Installing Bearings

[Calkidd]

In the past when working at a machine shop I would put valve seats in the freezer to make it easy to instal in the cyclinder head.

The question:

Can I do this with my bearings prior to installing them in the rims? In order to take the bearings out, the hub was heated to facilitate in the removal of the bearings.

Instead of heating the hub up again, can I just put the bearings in the freezer?

I need an opinion today, since I am getting my rims back from the powder coat.

[Blademan]

You know, I don't really see what problem there could be. I mean if you dipped it into liquid Nitrogen . . . yeah there might be a prob. But since your freezer will not get it THAT cold and you let the bearing warm up before a ride . . . should work. Every bit of metal, plastic, and rubber at one time or another has gotten cold and nothing has happened. Like I said, just give the bearing a few hours to warm up on its own. I think if you hit it with heat right away you may accelerate any flaw in the metal by rapid heating.

But that is only speculation.

[Matt-954]

Put your bearing in the freezer AND heat up your rims. They should just drop in if you do that. A friend of mine uses this technique and swears by it.

[Calkidd]

Thanks for the advise.

MIke, by the time the bearings are seated and the bike is back together they should be back to temp.

[Blademan]

Yeah, I figured that. Just wanted to seem knowledgable . . . couldn't fool ya huh???

[Calkidd]

Hey, you tried. :)

[Archer 900RR]

Thats how I install ALL my bearings...

Archer