Suntour hub bearings
08-05-20, 07:21 PM
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Suntour hub bearings
I was going to service the bearings on this suntour hub off my Lotus Unique. They don't look like the way bearings come out on the 5 other Japanese bikes I've done. Do they require a special tool? The hub is stamped sealed bearings and they still seem to be very smooth
08-05-20, 07:41 PM
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If there very smooth I would be tempted to leave them as is. These seal screw off with the correct size or adjustable spanner if you don't have the Suntour tool after that there just basic JIS style loose ball hubs pretty sure these are rebranded sanshin pros.
08-05-20, 07:53 PM
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I was told to just leave 'em. Ride 'em until they go.
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08-05-20, 08:00 PM
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Why put the the removal notches on the seals if the hubs are semi fixed none service?
08-05-20, 08:59 PM
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They kind of look like the cartridge type ones, don't they? That cover with the notches I think is on mine, but I'm not too sure.
08-05-20, 09:04 PM
#6
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You need one of these. The notched cap unscrews just like a bearing nut. The sealed cartridge bearings are a light press fit behind this retainer. The only one that does not have this retainer is the drive side of the rear hub, underneath the freewheel....at least for their road hubs. I have not pulled one of their MTB Sealed Bearing hubs apart in a long time.
I agree it is best to leave them along until they go.
Last edited by balindamood; 08-05-20 at 09:14 PM.
08-05-20, 09:24 PM
#7
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+1 on leaving them unless they are rough. Since they are cartridge bearings, there are no cups or cones to become pitted. Once the bearings are done, you just replace the entire mechanism by pulling the old ones out and pressing in new ones. You can pull the seals off and add more grease if you like (member miamijim made a post about this years ago) but these bearings tend to last virtually forever so I wouldn't bother.
08-05-20, 09:54 PM
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+1 on leaving them unless they are rough. Since they are cartridge bearings, there are no cups or cones to become pitted. Once the bearings are done, you just replace the entire mechanism by pulling the old ones out and pressing in new ones. You can pull the seals off and add more grease if you like (member miamijim made a post about this years ago) but these bearings tend to last virtually forever so I wouldn't bother.
08-06-20, 05:05 AM
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rgvg Yup. I remember that one!
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08-06-20, 06:04 AM
#10
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I have two pairs of wheels with these hubs. One pair from a 1984 Miyata Ridge Runner still runs as smooth as the day they were new. The other pair from around 1984 were running rough after 30 years of service so I replaced the cartridge bearings which I easily found on Amazon and they run like new. I did not have the Suntour tool specified for this hub, so I used a makeshift tool to take them apart and put them back together again.
Note the rear hub was disassembled from the drive side so I did not have to use the makeshift tool. I currently use this wheelset on my commuter/touring bike.
Note the rear hub was disassembled from the drive side so I did not have to use the makeshift tool. I currently use this wheelset on my commuter/touring bike.
08-06-20, 07:16 AM
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Someone on ebay is selling re-pops of the Suntour TA-60 wrench used on these hubs. Search for "Suntour TA260 style' Sealed Wheel Hub Cone Spanner Wrench". He sells them by the pair, though, and you really only need one.
08-06-20, 09:12 AM
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Thanks guys. I'll take the advise and leave them alone for now.
08-06-20, 10:18 AM
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@balindamood has the official SunTour TA-260 tool for those hubs. The hubs have sealed cartridge bearings; the aluminum pieces with the notches just set the preload on the cartridges. If the hubs are smooth, no service is needed.
08-06-20, 03:51 PM
#14
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Yep. I love these hubs for commuters and kid's bikes since they see lots of hard service and - in my case at least - little maintenance.
