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How much grease...

Old 03-31-20, 02:02 PM
  #1  
67tony 
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How much grease...

...is too much grease?

On my '87 Ironman Master, I'm swapping the original 6-speed 13-21 freewheel to a 13-26...figuring it will give me a little more "low end". My age, 66, pretty much demands this!

Anyway, re-greasing the axle was due, so it led me to wonder just how much grease to use in this fairly well-sealed system.
I squirt the Phil Wood grease onto a toothpick and lay it into the cups, several 1/4" long strips, filled almost all the way around, and spread out a bit with the toothpick. I then put a lesser amount onto the cones, and assemble.

Does excess grease work its way past the sealed guards, or does it migrate into the hub along the axle?
Are the grease amounts pictured about right, or too much? I doubt it is too little...

Before putting in the ball bearings...


A little bit on the cones...



This is after some spinning, and spreading the grease around...


This notched, press-fit grease guard fits like a glove, and actually spins around freely - to avoid a greasy build-up?


The non-drive side grease guard is also a perfect fit. I'm impressed with these 33 year old hubs!

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Old 03-31-20, 02:06 PM
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miamijim
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That’s about right...
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Old 03-31-20, 03:36 PM
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That looks fine. Any excess will work itself out.
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Old 03-31-20, 04:17 PM
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If you take it apart in a few hundred miles I think you will find that while the bearing still have grease on them, most of the grease is still there and pushed away from the bearings. I overhaul 20-30 hubs and BB with ball bearings a year, and most of them have excess grease pushed away from the bearings. It isn't really a big deal except when it pushes out to where it becomes a dirt magnet.

That's just my experience though.

Last edited by bikeaddiction1; 03-31-20 at 04:24 PM. Reason: typo
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Old 03-31-20, 05:18 PM
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"Grease 2" was too much Grease.
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Old 03-31-20, 05:28 PM
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I would have used a bit less, but you're good. I have a pair of those hubs too. Still nice after decades of use.
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Old 04-01-20, 07:11 AM
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I am not a bike mechanic but my years in heavy industry maintenance management I can tell you the rule of thumb (normal circumstances) grease in a bearing is 1/3 to 1/2 the possible quantity to fill. That said, over greasing is a minor concern with your hub as it will work its way out rather than the churning grease causing energy loss and rising temperatures which leads to wear. At the speeds I ride rising temps would never be a problem in my hubs.

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Old 04-01-20, 11:41 AM
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Originally Posted by jetboy
"Grease 2" was too much Grease.
Agreed but... This movie was the first date for me and Mrs K. Still going strong after 38 years.
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Old 04-01-20, 12:48 PM
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Originally Posted by MrK.
Agreed but... This movie was the first date for me and Mrs K. Still going strong after 38 years.
I remember the movie so well because a girl I really liked loved that movie (along with flashdance). Sadly did not work out as well for me as you, as she looked quite a bit like Jennifer Beals!

I think the question of this thread has been answered so i felt ok with the detour.
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