Who repacks their bearings?

[Colo moto]

I was wondering how many of you repack your bearings when you get a new bike, when you install new bearings, or just as general maintenance. I replaced all the wheel bearings in both my 450 and 410 last week with high quality bearings (no Chinese stuff) and was really disappointed with how much grease they came with. I repacked them with a good quality waterproof grease. Just curious how many others do the same.

 

[jmetteer]

That is a habit I have gotten into since the front bearings on my WR250f yammie were going out every 3-6 months. Now they go out every year or so. Last time I upgraded the wheel spacer to the new one with the plastic splash cover. Hopefully they will now last as long as the rears that are still OEM.

Later,

 

[MattR]

The first thing I do with my bikes is check all bearings. I'm glad that I did on my 2008 CR125. The wheel bearings were basically dry and the outer bearing seals were dry as well. I repacked everything with Bel-ray waterproof grease. The linkage, swingarm, and steering bearings had a decent amount of white lithium grease. I repacked them with Bel-ray too just because the lithium grease will degrade/thin out quickly.

 

[rajobigguy]

Everytime I get a new bike I do a partial teardown to check everything then put it back together according to the new bike prep specs. I torque every nut and bolt that has a torque value assigned to it, check all adjustments and lube everything.

 

[HuskyDude]

Everytime I get a new bike I do a partial teardown to check everything then put it back together according to the new bike prep specs. I torque every nut and bolt that has a torque value assigned to it, check all adjustments and lube everything.

Yup do the same... well maybe not re-torque every nut and bolt but I do make sure they're tight.

 

[DoctorDemento]

I re-grease, anti-seize, and loctite everything. I also will replace the factory wheel bearings after a season with SKF double sealed units. You can't repack them, but they are sealed well enough that as long as you keep the hub seals and spacers in good shape it's never been an issue.

 

[PALMER84ONE]

Torque, I was told a 1/4 turn before striped is all the torque you need. Not new bike but I should have. Almost lost a rear suspension bearing. Going to do the SM610 next.

 

[Xcuvator]

I usually pop the seals for grease when I replace tires. Every other tire change, I tighten the spokes.

 

[ghte]

I have since new and then every 10 months for the steering head and swing arm. Every time I take a wheel off it is cleaned and regreased as well. Talking to Seahorse during a ride break he changes his wheel bearings every year. I said I was still on my original bearings (3800Kms). Seahorse quipped that they would be shot. We walked over and gave them a lateral movement test and no movement whatsoever (look at where the seal joins the axle and by feel as well). I guess that 4-5 wheel bearing regreases a year ,only takes half an hour has paid off.

 

[ray_ray]

Yep, you keep good grease in your bearing, they are gonna last ... spinning is what they do but they need lube ....

I gotta start this as I don't want the expense of toasted bearings because of lack of lub ...

 

[Aquavarna]

Learned that lesson the hard way on my 94 wxe250, steering head stuck and sent me into a tree in some tight stuff in 2nd gear pinned! Rang my bell dang good!, When I took it apart top bearing was thin on grease but bottom was totally dry and slight surface corrosion but just enough to make it stick! Oh and another tip - DO NOT VENT your cap down into the steering head, totally dumb idea and a lot of mfgrs do it, like lets degrease the lower bearing every time we drop the bike!