Originally Posted by masi61
Why guess at the proper size of the bearings. Get your self a 1" micrometer and learn how to use it. This is invaluable for all kinds of mechanic work. You'll be able to I.D. the diameter down to thousandths of an inch (or even 10 thousandths if you have the right model of mikes). If you don't feel comfortable with converting thousandths to fractional measurements, the machinist market is flooded with good quality dial calipers, some that are marked on the dial in fractional measurements to simplify things. Its odd that to work on bikes you need BOTH a fractional and metric dial caliper or micrometer. Once you verify the correct size ball bearings then you can deal with the BOZO mechanic who recommended the wrong size and confront him with his bad advice directly because you will no what you need with no uncertainty at all.
Of course you're right...I've been meaning to get a caliper ruler. But I was relatively certain the bearings needed were 3/16, and both I and the mechanic
knew that 5/32 was the incorrect size. It was his opinion/experience that 5/32s work in place of 3/16s...and he didn't have any 3/16 in the shop. He claimed to have used them before with no problems. Was he so desperate for a $1 sale? Maybe. I wanted to say no, but I have confrontation issues. Besides, a friend has used this mechanic for years and raves about him.
Not that I'll ever go back there again.
Thanks for all the help!