anyway to seal up bottom bracket bearings ?
10-02-14, 05:56 PM
#26
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Location: Rochester, NY
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Bikes: Stewart S&S coupled sport tourer, Stewart Sunday light, Stewart Commuting, Stewart Touring, Co Motion Tandem, Stewart 3-Spd, Stewart Track, Fuji Finest, Mongoose Tomac ATB, GT Bravado ATB, JCP Folder, Stewart 650B ATB
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If I understand grease and bearing action properly there are a few things going on that confound "water proof" claims. One is that as the bearings turn/roll they push a path through the grease. At first the grease has enough cling and "pressure" (not sure how to label the action of the lube getting pushed out of the way then flowing back in behind the rolling element) so that the rolling parts are fully encased within the grease. But in time this lessens and soon there is a clear of grease path, the oils from the grease then are the lubing aspects between the bearings and surfaces.
The other aspect that I've read about, and have seen many times, is that the grease and water will get churned together into an emulsion. So while the grease is waterproof in that it won't dissolve within the water there will be a water/grease mix just the same. I've taken apart recently packed BBs and hubs to find the grease has turned into a discolored foamy mess.
So as the discussions about chain lube, bearing lubing and life is much more about conditions ridden in and amount of maintenance then the type of lube used. Andy.
The other aspect that I've read about, and have seen many times, is that the grease and water will get churned together into an emulsion. So while the grease is waterproof in that it won't dissolve within the water there will be a water/grease mix just the same. I've taken apart recently packed BBs and hubs to find the grease has turned into a discolored foamy mess.
So as the discussions about chain lube, bearing lubing and life is much more about conditions ridden in and amount of maintenance then the type of lube used. Andy.
10-02-14, 07:12 PM
#27
Mechanic/Tourist
If there is a continuous double ring of grease when one checks the BB while asseembling it tends to maintain a pretty good seal, and better so if the grease is less friendly to water - both in composition and in thickness. The other aspect I spoke to with my recommendation is keeping water away from possible entry points. Doing both can go quite a ways toward preventing contamination. I used to ride year-round in Michigan winters and the methods I used worked quite well. I made seals for the hubs by laying a bead of silicone over the dust caps and cone/locknut. They were removable and fit nicely on the locknuts after inspection as well.
10-03-14, 07:23 AM
#28
Senior Member
I would post a pic of the tub I have but I have misplaced it in my messy garage.
-SP
