I have been using a regular lithium complex grease on the outside of the press fit bearings and on bearing seats… Which is a standard practice…The problem with it is that it washes away and attracts dirt, without rust prevention.
What other alternatives can I use?
Silicone/PTFE grease/spray (inox mx6, for example)? Carnauba wax? Bentonite? Something else?
I have done countless searches on google and asked many people without any success.
Thanks, I did try lanolin in similar dusty conditions (lanox brand) - it did attract much more dust then I was hoping it would. Unless you actually need to wipe off most of it with a rag as a part of application?..
I am looking at other WD40 specialist range, the dry PTFE for dusty conditions…
No options for putting on a dust cap?
What is the application here?
Are press fit bearings even supposed to be greased?
No option of putting on a dust cap.
It is a good question whether they are supposed to be greased or not. I wish I could read more about it somewhere.
What is the application where the bearing is used though?
A press fit dusty application with almost no protection apart from the seal of the bearings themselves. I thought it does not matter… Headset of a bicycle, for example.
@Musiclover: It matters a fair bit…
A headset on a bike would have a dust cap though. It is in the form of the up/down headset, bottom gear, headset/stem cover and top cover. While not a single component, those parts work together to stop dirt and dust getting in.
A bottom bracket on a bicycle would be a bit different though.
So, the application matters a lot, even if its just a bicycle.
@[Deactivated]: But the recommended solution seems to be the same for all aplications anyway? Just a normal bearing grease?.. Which I do not find to be working ideally.
@Musiclover: So again, for the fourth time, what is the application? Where are you using the bearing?
If you don't want any help, then why are you here?
If its in your sex toy, then that should also be sealed already.
@Musiclover: You never said it was for the headset, you just said it was an example.
Like I said above, the up/down headset, bottom gear, headset/stem cover and top cover.
You really don't need to grease press fit bearing headsets from a maintenance perspective.
Just to rephrase that actually, you should not grease the press fit bearing.
@[Deactivated]: Thanks, makes sense to me.
But why do those guys grease it?
https://youtu.be/5lSN9hWHIN4?t=150
And those guys
https://youtu.be/pARonM0tFpM?t=380
And those guys?
https://youtu.be/CfDbN6hTu_A?t=570
@Musiclover: Because they are assembling the headset with a new bearing and that is used as a retaining compound not grease.
Once its installed you don't need to add any additional grease for the life of the bearing.
@[Deactivated]: "you should not grease the press fit bearing." vs they use grease "Because they are assembling the headset with a new bearing". Are you shure you do not adjust your facts as we go along?
No, not always they are installing new bearings. At least one of the videos shows servicing and re-installing a used bearing.
To grease the outside of the (headset) bearing seems a standard practice every time one touches it as per conventional instructions.
You were very active, thanks for that. But you did not actually offer any solution to the problem. I thought you were going to say that grease is not needed on the outside of the bearings and it was something but you backed out of it now.
Well, thanks anyway.
Are you shure you do not adjust your facts as we go along?
I am "shure"… Like I said, for maintenance. Installation is a different thing.
No, not always they are installing new bearings. At least one of the videos shows servicing and re-installing a used bearing.
I mean, if you reuse the bearing, that is the same as installing a new bearing from the steps you take during installation.
Bearings are only a few dollars, so why go through all the trouble of using an old one?
To grease the outside of the (headset) bearing seems a standard practice every time one touches it as per conventional instructions.
You simple don't need to do that on any regular basis. These bearings will be fine for many many years with zero servicing.
But you did not actually offer any solution to the problem.
Doesn't sound like you actually have a problem, you're just manifesting a problem when there isn't one.
Well, thanks anyway.
No worries.
@[Deactivated]: Please allow me to demonstrate
https://photos.app.goo.gl/1TxRKvwmWvuM4AjE6
https://photos.app.goo.gl/L5FNuhLxp7M8Z6Q37
I was doing some unrelated work on my headset when I discovered that: the headset bearings, ecspecially the lower one, were covered in rust and grinding paste from the road dirt and remaining grease. There is rust on the outside and inside of the headset bearings. They did not turn freely as well. The photos were made after the bearings were throughly cleaned.
These are branded FSA bearings which are not only pricey, but are hard to get in the size. There is no such thing as a "standard headset bearing".
These bearings were covered in bearing grease when installed as per standard practice…
@Musiclover: Those bearings are like $15 a piece.
https://www.ebay.com/p/8011382905
You'd be able to get this ordered from a bearing store without any issues.
There is no such thing as a "standard headset bearing".
I never said there was a single size of bearing for all bikes. But bearings are made to standard sizes, no bicycle will use a custom bespoke bearing, they are going to use off the shelf bearings.
Just replace them and use a press fit retaining compound, Park Tool makes it so should be easy to get from most online bike shop.
Given the amount of corrosion on there you'll want to check your upper race, pressure ring, lower race and bottom gear too.
These bearings were covered in bearing grease when installed as per standard practice…
Cartridge bearings are greased at the factory, bearing grease is really for loose ball bearing.
You really should be using a seating compound not grease.
@[Deactivated]: There is nothing to check… The last two carbon frame bikes that I had - the bearings simply sit in between the crown race of the fork and the frame, since there is a little gap there allowing them to move freely the bearings are exposed to all elements.
The last two carbon frame bikes that I had - the bearings simply sit in between the crown race of the fork and the frame
So that is an internal headset then rather than integrated headset.
The cartridge bearing will be sitting on pressed in seats, so check the seats if they're corroded or not.
Just replace the bearing and be done with it, again you just need the seating compound.
The corrosion you're seeing is galvanic corrosion not rust from exposure to the elements like water, the seating compound will prevent this.
@[Deactivated]: "Galvanic corrosion, also known as bimetallic corrosion, is an electrochemical process whereby one metal corrodes in preference to another metal that it is in contact with through an electrolyte."
*from https://www.twi-global.com/technical-knowledge/faqs/faq-what….
What other metal is present in case of a steel bearing in carbon frame?..
Seating compound is more like an adhesive, it hardly prevents rusting?
@Musiclover: You've got a mixture of metals there, aluminum and steel at a minimum, and probably a few variations of steel too.
Seating compound is more like an adhesive, it hardly prevents rusting?
Yeah, pretty much it stops any creaking you might get between the seat and the bearing as well as putting a layer between the seat and bearing to help prevent corrosion. That corrosion is not from water ingress.
I'm sure that companies make seating compounds for cartridge bearings just for their own pleasure and not because it serves a purpose.
Sounds like you should just take this to a bike mechanic, you don't seem to like taking advise after asking for it. Or just stick with Google and YouTube.
Im done. You don't need grease, end of story.
@[Deactivated]: You are not in a position to give advice. You have no idea what you are talking about.
Fiirst you say no grease is required, then you say it is required.
There is no aluminium in a carbon bike headset.
You have offered zero solution to the problem.
You are not in a position to give advice. You have no idea what you are talking about.
Lol, okay.
There is no aluminium in a carbon bike headset.
There is no such thing as a "carbon bike headset"
The three main types are standard (lose bearing, old bikes), integrated and internal.
If you can't even get the basic terminology right, you should not be working on your bike.
There is no aluminium in a carbon bike headset.
Absolutely there is, just shows how little you actually know. At the very least the preload bolt is going to be aluminum and likely the crown race (the bit the steel bearing sits on, thus causing the corrosion).
You have offered zero solution to the problem.
I gave you the solution, you just dont like it. What you're looking for is confirmation and not advice.
@[Deactivated]: "There is no such thing as a "carbon bike headset""
Yes, there is, it is just a headset in a carbon frame bike. Integrated, of course. You do not expect a threaded headset on a modern carbon frame bike do you? "Standard headset" lol. You probably wanted to say threaded? Talking about standards…
There is only one (1) metal in that system (carbon bike integrated headset).
"There is no aluminium in a carbon bike headset.
Absolutely there is"
Where?
What solution did you give me? Install bearings dry? You backed out of it.
Yes, there is, it is just a headset in a carbon frame bike. Integrated, of course.
Not all carbon bikes have integrated headsets, of course.
"Standard headset" lol. You probably wanted to say threaded? Talking about standards…
No, a standard headset is a loose bearing headset. Standard, because it was the standard for many decades and they its still called that because its easier than renaming it.
You probably wanted to say threaded?
No. Because both threaded and threadless can have loose bearings i.e. standard.
There is only one (1) metal in that system.
There is more than one.
"There is no aluminium in a carbon bike headset.
Absolutely there is"
Where?
I told you where, if you bothered to read.
You have no business working on your bicycle.
@[Deactivated]: "No, a standard headset is a loose bearing headset."
You wanted to say "conventional"? No such term as a "standard headset". Mind you, we are having this conversation only because you started talking about terms and definitions.
Re aluminium in a headset.
No doubt, a preloading bolt and a cap of anodized aluminium causes huge galvanic corrosion in the top bearing… How does it affect the much more corroded lower bearing?
You wanted to say "conventional"?
Same thing, standard and conventional are synonyms for one another.
It's like the boot and trunk of a car. Bonnet and hood.
How does it affect the much more corroded lower bearing?
Do you think that the preload bolt screws into thin air or something?
Anyway, like I said, I'm done. You're just being argumentative and reactionary because little baby didn't get the solution he wanted even if he was wrong.
@[Deactivated]: There are many synonyms for conventional. But the term is "conventional headset" not a "standard headset".
Do you think that the preload bolt screws into thin air or something?
It screws into the metal anchor which has no contact with lower bearing.
Teflon.
You mean Dry PTFE spray lube? Where do I but it? What if it will get inside the bearing? Will it react with bearing grease?
It might affect then bearing grease, but it’s hardly going to prevent water ingress it’s so thin.
Why are you putting sticky stuff on the outside of sealer bearings?
To attract the dust, it seems…
It is a good question. Apparently to prevent water ingress and to seat the bearings properly.
If ta a headset I suspect it’s not really to prevent water ingress, although it may do that. If it is to seat the bearings properly, then do so and wipe off the excess. It isn’t really needed.
It seats properly in most cases without any grease due to the tolerances that are being used anyway… And due to the nature of bearing grease it spreads an oily film and attracts dirt even after wiping the excess…
@Musiclover: So don’t put any on? It’s a headset, it doesn’t turn much and really probably doesn’t need a bearing, just a bushing.
They say it’s for preventing water ingress, but it is probably just preventative to stop things from sticking together for when you want to disassemble.
You could try dry lube. You can pick it up at bike shops. People use it on bike chains as an alternative to grease and wet lube as it doesn't attract dirt and dust. Only con is it doesn't last as long as wet lube does.
Could you provide an example of a specific one? I wonder if it will react with bearing grease if it will get inside?..
Just to double check: you put it on the outside of the bearings before you place them in? Does it protect them from rust?
check the WD40 specialist range