hours or so on my hnads and knees looking for that one ball that went walk-about on me. If you change/lose one ball, your best off replacing the entire set.

I've picked up a supply of various sizes from Loose Screws.

http://www.thethirdhand.com/index.cgi?c=Bearings&id=387434530857

Sure my LBS could have helped me, but I was order some other gear and just threw em into the order.

at that price why not just replace them.

My opinion, too. A visual will only tell you if they're really bad. They could be a little out of round or whatever and you wouldn't know. So, while you're in there, why not just replace 'em.

I just called the LBS. They want $3.99/ packet and each packet is enough to do a hub. I guess I am going to order them online where I can get about 100 for that price.

Do cheap wheel makers (i.e. Alex) usually use grade 25 or something worse?

I think I am going to order from Bike Tools Etc. They have grade 25 chromium and grade 25 stainless steel. SS are a bit more, but not much, which should I get? Also, they have 1/4", 3/16" and 3/8", what size or sizes should I get? My road bike says it has sealed bearings, what does that mean?

I just called the LBS. They want $3.99/ packet and each packet is enough to do a hub. I guess I am going to order them online where I can get about 100 for that price.

Do cheap wheel makers (i.e. Alex) usually use grade 25 or something worse?

I think I am going to order from Bike Tools Etc. They have grade 25 chromium and grade 25 stainless steel. SS are a bit more, but not much, which should I get? Also, they have 1/4", 3/16" and 3/8", what size or sizes should I get? My road bike says it has sealed bearings, what does that mean?



Common bearing sizes are 1/4" for bottom brackets and rear hubs, 3/16" for front hubs and some headsets and 5/32" for other headsets.

But I'd measure em.

Grade 25 is the preferred.

Sealed generally refers to a mechanism (seal) which attempts to keep crud out. Many times people use the term to, incorrectly, refer to a cartridge bearings, that is bearings sealed into an inner and outer race.
See here, scroll down a bit....... http://www.parktool.com/repair_help/howfix_hub.shtml

What is the brand of hub?

What is the brand of hub?

The hubs are Alex brand.

" Spent a good two hours or so on my hnads and knees looking for that one ball that went walk-about on me. If you change/lose one ball, your best off replacing the entire set."

Which is what old towels are good for, never disassemble a loose bearing set
up without a large fluffy cloth underneath to catch the bearings. You can
get by without one, but not two and as the poster said, lose one you might as well lose them all. If the cones are pitted the bearings should be replaced as well. Steve