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Need help with finding Crank Bearings
Hi there vintage bike enthusiasts! I’m having a heck of a time finding crank bearings for this 1970s era Sears 3-Speed. It’s a ladies model made in Austria. The bearings are 1/4” balls and there’s 9 of them in the cage. There’s plenty available that meet the 1/4”x9 criteria but they’re way too small and other bearings sold for Sears 3 speeds are too big. I was hoping someone could give me a lead on a source for the bearings. https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...b81a29b78.jpeg https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...969932d7e.jpeg https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7e703ca27.jpeg |
An old school bike shop? I know mine has a lot of vintagey parts in boxes in the back. Donor from a yard sale?
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Also if anyone has a lead on a Tl3-S20 ballcup removal tool so I can fix the rear hub that’d also be greatly appreciated. The bike was my girlfriends grandmothers and she’s got sentimental attachment to it. It needs a little TLC so she can safely ride around with our 9mo old son https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...0868bb8b2a.png |
I'm a little confused here. Are you saying that replacement cages are too small in diameter? If so, then just reuse the old cage and snap the new balls into it. Alternatively, dump the cage and just use loose balls. Stick them to the races with grease. If you use loose balls then you will probably use more than nine...just be sure to leave approximately the space of one ball...don't use too many balls by crowding them all together.
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HI,
just pull a single bearing from your retained bearing holder, clean it thoroughly, and use your caliper to accurately it. Count the number of nalls in the holder and doble it. take away 1 of them so that 2(x) -1 = number of loose bearings. Use the best waterproof grease you can, something like "red" bearing grease which is tenacious holding onto metal parts. As far as the tool, do you have a local bicycle co-op? |
No, no, no. Fill the cup with 11 bearings, no added space. This is how half the bikes out there did it, and is perfect for the dimensions of the Steyr Cups and spindle.
You won't find an original bike out there that was factory assembled (intentionally) with one ball missing. And same for the Steyr headsets, but where the original bearing cages had about 14 evenly-spaced balls instead of a much better "full compliment" of balls filling the races. |
Originally Posted by dddd
(Post 20650176)
No, no, no. Fill the cup with 11 bearings, no added space. This is how half the bikes out there did it, and is perfect for the dimensions of the Steyr Cups and spindle.
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Whenever I have replaced the cage with loose balls, it was pretty obvious when I had the correct amount of balls. With the balls neatly lined up around the cup there will be a small space left that is too small to fit one more ball.
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Originally Posted by Pompiere
(Post 20650524)
Whenever I have replaced the cage with loose balls, it was pretty obvious when I had the correct amount of balls. With the balls neatly lined up around the cup there will be a small space left that is too small to fit one more ball.
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Originally Posted by dddd
(Post 20650176)
No, no, no. Fill the cup with 11 bearings, no added space. This is how half the bikes out there did it, and is perfect for the dimensions of the Steyr Cups and spindle.
You won't find an original bike out there that was factory assembled (intentionally) with one ball missing. And same for the Steyr headsets, but where the original bearing cages had about 14 evenly-spaced balls instead of a much better "full compliment" of balls filling the races. |
Originally Posted by davester
(Post 20650096)
I'm a little confused here. Are you saying that replacement cages are too small in diameter? If so, then just reuse the old cage and snap the new balls into it. Alternatively, dump the cage and just use loose balls. Stick them to the races with grease. If you use loose balls then you will probably use more than nine...just be sure to leave approximately the space of one ball...don't use too many balls by crowding them all together.
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11 loose 1/4" balls on either side.
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Originally Posted by DukeRyder
(Post 20651802)
i wish I could have reused the old cage (the pic is of the one good bearing). it was completely trashed! I thought about leaving them loose in there just pack with grease. If I can’t find a suitable replacement that’ll be my course of action for sure. |
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