Originally Posted by
kudude
"sealed bearing" is a bit of a misnomer -- it just means you can't service it. Maybe the higher quality of your Phil Wood bearings is the reason they're so smooth. The lower quality bearings on my veloce hubs haven't stood up to the cyclocross all that well. If they were "antiquated" I could just repack them and have them nearly as good as new. As it is, they're toast and I'm left trying to figure our what other bearings are compatible and just how exactly to R&R them.
In 1991 I bought a used touring bike that had seen many miles including a RAAM-style tour. It had Sugino hubs with sealed cartridge bearings that were loose. I pushed them out, then took them down to the local industrial supply shop and picked up a new set for just a few dollars.