wheel bearings

[DebW]

Deb: so what does this mean for non-serviceable, scealed hubs? If they were built okay to begin with, they'll be fine for ever? Never need to be reopened?

They won't be fine forever. But when they go bad, instead of removing the ball bearings and adding fresh grease, you remove a bearing cartridge and replace it. Bad bearing cartridges feel really bad.

[Grog]

They won't be fine forever. But when they go bad, instead of removing the ball bearings and adding fresh grease, you remove a bearing cartridge and replace it. Bad bearing cartridges feel really bad.

So what would be the expected lifespan of a bearing cartridge?

[DebW]

So what would be the expected lifespan of a bearing cartridge?

I don't have alot of experience with them, but I think they should last several years, maybe 3-5 years or more. Maybe others have some direct experience.

[Grog]

I don't have alot of experience with them, but I think they should last several years, maybe 3-5 years or more. Maybe others have some direct experience.

Thanks Deb for the precious info.

Mine are a cause of no problem so I'll leave it at that!

[DebW]

I do have a set of cheap Performance sealed bearing hubs. They've been used mostly for commuting off and on over the last 15 years and they still feel super smooth. 3-5 years is probably a low estimate even for someone who puts lots of miles on their wheels. The good thing about the cartridges is that when they go bad, they won't damage any other part of the hub. If you ignore a servicable hub long enough for the bearings to get pitted, it will pit the bearing surface of the hub body, and then the whole hub needs to be replaced.

[mimitabby]

To my everlasting relief, the older gentleman at the LBS is working on my bike. He called me last night and told me the bearings were great but the cones were shot. He does not have campy parts, would i find another shop that does? (he could order them but would have to buy a dozen or more... etc)

The whole reason I took my bike to him is that he is easy to get to and a great mechanic. Sigh.. now i have to go to ANOTHER LBS and get the parts and bring them back to him. DH said. Well, you know he's not a Bianchi dealer... argh!! (good old DH gets another I told you so)
I thought
good mechanic=good mechanic. RIGHT?

I also told him, "if the front cones are shot, since the rear wheel is as old as the front wheel, maybe you could look at it too?"
he said, "yes, that's a good idea"

[DebW]

Mimi,

Yup, that's why you repack your hubs periodically or at the first sign of non-smoothness - so you don't have to replace parts. The cones go first, then they will wear pits into the bearings, then the bearing will wear pits into the cup surface of the hub body. If the hub body gets damaged, you have to replace the whole hub.

You might be able to mail order some cones if you can't find them locally. This place looscrews.com has a few Campy cones. I've also gotten brand new Campy cones on eBay.