Thread: Packing wheel bearings.

I do not see what is wrong with the hand method, which is what I use.

It is a good method, as it forces out any old grease that may be left from the cleaning . You can also see when the bearing is full as it will exude from the other side.
I usually turn the bearing a few times after it looks full, and then repeat, as there may be some air pockets.

Hint- put on a disposable plastic glove and use that to fill the bearing.
on completion, just pull the glove off inside out and no mess.
Regards Philip A

Have heard putting the grease and bearing in a plastic bag and doing it that why works as well, never tired it though.

I have and its a pain in the neck, compared to the hand method.
It is basically still the hand method, but inside a plastic bag.
IMHO, you end up with grease on the outside anyway, and the bearing is harder to manipulate. Try turning a bearing by sticking your fingers inside the hole, and turning the outside, through a plastic bag.
The reason for the plastic bag is cleanliness, as even with cleaned hands which are dirty from removing the bearing, dirt from your skin will get into the bearing. The disposable glove prevents that.
Regards Philip A

Before the days of sealed 'O' ring motorcycle chains and aerosol lubricants it was common practice (in the UK) to place the chain in a tin of grease and heat the tin until the grease melted and filled the chain. Said grease was actually supplied in the tin for the purpose. Also when doing my apprenticeship we used to have a special inductive bearing heater that warmed bearings up to allow them to be fitted to transition fit parts. The inductive heater warmed the bearing evenly to avoid hotspots that could damage the heat treatment of the races (warning - don't use on bearings with plastic cages).
From my experience I can see no reason why you shouldn't be able to heat a breaing in grease to fully lubricate it, so long as you don't go to hot to degrade the grease. That said the idea of clamping the bearing between two cones and injecting the grease with a grease gun sounds alot easier and safer to do. Hot gease, frying pan oil would be very nasty if spilt on the skin and would also be more flammable.

Originally Posted by Blknight.aus

after watching the same Army episidoe of dirty jobs Im a firm believer that the US army doesnt follow any OH+S rules....

stepping on a hauling rope?
not securing the tyres after its off the vehicle? (see camara man get squished by a truck tyre)
Not using a mechanical lifting aid to remove a tyre?
getting inside the dangerous working area of a live rope during a winching (the bog hole one)

bet the US armys OH+S guys loved that.

they did use a lifting aid..... the second time!

As for the winching one, that when i turned it on. did they do that with just man power and, say, 5 blocks? or was there some other gizmo in there?

yea,, be clean, some of the bearings I used were worth upwards of a grand so ALL precautions were taken, new cans of grease, gloves, glad wrap, rollershutters closed, etc,

Originally Posted by foz.in.oz

Before the days of sealed 'O' ring motorcycle chains and aerosol lubricants it was common practice (in the UK) to place the chain in a tin of grease and heat the tin until the grease melted and filled the chain. Said grease was actually supplied in the tin for the purpose. Also when doing my apprenticeship we used to have a special inductive bearing heater that warmed bearings up to allow them to be fitted to transition fit parts. The inductive heater warmed the bearing evenly to avoid hotspots that could damage the heat treatment of the races (warning - don't use on bearings with plastic cages).
From my experience I can see no reason why you shouldn't be able to heat a breaing in grease to fully lubricate it, so long as you don't go to hot to degrade the grease. That said the idea of clamping the bearing between two cones and injecting the grease with a grease gun sounds alot easier and safer to do. Hot gease, frying pan oil would be very nasty if spilt on the skin and would also be more flammable.

was it Duckhams??
only ever did that once on mums stove,,,

Honestly can't remeber the brand. Just have visions of dad in the shed with the can balanced on top of an old primus stove......oh those halicon days!