Bearing maintenance

jeremy shaw · Joined: 12 Sep 2012 Posts: 22

I just broke down the kart i just bought and the kid prior did no apparent maintenance. Can i use carb cleaner on the bearings and relube with a lithium based grease? or are there better options?

Russell Stevens · Joined: 15 Oct 2012 Posts: 100

If they aren't really junked up then go straight to brake cleaner. If they don't spin free soak them in Kerosene and try to work them free first. I blow them out with some compressed air after the brake cleaner.
I use TriFlow, but any light oil applied regularly should be fine. There have been discussions on the forum about what is the best lube.
I like brake cleaner as it doesn't contain any lubricants that might react in unknown ways with whatever lube I plan to apply in the end.
I'm sure others have thier own opinions.
Thanks
Rusty

Jeff Stamper · Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 6:56 am Post subject:

I buy a lot of used equipment and since I rarely know about the karts history, I just tend to replace the bearings if in doubt ! When you say he did no apparent maintenance, what do you really do to bearings ? Honestly. Throw them out and buy new. Its worth your piece of mind. And as far as carb cleaner, I rarely use Carb cleaner for anything ! Its so hard on so many materials. Just use brake cleaner. I use carb cleaner to clean my carbs only !
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Chris Reinhardt · Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 7:20 am Post subject:

+1 replacing the bearings if you're not sure, think of what it would cost you in a lost weekend if they locked up, let alone a possible crash!!!!

As far as brake clean vs carb clean, essentially the same ingredients, more acetone in the carb cleaner, less oil in the brake clean....

CR
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Michael Knauf · Joined: 31 Oct 2011 Posts: 58

Mike Goebel · Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 8:32 am Post subject:

Is it 40mm or 50mm Axle??

If it's a 40mm you can get some super cool sealed bearings that you never need to worry about. If it's a 50mm well you can get them but there are very expensive.

New cheap bearings are a better way to go instead of cleaning them and cleaning them after every outing is totally NUTS!!! Shocked

Mike G.
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jeremy shaw · Joined: 12 Sep 2012 Posts: 22

well that kind of confirms what i was thinking....going to replace all bearings in the front of the kart but the rear bearing cassettes are good so ill just clean em as you guys recommend....thanks everyone.