Bicycle Mechanics - Bearing failure

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gurry
08-09-10, 11:02 AM
Spent the day inspecting and repairing my cousin's road bike yesterday and spun the rear wheel. Sounded real funny so I pulled it from the bike and the axle was loose. So upon further inspection I notice what I thought was a bearing missing on the drive side. Then I start fishing out the bearings and see some other chunks coming out too. Two broken bearings on one side of the hub.
First is a pic of the bike. Then the carnage. The axle and one cone will never find themselves on another bike.
http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp300/gurrygnu/IMG_2265.jpg
http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp300/gurrygnu/IMG_2260.jpg
http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp300/gurrygnu/IMG_2261.jpg
http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp300/gurrygnu/IMG_2259.jpg

BCRider
08-09-10, 11:34 AM
Is it just the lighting or does one of those balls have an air bubble in the middle?
cny-bikeman
08-09-10, 11:38 AM
OK, so this has happened many times to many bikes, and stranger things have happened as well - so do you have a question? Incidentally the odds are the cup(s) on the hub are ruined as well.

gurry
08-09-10, 05:04 PM
Most likely there was damage to the hub as well. I just slapped it back together with a spare axle and cone and a couple of used bearings. I apologize for the pics, but there was no air bubble. It did look like the bearing went through two separate processes where it should have only went through one. It looked like there was a smaller bearing inside a bigger bearing( perhaps premature cooling?). The rear wheel needs to be replaced anyway as there are real good flat spots on the rim. This is just a quick fix for a month or so.
There was no question for this post. I just thought that since this was the first time I witnessed split bearings. and had a camera ready, it would be nice to post it.