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I noticed a bit of a creak on the last couple of rides and so I've whipped the crank arms off for a closer look and the bearings are crunchy graunchy and gritty..
Can I ride on them until new bearings arrive, without damaging the BB cups..?
and how do I get in at them past the seals to replace them..?
there's a vid on the Hope site showing how to replace the bearings.
In short, pop the outer 'cover' off, whack out the bearings, whack in new ones, replace cover.
aye thanks, just found it..
it's easier than I thought.. even a mechanically dyslexic sausage fingers like my good self should be able to manage it..
8)
Yes you can ride on it without damaging the cups.
here is the hope video on how to change the bearings
If you have the BB out you could always take the curent bearings out and pop off the seals with a pic or stanley blade and flush out the old greese with new to prolong the life of them.
you won't damage the cups - if they sieze completely then the axle will rotate in the bearings before the bearings rotate in the cup
I don't know the hope ones, but if like Shimano they have a top hat shim, then these act as a bushing for a short period at least
Hope runs direct on the axle I think- which can put a nice score in the crank spindle if they seize completely, but it's quite a big step from noisy to seized solid and good bearings like Hope use won't usually do it overnight.
Remove the seals on the bearings a squirt some grease in, careful not to damage the seals. My ceramic bearing is still running at least a year after i first felt it grind, quick regrease every now and again keeps it smooth..ish!!