QuestionQUESTION: Hello! Thank you for offering your help on this board.
I have an old 1975 Suzuki TS75 minibike that I am restoring. After
disassembling the front hub and removing the bearings, I noted that the left
bearing took noticeably less effort to remove than the right. After packing
some grease into the new bearings I began to install them with an old
socket and mallet. The right went in perfectly, while the left again took what
felt like too little effort. It stays in place, but can be dislodged with a
relatively light tap. I do not see evidence of spinning by the outer race, but
remain concerned as to what could happen if the bearing comes loose.
What do you suggest? Can it be repaired or is a new hub the only answer?
Thank you in advance for your help. Very much appreciated.
Jim
ANSWER: Hello,
if you don't see any sign of previous spinning of the old bearing you could reassemble the new bearing using a bearing bonding compound (usually based on cyanoacrylates) available in all the serious automotive supplies specialist stores such as "Loctite Bearing Mount" ref. 609 or 620. PLEASE NOTE that this is only an indication and that any other brand might be as good as this one, I have absolutely NO connection with this business...
This kind of product gives excellent results but you must absolutely degrease rigorously both hub inner and bearing outer... 0 oil or grease residue on the bonded surfaces is a must. Use an absolutely "dry" solvent, Petrol is definitely not usable for this purpose, neither acetone.
Good luck and happy cruising on this very nice little bike with a bonded wheel bearing that you'll soon forget!
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Wow, was that ever fast! Thank you so much. I have a follow up question or
two, if I might.
Since I used BelRay waterproof grease to pack the new bearings (why they
come dry is a total mystery to me) they are, of course, rather slippery. Is
there a good way to fully degrease the outer race without removing or
contaminating the grease? The outer part of the bearing has a steel shield,
but the inner part does not. I double checked and there is no evidence f
spinning on the outer race, although some minor scratches are present on
the hub, likely cased by pressing.
Also, do I assume correctly that the bearings are pressed in far enough
when the inner spacer can just barely move between them? I ask since on
the rear wheel I drifted the recessed bearing a bit too far causing the
assembly to bind. A small tap to shift the bearing a hair freed everything up
and all seems to move quite smoothly.
Again, thank you for your time and help. This is the second old Suzuki I've
worked on. My first, a 1979 TS185 I've owned since new, is almost perfect. I
had a TS75 as a boy and always wanted to find one to restore.
AnswerHi,
apologies for the delay to come back here.
About the cleaning of the bearing, you have only one option: Patience and extreme care to clean off and degrease just the outer race using clean dry rags changing them as often as required and finishing the job with rags just wetted as little as possible with a solvent, This is a tedious work but clearly feasible with good care without contaminating the grease.
In general the lack (loss) of tightness of the bearing fitting on one side only of the hub is due to distortion of the hub caused by the heath dissipated by the brake.
Your presumptions regarding the correct location of the bearings with respect to the distance piece are excellent, as is your tap to help to locate everything in the right place.
Great memories with the Suzuki's of the sixties and seventies, esp. with the T20 and T500.
Also thanks for your nice comments and take care on the road.
Thierry
