Did I buy the right bearings?
 

I bought quantities of loose ball bearings (200 @ 1/4", 100 @ 3/16") for repairs, and I'm not sure if I bought the right ones. I went to McMaster Carr and bought alloy steel chrome finish, grade 25 bearings. Here's the link to the page: http://www.mcmaster.com/nav/enter.asp?pagenum=1124.

Looking at that page, I bought the E52100 Alloy Steel bearings.

Is this the right thing? If not, where can I go to find it?

Thanks for your help,
Brian

what are you trying to repair? Specifically, wheels, headset, bottom bracket? And which model?

The sizes are ones you will use. I can't remember off the top of my head, but I'm pretty sure 1/4 is bottom brackets (and possibly rear hubs). 3/16 is front hubs. I think. You can find the numbers on the web, although surprisingly not on Sheldon's site, at least as far as I've found. Those prices are pretty good for grade 25. I usually get mine from bikepartsetc.

See Harris' site for sizes and most common uses.

yup you got the sizes right...grade 25
just got my 2nd batch today....of 1/4" and 3/16"
1/4" for rear hubs
and 3/16" for front hubs

Here's the thing. They're alloy steel. I was told chrome steel are the ones to use. They're chrome coated, but they're a duller hue, and not as shiny as the ones I've used before. Am I looking at any problems with thse alloy steel bearings?

chrome steel is an alloy

Sounds like zinc plated bearing balls to me.

-Kurt

Zinc, eh? I know chrome steel is an alloy, but these bearing are termed "alloy steel," and described as "chrome-finished." They're not the bright, shiny chrome bearings we're all used to. I'm pretty sure they're not the ideal (or the standard) for bicycles. I'm just wondering if anyone has any further insight.

the chromed alloy is cheaper and harder(?) at grade 25
the stainless is more expensive and softer(?) by a rockwell of 2 and are a better grade (24)

so, I'm curious if the additional ten-thousandth of an inch is really worth anything, if the softness of either is not suitable for our purposes, and most importantly if it is really important to use, with all else equal (knowing that in this case it doesn't hold) if there is any reason to use chrome over stainless or the other way around.