I think that it is probably a good idea to replace the bearings on scythes and wildcards every year or so dependng on how hard and how much you are riding. Or if before this time they have started to feel gritty or notchy, then replace them for smoother suspension action.
As for VF4B bikes that use bushings, it depends more on how well you have looked after them, if you are maintaining them well, then they should last a year or so. However if grit gets in there obviously they will wear out faster. It is worth inspecting them every month or so... only takes 2 mins to check. If there is any sign of play then take the pivot apart and inspect what is worn, and replace.
a trick with ball bearings is to remove the frame axle and then "pop" the outer bearing shield with a sharp edge like a scalpel, so you don't deform the bearing shield
wipe any ingress of dirt away, and pump some fresh grease in there with a grease gun, or smear in there with your finger
for a full trick job, use the "chuck" of an electric drill (don't install a drill bit) and you can push the chuck against the bearing and spin it up using the drill so your grease gets distributed evenly throughout the bearing, rather than just sitting on the surface
replace the shield using finger pressure, -put axle back in, and go ride
if you are riding in foul weather conditions, do this every few months and you won't need to replace your bearings more than every 12-18 months
4 comments:
how often would you recommend replacing bearings?
I think that it is probably a good idea to replace the bearings on scythes and wildcards every year or so dependng on how hard and how much you are riding. Or if before this time they have started to feel gritty or notchy, then replace them for smoother suspension action.
As for VF4B bikes that use bushings, it depends more on how well you have looked after them, if you are maintaining them well, then they should last a year or so. However if grit gets in there obviously they will wear out faster. It is worth inspecting them every month or so... only takes 2 mins to check. If there is any sign of play then take the pivot apart and inspect what is worn, and replace.
awesome, thanks for the information
a trick with ball bearings is to remove the frame axle and then "pop" the outer bearing shield with a sharp edge like a scalpel, so you don't deform the bearing shield
wipe any ingress of dirt away, and pump some fresh grease in there with a grease gun, or smear in there with your finger
for a full trick job, use the "chuck" of an electric drill (don't install a drill bit) and you can push the chuck against the bearing and spin it up using the drill so your grease gets distributed evenly throughout the bearing, rather than just sitting on the surface
replace the shield using finger pressure, -put axle back in, and go ride
if you are riding in foul weather conditions, do this every few months and you won't need to replace your bearings more than every 12-18 months
Post a Comment