Bicycle Mechanics - Need help with clean / lube - Axle Bearing for Gipiemmie Hubs

Hi all!

I'm an "Old School" bike mechanic (I worked for 6 years in a shop - but it was - believe it or not - 30 years ago!). I still enjoy, own and work on older bikes - mostly with typical cups and cones.

I recently acquired a Pinarello with Gipiemmie hubs. They spin smooth - no play at all - but I'd still like to pull them apart for cleaning and lube.

These hubs have what appear to be pressed-i:eek:n bearing units (please see picture).

Is there a special tool (or trick) to extract the bearing unit? (A confident hammer blow comes to mind - but I DON'T want to ruin them if there's a better way!)

I'm hoping someone out there's run across this type before. If not, I'll probably blow them out (to the extent possible) with compressed air and try to force white grease into the assemblies.

Many thanks in advance!
VintageSteel
COLORADO, USA

Don't know these specific hubs, but usually it's one or two ways. Some have shoulders on the exles, so tapping the end of the axle with a plastic faced hammer (or steel hammer with a block of wood in between) will drive out the opposide bearing. Then you can reverse the process for the first.

Others don't have a shoulder and the axle is tapped and driven all the way across with a punch. Then an expanding punch similar to what's used for removing headset cups is slid in and used to drive out the bearings.

These tools are hard to find these days, but you can make your own by finding a steel or brass bar just under the ID of the bearings. Saw a 1' slot up one end, as if to split it the long way. Feed it through then tap a screwdriver into the split to wedge it open, and then you can tap the bearing out from the other side. (you're tapping toward the screwdriver)

I see sealed bearings, you can remove the seals, then clean and re grease the bearings ..
in situ ..

I would do that, in the case you describe, as you just want to service them.

For sealed bearing removal a tool is made to snap open behind the bearing,
then from the opposite side a drift punch can bang out the bearing, after removing the axle..

Don't have those tools?, consider turning the job over to your LBS ..

Thanks guys! I don't believe there are shoulders but I think I'll just do in situ as you suggest.

Ah yes, I remember the drift punch well! I don't have one these days - but we sure used to use it back in the shop.

Thanks for your responses, I can't wait to get this bike out for a real ride soon!