BEST Grease Cleaner for Wheel Hubs?
08-18-19, 10:45 AM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 6
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
BEST Grease Cleaner for Wheel Hubs?
Hi friends!
I am attempting a first time repair on a front wheel hub and have already went through the process of taking everything out, the rods and the ball bearings.
And now I'm curious to know what the best method is to clear up and prep the wheel hub for installation?
Also, can I get a suggestions on which ball bearing are great? (Decent priced)
Thanks
I am attempting a first time repair on a front wheel hub and have already went through the process of taking everything out, the rods and the ball bearings.
And now I'm curious to know what the best method is to clear up and prep the wheel hub for installation?
Also, can I get a suggestions on which ball bearing are great? (Decent priced)
Thanks
08-18-19, 10:51 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Central Illinois
Posts: 552
Bikes: 1985 Cannondale SR500, 1990 Cannondale ST600, 1993 Cannondale M700
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 171 Post(s)
Liked 277 Times
in
108 Posts
WD40 works very good as a cleaner and degreaser for bike hubs. Another surprising chemical that works great for this is charcoal lighter fluid. I've used both effectively.
08-18-19, 11:20 AM
#3
Old fart
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Appleton WI
Posts: 24,784
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
Mentioned: 153 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3587 Post(s)
Liked 3,400 Times
in
1,934 Posts
I like to use "odorless mineral spirits" aka OMS, available as a paint thinner at many hardware stores. But apparently not in California.
"Grade 25" balls are what the top-end hubs use. You can get cheaper, lower grade balls, but you really don't save much by doing so.
"Grade 25" balls are what the top-end hubs use. You can get cheaper, lower grade balls, but you really don't save much by doing so.
08-19-19, 06:16 AM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 7,877
Mentioned: 38 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6963 Post(s)
Liked 10,961 Times
in
4,687 Posts
+1 on the grade 25 bearings, which are the highest tolerance (most spherical) you can get. Buy from a reliable supplier like Wheels Manufacturing; there are some no-name suppliers, and I sometimes wonder if they are really grade 25. I think you can probably find them on Amazon in bulk, and for reasonable costs.
As for a degreaser: maybe I'm doing it wrong, but when I overhaul old style cup & cone hubs, I just clean everything out thoroughly with a clean rag (an old cotton t-shirt works well) and also use Q-tips, as well. That way, I don't have to wait for liquid degreaser to dry/evaporate before putting in the fresh grease and bearings. I may leave a trace amount of old grease behind, but I don't worry about it, as I repack with a lot of fresh Phil Wood grease.
As for a degreaser: maybe I'm doing it wrong, but when I overhaul old style cup & cone hubs, I just clean everything out thoroughly with a clean rag (an old cotton t-shirt works well) and also use Q-tips, as well. That way, I don't have to wait for liquid degreaser to dry/evaporate before putting in the fresh grease and bearings. I may leave a trace amount of old grease behind, but I don't worry about it, as I repack with a lot of fresh Phil Wood grease.
08-19-19, 08:24 AM
#5
Old Legs
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Mass.
Posts: 1,212
Bikes: '80 Strayvaigin, '84 Ciocc Aelle-Shimano 105, '90 Concorde Astore /Campy Triple ,85 Bridgestone 500/Suntour, 2005 Jamis Quest, 2017 Raleigh Merit 1, Raleigh Carbon Clubman
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 302 Post(s)
Liked 33 Times
in
22 Posts
Yep , Grade 25, is what I've always used. As for cleaning, I keep a large supply of rags around, and just wipe all the old crap out of races, cones and axles . KB
Likes For kcblair:
08-19-19, 11:10 AM
#6
Junior Member
Hi friends!
I am attempting a first time repair on a front wheel hub and have already went through the process of taking everything out, the rods and the ball bearings.
And now I'm curious to know what the best method is to clear up and prep the wheel hub for installation?
Also, can I get a suggestions on which ball bearing are great? (Decent priced)
Thanks
I am attempting a first time repair on a front wheel hub and have already went through the process of taking everything out, the rods and the ball bearings.
And now I'm curious to know what the best method is to clear up and prep the wheel hub for installation?
Also, can I get a suggestions on which ball bearing are great? (Decent priced)
Thanks
08-19-19, 03:22 PM
#7
Super Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Ffld Cnty Connecticut
Posts: 21,843
Bikes: Old Steelies I made, Old Cannondales
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1173 Post(s)
Liked 927 Times
in
612 Posts
I don't usually use a degreaser. Just wipe out the old grease & replace with new.
I have used a quick squirt of WD-40 if there's a lot of gunky stuff that is hard to remove.
I have used a quick squirt of WD-40 if there's a lot of gunky stuff that is hard to remove.
__________________
Bikes: Old steel race bikes, old Cannondale race bikes, less old Cannondale race bike, crappy old mtn bike.
FYI: https://www.bikeforums.net/forum-sugg...ad-please.html
Bikes: Old steel race bikes, old Cannondale race bikes, less old Cannondale race bike, crappy old mtn bike.
FYI: https://www.bikeforums.net/forum-sugg...ad-please.html
08-19-19, 05:00 PM
#8
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 6
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Thanks everyone for the response and feedback!
I am looking up some Grade 25s now and will be cleaning up the grease with either WD40 or some kerosene.
You all are great!
I am looking up some Grade 25s now and will be cleaning up the grease with either WD40 or some kerosene.
You all are great!
