Think I'm rather lucky

First topic message reminder :

A few weeks ago whilst on a ride I heard a scraping sound, almost as if something had tangled under the fairing. Get off to have a look, nothing there – everything seemed OK. Carry on with the ride and don’t think anything more of the noise.
A week later a similar thing happened, again just for less than a minute and then goes away. Last weekend was Pam’s first ride on the bike in month’s – we only went to her flat and back, a couple of miles – heard a whistling, the scraping and then a high pitched metallic grating noise. I was behind a tram at the time and initially thought it was that which was making so much noise.
Put the bike on the Abba stand and give a once over, again all seems fine – chain's alright, tyre not wobbling, pads seem good, umm. Go for a ride Sunday and all seems good, until I am about 4 miles from home and the grating started again, it goes after a few seconds.

Take it to the mechy yesterday and described the noises and my thinking that the rear bearings were shot. He takes a look and says it was the front bearings which had gone, the rear is fine, no movement in the wheel. Get on the bike and not gone 10ft the grinding starts again. Take it back today and he is baffled, by now the noise is almost always there, he thinks something plastic is making the din. Eventually he takes off the back wheel and the bearings had collapsed, not just the wheel bearings but the carrier bearing too. How on earth have I managed to go through 5 bearings in one go!

The really scary thing is thinking the distances and what I had been getting up to the past few weeks - have been a bit spirited (by my standards). If any of those bearings had decided to seize I’m certain I’d have been spat off, very lucky escape.

 

You could trade as Cherished-Parts.Com   



£170   
Falling off would have hurt less.  



-edit- You could maybe start a Cherished Parts Gallery where everyone can show their worst bits.   

Wooster wrote:
-edit- You could maybe start a Cherished Parts Gallery where everyone can show their worst bits.   

Oo-er missus, sounds a bit risqué... 

It's not like they need an excuse in here, but I hadn't thought of that.   

Glad to here everything is ok Steve...........(apart from the bill)..................

Davie

Glad you're ok Steve... London mechy prices must be expensive! Only cost me £30 to have my rear bearings knocked in... although I did take the rear wheel in.

I suspect because you live/work/ride in a high pollution area (the big smoke), your bearings are susceptible to a shorter life span... just a thought.

The non dealer rates are £50 unless you own something Bavarian where they start at £100 an hour.

I have the same problem, but it's only the bearing on brake side thats gone, it's all booked in Monday for a new set £55 supply and fit for rear wheel, locking up is my biggest fear as I have no choice to use it to get to work. But todays the last trip so fingers crossed it survives today

mrfrance wrote:I suspect because you live/work/ride in a high pollution area (the big smoke), your bearings are susceptible to a shorter life span... just a thought.

Battering over more potholes and patches maybe?

I don't think pollution would cause as much wear and tear as road salt in colder regions.
...it's not just salt, it's full of abrasive minerals and some regions use molasses (slippery) as an additive.