modding biltin bearings

[randomblahguy]

I was reading a thread the other day, and Mile High Mark said something about making custom ceramic biltin bearings with a shield on the other side for some complete...I'm not sure I'd be willing to do the ceramic ball mod, but if Mile High Mark or anyone else knows about adding a shield to the other side of biltin bearings, I'd like to know how that's done...thanks.

[Blix]

Get a set of Pleasure Tool bearings with seals, remove 8 seals, pop them in place on the Biltins, done.

[Ogre]

[enemy combatant]

why you want them on the inside is beyond me.

Plenty of dust and grit gets through between the axle and inner race given the loose tolerances of most axles. Double sealed bearings stay clean longer.

[Ogre]

Ah.. I suppose. That's another benefit from 8mm axles being machined to tight tolerences..
lol

[randomblahguy]

thanks guys. even though i live in arizona, where we don't get much water to rust bearings, there is plenty of dust and dirt around...

[Mile_High_Mark]

Get some MHS or Pleasure Tool bearings, and install the seals. They fit perfectly.

Or, just switch to the aforementioned bearings (as they're double-sealed to begin with).

[pigmoder]

I really wish a company would just sell the shields. I'd like to replace/add rubber shields to my biltins but I hate wasting things regardless of price. I.E. Buying a set of cheap bearings just for the shields. Oh well.

[Mile_High_Mark]

I really wish a company would just sell the shields. I'd like to replace/add rubber shields to my biltins but I hate wasting things regardless of price. I.E. Buying a set of cheap bearings just for the shields. Oh well.

Bones sells seals by themselves. Obviously they have enough of a customer base that they can afford to import and product-ize the seals.

People constantly complain about the Biltin shields letting crud in, and yet, you can buy better sealed bearings for one-third of the price. Even if you factor in some steel bearing spacers, you're spending something like $11-$12.

[glideronfreerides]

People constantly complain about the Biltin shields letting crud in, and yet, you can buy better sealed bearings for one-third of the price. Even if you factor in some steel bearing spacers, you're spending something like $11-$12.

yeah, but with biltins you don't have to mess with rings or spacers, which never seem to actually fit in most wheels properly.

what mystifies me is why no other companies use the biltin model... not like they have a patent or anything, amirite?

[Mile_High_Mark]

yeah, but with biltins you don't have to mess with rings or spacers, which never seem to actually fit in most wheels properly.

what mystifies me is why no other companies use the biltin model... not like they have a patent or anything, amirite?

The majority of bearings are sold to skaters who don't bother with spacers. Go to any skate shop that caters to tech/street skaters, and they'll most likely have a stash of spacers collecting dust because "spacers slow you down," and "spacers are heavy."

[glideronfreerides]

The majority of bearings are sold to skaters who don't bother with spacers. Go to any skate shop that caters to tech/street skaters, and they'll most likely have a stash of spacers collecting dust because "spacers slow you down," and "spacers are heavy."

lol.. yeah it's the extra .01 gram that's holding you down bro! ditch those spacers and you'll be doing tre flips in no time!

seriously though, how awesome would it be if say for example, rocknron made biltin style bearings?? that'd be hot.

[Mile_High_Mark]

Convenience comes at a price. Biltins enable quick wheel changes, but at the expense of more cleaning/maintenance. If someone is changing wheels often enough for Biltins to be to their advantage, they're probably not concerned about said maintenance.

Do people really change their wheels often enough for Biltins to be advantageous?

[anatharc]

Convenience comes at a price. Biltins enable quick wheel changes, but at the expense of more cleaning/maintenance. If someone is changing wheels often enough for Biltins to be to their advantage, they're probably not concerned about said maintenance.

Do people really change their wheels often enough for Biltins to be advantageous?

only when i get a new deck. then im swapping every wheel and truck i have like a kitty on cat nip to see which is funnest. so biltins would be nice if all my other bearings were dirty. but i generally clean those alot....

[pigmoder]

Do people really change their wheels often enough for Biltins to be advantageous?

Yes, because I have to I clean my dirty Biltins a lot lol Actually I prefer the biltin design not just for convenience but because it just seems more solid. No poorly cut speed washers and no bearing spacers jiggling around in there. Also, cleaning bearings with built in washers/spacers is easier (bearings-on-a-bolt-in-a-jar-method). Now is all of this worth the extra cost? IDK, I guess for me it is. I have 5 or 6 sets. Then again I am easily persuaded

BTW, I actually bought some bones replacement shields. The funny thing is that for like 50 cents more you can buy a set of Marks bearings (Bones shields $2 per 4 shields). Better yet buy the 5 set deal and its cheaper to buy Marks bearings and use the shields then it is to buy 15 replacement shields hahahah. But then you have a bunch of bearings with no shields again lol.

[anatharc]

BTW, I actually bought some bones replacement shields. The funny thing is that for like 50 cents more you can buy a set of Marks bearings (Bones shields $2 per 4 shields). Better yet buy the 5 set deal and its cheaper to buy Marks bearings and use the shields then it is to buy 15 replacement shields hahahah. But then you have a bunch of bearings with no shields again lol.

take some old crappy reds that your friends will throw away and get the shields off of them? (but then why buy bearings for shields anyway?)

[JayIV]

There's nothing wrong with buying a set of bearings just for the shields.

After you salvage the seals pack them with grease and use them as rain bearings.

[Mile_High_Mark]

Reds seals won't work with Biltins.

Would folks be willing to spend $3-$4 more per set of Biltins to get rubber seals pre-installed?

[Kenny_Ledesma]

Reds seals won't work with Biltins.

Would folks be willing to spend $3-$4 more per set of Biltins to get rubber seals pre-installed?

Yes.
10timesyes

[endzone_bob]

Would folks be willing to spend $3-$4 more per set of Biltins to get rubber seals pre-installed?

Yes
10lazyboarders