Old 07-14-24 | 01:45 AM
  #16  
Duragrouch
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The hubs are not sealed with anything rubbery. It only has a washer with a lip that engages a groove on the hub, and you put grease in the groove, but it won't keep out water nor grit for longer than a couple hours riding. It is a cheap hub.

The cups look smooth, though that could just be a film of grease, can't tell.

The cones are spalled. If they were spalled just at one point, you could mark that point with nail polish or paint and install with that point on top, so would be less loaded when rolling. But the spalling is all the way around. Thus, you will at minimum feel this as vibration as you roll.

The balls are spalled. Good photos. At minimum, replace ALL the balls and use a good waterproof grease. Try to find replacement cones, that will make a big difference.

If you replace the balls AND cones, when reassembling, proper preload adjustment will make both wear better. It's kinda tricky for my method of very slight preload, so I will just say, **when installed with the quick release engaged (which will compress the axle)**, key is a) no bearing slack, no felt wiggle, and b) no binding, no notchiness. This cannot be felt spinning the wheel. You need to adjust the cones with the wheel out of the bike, and spacers to replace the frame or fork dropout, so you can lock down the quick-release and then spin the axle with your fingers, then you can really feel things; No slack, no notchiness. In between that is great, more bearing balls will share the load, the bearing will last longer.

But with no seals, keep it away from rain, mud, and grit.
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