Power Kite Forum

Innovative way to clean bearings

B-Roc - 28-8-2014 at 10:10 AM

I hate cleaning and repacking bearings and generally do it in a small Tupperware container. I thought this solution was pretty clever and easy enough to make (or even buy).


kiteballoon - 28-8-2014 at 10:20 AM

Really informative actually. I liked the idea of using citrus cleaner, and having a dedicated cleaner did look to make things easier. That said, I suspect most end up using their bearings until they won't spin no matter what, then grabbing some new ones.

soliver - 28-8-2014 at 02:22 PM

Agreed... That was actually very informative, but I've always heard that given how inexpensive bearings are, it's always easier to just buy them new.

I've not yet (in 3 years) needed to mess with my bearings. I often use a product call Invisilube. It's an aerosolized grease that comes out of the can a liquid but coagulates into a thin grease.

pbc - 28-8-2014 at 05:58 PM

I buy the cheapest rubber-sealed bearings I can find. I coat them heavily with grease on all surfaces and install them.

I avoid water whenever it's easy to. If I ever hear grit in a bear I replace it. If it runs loud, I replace it. I like silent wheels.

In my latest variant on this plan I now put extra grease on the outside. I then never touch the bearings. I try to never even remove the wheels. The grease collects sand. I leave it. I do not touch them. I let the grease provide the barrier to block sand an water. So far, pretty good.

Philip

B-Roc - 29-8-2014 at 05:53 AM

Quote: Originally posted by pbc  
I

In my latest variant on this plan I now put extra grease on the outside. I then never touch the bearings. I try to never even remove the wheels. The grease collects sand. I leave it. I do not touch them. I let the grease provide the barrier to block sand an water. So far, pretty good.

Philip


I have been doing that for a few years now and it works great. I use to break my board down at the end of each season for a thorough cleaning but now I just brush and vacuum it and never rinse it or take the wheels off because as soon as a socket wrench touches the nut, it pushes the sandy grease into the bearing.

indigo_wolf - 29-8-2014 at 07:19 AM

Maintenance is always a decent rationale for the acquistion of geeky tools.



ATB,
Sam

abkayak - 29-8-2014 at 12:00 PM

imo, you guys are crazy...clean you bearings or treat them as disposables...particularly if your a beach rider

and never avoid the water, dress for it

PHREERIDER - 30-8-2014 at 08:58 AM

street and all terrain are different ...water contact makes things different , though the holder and cleaner are great for street(just add compressed air). disposable is my choice , repacking works... just TIME, messy and i have done it on occasion at reasonable times, with low exposure.

my junk is constantly wet , so fresh water wash and WD40 EVERYTIME. this gives me the longest span of usefulness and lowest reasonable effort

if you stuff is always dry its gonna last and cleaning , repack definitely can help . in a powered use like kiting (all terrain), its grease ! not thin oil