Bearings

[danielwatts14]

I am getting new bearings and am split between lucky 7's or sector nine abec 9

[danielwatts14]

which ones would you guys get

[snozzboarder55]

bones reds or get the ones from mile high skates and be done with it. cheap prices and great performance.

[Cann0n]

I love the S9 GreaseBalls.

Carefully remove one shield per bearing by using a knife and tweezers, clean the default grease out, and pack those babies full of White Lithium Grease (not the spray crap)

S9 GreaseBalls have metal retainers (the thing that holds the balls in place). That's why I love them. I live in a place where sand and water eats bearings for brunch. With that set up, I've ridden through water and sand for 3 months without cleaning them. When I busted them open for cleaning, they were clean...

Bones Reds will need cleaning at least once a week. The shields don't seal.

When you have one-sided bearings, just place them in the wheel seat so the shield faces outward. With bearing spacers, you have VERY little to worry about when it comes to maintenance.

NOTE: Freespin doesn't mean shit. The setup I use will provide very little freespin, but once you apply a load, you wont notice a difference. They won't feel bogged down.

[Wolfin]

White Lithium Grease (not the spray crap)

I resent that! ...gotta find some real #### around here.

[The Rubeinator]

I don't know what it is about the Mile high skates bearings, but the feel faster than my reds. It could be that my reds are pretty old, and i didn't clean them until a short while ago. I'd say go with Mile High ones, they are almost half the price of reds

[8ftbed]

I don't know what it is about the Mile high skates bearings, but the feel faster than my reds. It could be that my reds are pretty old, and i didn't clean them until a short while ago. I'd say go with Mile High ones, they are almost half the price of reds

I say the lack of maintenance on your reds. Maybe they could be resurrected? While I run MHS on the majority of my quiver, I have gotten a few reds on a couple of completes. They all feel fast and spin freely cranked down. (yeah, I know that's not supposed to mean squat). But I just got a set of wheels out of the classifieds, the main reason was because reds were included. Oh boy! Well... not so good. Cleaned, sanded some rust off the outer pieces on a couple, reinstalled with spacers that they didn't have to begin with they're not right. So I'm gonna clean and lube again and save for emergency use.

[Cann0n]

I resent that! ...gotta find some real #### around here.

In my 16 years of skating, I've used:

WD-40 (worst idea ever. do not use)
Green Axel Grease (too thick, bogged down speed)
Chainsaw Lube (medium oil, great)
3-in-1 Oil (great)
Remington Gun Oil (light oil)
Transmission Oil (good, but nasty)
Motorex Gear Oil (good, but expensive)
Various Teflon Based Lubes (all good)
10W-30 (okay, but nasty)
Fish Oil (fine but attracts gunk)
Hot Sauce Fishing Reel Oil (awesome)
Bones Speed Cream (too thin, attracts grim)
White Lithium Grease (the best for sandy wet areas)
Spray White Lithium Grease (doesn't compare to the regular kind)
Generic Spray Lubes (don't like them at all)
I've also tried a few unmarked bottles I've found laying in the garage(s)

The viscosity is differs in all lubes. White Lithium Grease is a cream. I think it's the best. I use it religiously. It doesn't dampen speeds, it stays in the bearings, even after 3 months of hard riding (under 40mph) through sand and water. It's heat resistant.

Oils tend to slowly spin out and attract grim. When you take off the thread lock nuts each time you have to clean your bearings, you weaken the grip the nut has on the axle, which it time could lead to a wheel spinning off down the road, leaving you with a bent or damaged axle and possible injuries.

No shit, I was cleaning my Bones Reds with Bones Speed Cream RF at least twice a week. Once I hear grit in the bearings, I clean them. Especially since I have had bearing malfunction in the past.

With modified S9 GreaseBalls, which have a full metal retainer, you don't have to worry about wearing of the nylon retainers and balls shifting out of course. That is why it doesn't hurt GreaseBalls to remove a shield. As long as you keep the shields on the out side, the inside could be opened up.

Now, this isn't the best bearing setup for hardcore DH. The fastest recorded speed I've taken this setup to is 38mph. I live in FL, where it's salty, sandy and wet.

[Wolfin]

Now, this isn't the best bearing setup for hardcore DH. The fastest recorded speed I've taken this setup to is 38mph. I live in FL, where it's salty, sandy and wet.

Hah, betcha couldn't find a faster hill in FLatland! Thanks for the info.

So I'm gonna clean and lube again and save for emergency use.

Or use them packed with WLG, for wet sliding!

[8ftbed]

Tonight I pulled again. Remember I'd cleaned once right after getting them yesterday.
Tonight I cleaned them 3 more times, straining the acetone through a coffee filter each time. The 3rd time the acetone was free of debris.

Look what else came out of 'em. Cranked down tight they spin well but you can hear the faint grind. I guess they were ridden dirty too long and scored the bearings. They're much better now although not like Reds in perfect order.

[Cann0n]

Tonight I pulled again. Remember I'd cleaned once right after getting them yesterday.
Tonight I cleaned them 3 more times, straining the acetone through a coffee filter each time. The 3rd time the acetone was free of debris.

Look what else came out of 'em. Cranked down tight they spin well but you can hear the faint grind. I guess they were ridden dirty too long and scored the bearings. They're much better now although not like Reds in perfect order.

Nice. Most I ever pulled was two teaspoons of grit. I dunno how the hell that happened. Oh wait, Bones Reds + Bones Speed Cream + 3 weeks of careless riding in FL.

Bones are some great bearings though. I found a shortboard on the side of hwy 75. After I blasted them out with WD-40 to remove the rust and broke the seizing up, I soaked them in mineral spirits for 12 hours or so. Then I soaked them in alcohol for about 25 minutes. THEN, I blasted them out with brake parts cleaner and used an air compressor to blow them dry. I wrapped them in rag and heated them up with my body warmth before I re-oiled them so condensation wouldn't build up (Florida humidity).

[8ftbed]

whew! That's a lot of work BUT if you were able to resurrect a set of Reds... uh, hell yeah!
I was going to take the seals off some system crap bearings and put them on the back of these reds but they didn't fit. MHS seals probably would but I'm not raping any of them.

[Cann0n]

whew! That's a lot of work BUT if you were able to resurrect a set of Reds... uh, hell yeah!
I was going to take the seals off some system crap bearings and put them on the back of these reds but they didn't fit. MHS seals probably would but I'm not raping any of them.

Agreed. They work great! They look like crap though. All discolored. I keep them in an old M&M tube, ready to go in case of emergency. It was a chore, but I had nothing to do while I wanted for my new board.

Nice avatar by the way.

[The Rubeinator]

I say the lack of maintenance on your reds. Maybe they could be resurrected? While I run MHS on the majority of my quiver, I have gotten a few reds on a couple of completes. They all feel fast and spin freely cranked down. (yeah, I know that's not supposed to mean squat). But I just got a set of wheels out of the classifieds, the main reason was because reds were included. Oh boy! Well... not so good. Cleaned, sanded some rust off the outer pieces on a couple, reinstalled with spacers that they didn't have to begin with they're not right. So I'm gonna clean and lube again and save for emergency use.

You are right, it has been a long time since I serviced my reds. I did finally get around to it though. They were really dirty, not rusted. I cleaned them thoroughly with acetone, and used 15W50 royal purple. They felt like brand new; not the high amount of free-spin, but were very smooth. It seemed like they were running a bit slower then usual though, I think it is because I put a lot of oil on em. Over time though it should get faster as the excess oil is spun out.

Over all I'm really impressed with the value of MHS bearings. I mean, who wouldn't want decent bearings to accompany their new wheels, for the same price as other shops for just the wheels.

[mattyoaks]

I finally retired my 1st set of reds, after about 6 years of use, not intense, but with only about 4 (misinformed) cleaning sessions in that time, and they were perfect the entire time, albeit not incredibly fast or smooth towards the end. Recommended.