ok to to reuse ball bearings? if not, where to buy ?
#1
Chainstay Brake Mafia
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: California
Posts: 6,026
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times
in
10 Posts
ok to to reuse ball bearings? if not, where to buy ?
so i read that some people replace their ball bearings if they are going to bother to repack the grease.. should i always do this, or can they be reused
when you guy them, do they come in packs? or do LBS sometimes sell them individually? it would be cool to get like an assortment pack lol
i need some for pedals, bb, headset and wheels
and i heard marine grease was good to use? i did a temporary rebuild reusing the same ball bearings and used spray white lithium grease and the axles greased like this spin fast but are noisy so i think maybe the spray grease might not be thick enough.
this is on my 89 world sport which looks like it has been well ridden.. hopefully dont need to replace any thing besides the balls and grease
when you guy them, do they come in packs? or do LBS sometimes sell them individually? it would be cool to get like an assortment pack lol
i need some for pedals, bb, headset and wheels
and i heard marine grease was good to use? i did a temporary rebuild reusing the same ball bearings and used spray white lithium grease and the axles greased like this spin fast but are noisy so i think maybe the spray grease might not be thick enough.
this is on my 89 world sport which looks like it has been well ridden.. hopefully dont need to replace any thing besides the balls and grease
#3
Senior Member
The best place is one of the bearing supply outlets in your area.
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada - burrrrr!
Posts: 11,672
Bikes: 1958 Rabeneick 120D, 1968 Legnano Gran Premio, 196? Torpado Professional, 2000 Marinoni Piuma
Mentioned: 210 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1370 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,743 Times
in
934 Posts
There is nothing wrong with using used ball bearings, provided they have not discolored, provided they are not pitted and provided they are not rusted(yup, rust can and does attack bearings).
So, if the balls look good. If the cup and cone races look good. Then look closer. Get a magnifying glass and look at the balls, very closely. Run a fine point ball point pen around the races, feeling for rough spots indicating pitting. It a race is pitted, replace the race and the balls.
Hope this is a help
So, if the balls look good. If the cup and cone races look good. Then look closer. Get a magnifying glass and look at the balls, very closely. Run a fine point ball point pen around the races, feeling for rough spots indicating pitting. It a race is pitted, replace the race and the balls.
Hope this is a help
__________________
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
"98% of the bikes I buy are projects".
#6
Chainstay Brake Mafia
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: California
Posts: 6,026
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times
in
10 Posts
^thanks.. that "my ten speeds" site in your sig has a great tutorial on rebuilding the BB too
Last edited by frantik; 04-01-11 at 05:12 AM.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 33,656
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2026 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,095 Times
in
741 Posts
They are plenty cheap enough if you buy in bags of 100 too. Most of us aren't going to use 1000 bearing balls in a lifetime.
Edit: To the OP: Bike Tools Etc. (www.biketoolsetc.com) and the Third Hand/ Loose Screws ( www.loosescrews.com) sell bearings in bags of 100. Get Grade 25 balls as they are better than Grade 200 and cost very little extra.
Edit: To the OP: Bike Tools Etc. (www.biketoolsetc.com) and the Third Hand/ Loose Screws ( www.loosescrews.com) sell bearings in bags of 100. Get Grade 25 balls as they are better than Grade 200 and cost very little extra.
Last edited by HillRider; 04-01-11 at 11:11 AM.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Washington
Posts: 472
Bikes: Serotta Davis Phinney, 1992 Serotta T Max,1984 Specialized Allez, Olmo, 1974 Strawberry,Redline bmx, ect.,
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Use a lithium grease or synthetic grease that is about the same feel as Vaseline. If the lube is white then it will tell you when the grease is contaminated and needs an overhaul. I refuse to use waterproof grease (Phil Wood)as I had several bikes with this and 1 winter I hung up the bikes with this grease and rode my Phil wheels and come spring pulled out the other bikes to ride only later to find water had gotten in and separated the grease and rusted the Races of the rear hubs on both bikes, 2 Suntour Superbe hubs waisted from water proof grease.
#9
.
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 199
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
If anyone is curious, here are some photos I took of old and new bearings These were done with a crappy microscope at 60x magnification. The old ones came from a poorly maintained bottom bracket. The white specs on both are dust, not damage.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 33,656
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2026 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,095 Times
in
741 Posts
Properly maintained and adjusted bearings balls in hubs, bottom brackets and headsets can be reused because what you show hasn't happened to them.
#11
rebmeM roineS
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Metro Indy, IN
Posts: 16,216
Bikes: Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 653 Post(s)
Liked 345 Times
in
225 Posts
Very nicely imaged damage. Got any pics of used balls from a well maintained bottom bracket?
__________________
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
#12
.
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 199
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Well, that shows enough neglect and abuse will indeed damage bearing balls but I wonder what the races in this bottom bracket looked like also. Water incursion, inadequate lubrication and improper clearance settings will ruin any bearing.
Properly maintained and adjusted bearings balls in hubs, bottom brackets and headsets can be reused because what you show hasn't happened to them.
Properly maintained and adjusted bearings balls in hubs, bottom brackets and headsets can be reused because what you show hasn't happened to them.
Interestingly, the same bearings show little signs of wear with the naked eye or even at 10x. The damage didn't become visible until 60x.
Edit: Hillrider, I don't know about the races. They looked ok by my eye, but I never put them under the microscope.
#14
Chainstay Brake Mafia
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: California
Posts: 6,026
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times
in
10 Posts
anybody ever bough from VXB bearings? i'm assuming the "G25" means grade 25 https://www.vxb.com/page/bearings/PRO...-Balls/Kit8590
#16
Senior Member
Any half-decent bike shop will sell them, too, and they'll sell you the number you need. Yes, they'll cost more than buying a bulk quantity from some mail-order source. But they'll have them in stock.
#17
Chainstay Brake Mafia
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: California
Posts: 6,026
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times
in
10 Posts
yeah i called my lbs and they said they had them but then i gotta open up all the various hubs and bearings and count exactly how many of each size i need. i think im just gonna order them in bulk so i can have them on hand..
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 919
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
Ha ha, I totally agree. Yes, said bottom bracket was badly abused. I wasn't trying to say that bearings shouldn't be reused. My bottom bracket is in tip top form and I would gladly keep using the bearings for many more years. I just though my own personal scientific curiosity might be shared by others. Applying microscopy to things around my home is one of my many nerdy hobbies.
Interestingly, the same bearings show little signs of wear with the naked eye or even at 10x. The damage didn't become visible until 60x.
Edit: Hillrider, I don't know about the races. They looked ok by my eye, but I never put them under the microscope.
Interestingly, the same bearings show little signs of wear with the naked eye or even at 10x. The damage didn't become visible until 60x.
Edit: Hillrider, I don't know about the races. They looked ok by my eye, but I never put them under the microscope.
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 250
Bikes: '86 Trek Elance 400; '83 Trek 520; 90s Specialized Crossroads, '84 Trek 610 (wife's), 90s Trek Multitrack (wife's), Cargo Trailers, Burley for the Kids, WeeHoo Trailer
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I usually go to loose screws or bike tools, etc. now that I have a hobby of fixing up bikes and need a regular supply. I think if there is a local bearing place, that be fine too. I've never searched one out. For just a few, your LBS is fine. However, I'd double-check on the grade. I've bought the balls from a couple LBSes. Both times, they came out of bottle of Grade 200 bearings.
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: England
Posts: 12,948
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 19 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times
in
7 Posts
The usual grade for quality bike use is 25. This refers to how spherical the balls are, higher number are less spherical.
The hardest working ball bearings on a bike are in the headset. These can become ovalised from impact. As long as they all remain in alignment there is no problem but if you mix them around you can have localised damage. I prefer to replace the HS bearings during maintenance or treat the whole race very carefully.
I regularly re-use wheel bearings if they look OK.
I wouldnt know what bottom bracket bearings look like, mine are all sealed within a cartridge.
The hardest working ball bearings on a bike are in the headset. These can become ovalised from impact. As long as they all remain in alignment there is no problem but if you mix them around you can have localised damage. I prefer to replace the HS bearings during maintenance or treat the whole race very carefully.
I regularly re-use wheel bearings if they look OK.
I wouldnt know what bottom bracket bearings look like, mine are all sealed within a cartridge.
#22
Chainstay Brake Mafia
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: California
Posts: 6,026
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times
in
10 Posts
really? i would assume it would be BB or maybe the wheel hubs..?
yeah thats another reason i think i might just order a bunch. shipping is killer on BBs though heavy mofos. or i could get ceramic balls which are light but cost a ton haha
However, I'd double-check on the grade. I've bought the balls from a couple LBSes. Both times, they came out of bottle of Grade 200 bearings.
#23
We haven't located us yet
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Idaho
Posts: 168
Bikes: Hong Fu, Mercier Kilo tt, Cannondale 2.8, Takara Grand Touring
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
anybody ever bough from VXB bearings? i'm assuming the "G25" means grade 25 https://www.vxb.com/page/bearings/PRO...-Balls/Kit8590
#24
Senior Member
Headset is definitely the hardest, it takes rider weight, weight transfer while braking, front wheel shock going over bumps (thrust direction and radial direction), and really doesn't turn very much to spread out the point loading. Wheels and BB spin. Front wheel might be the next most stressful, but not clear about that.