How to clean bottom tube bearings (those around pivot pin)?

[one_half_3544]

Hi!

I’ve just noticed that ball bearings in the bottom tube (marked as 100-03 and 100-04 in the manual) do not turn as clean and lubricated ball bearings should. No problem with steering, no signs of wear on the pivot pin (I bought strida only a month ago however), but it just feels wrong that those elements work as a plain bearing.

How should I clean and lubricate them? They are pressed into the tube…
Only WD-40 comes to mind, but it won’t serve as a lubricant.

[Blackstridaaustria]

Hello one_half_3544,

welcome to the Stridaforum!

The bearings you mentioned (6802Z found on both) did not work really clean on both of my Stridas since I got them. One year later there is no difference, I mean.

Maybe we should not stick our fingers in every hole?

I would suggest to keep an eye on that, usually should the bearings be lubricated for “lifetime”, I guess.
It would be really interesting if a bearing change (ceramic?) would cause a different steering behaviour

[one_half_3544]

@Blackstridaaustria

The bearings you mentioned (6802Z found on both) did not work really clean on both of my Stridas since I got them. One year later there is no difference, I mean.

Do you see any wear on the pin?

@Blackstridaaustria

I would suggest to keep an eye on that, usually should the bearings be lubricated for “lifetime”, I guess.

It depends heavily on the environment (I clean and lubricate bearings in my inline skates quite often (being near to the ground, they accumulate a lot of dirt)).

Bottom tube bearings are protected by the mudguard, but rain water still could get into, I think.

@Blackstridaaustria

It would be really interesting if a bearing change (ceramic?) would cause a different steering behaviour

I don’t think there would be any difference. Handle bar length (lever arm) is big and resulting force is much greater than required to overcome friction in bearings.

I’ll try WD-40 + liquid grease (weldtite TF-2 maybe).

[Blackstridaaustria]

@one_half_3544

Do you see any wear on the pin?

A slight shadow, but look yourself, pictured pin was about 600 km in use:
http://www.stridaforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3051&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

I will ask my bike mechanic about the bearing, more soon.

[Blackstridaaustria]

My kind bike mechanic said to the bearings:

The minimal juddering rolling resistance, felt with your finger, will not have effect to the steering.
As long as you feel no resistance, moving the steering tube while the pivot is locked, there is no need for lubricating or changing the bearings.
Also you need not to be worried about rain, due to the sealing (noticeable at the the Z of 6802Z)
the bearing will be saved against water.

Additionally he told me (we do know about each other for a short time, but our understanding is indeed extraordinary):

He BSA, don’t forget you’re a perfectionist, don’t worry about these bearings…………

Hmm…

[one_half_3544]

ok, I’ll leave these bearings as is for a while and see what happens =)

[Blackstridaaustria]

A friendly warning for those, who can’t keep their hands off…

For some kind of reason posted matcc this picture at HKSF:

These are, without any doubt, the only correct tools to extract the bearings:

slide hammer + (blind) bearing puller 14 - 19 mm

Thanks matcc!

http://www.hkstrida.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=5531&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

[Blackstridaaustria]

@I

The bearings you mentioned (6802Z found on both)…

Sorry, that’s wrong…

Correction:

100-03 (“upper” bearing) = 6802Z = 15 x 24 x 5 mm

100-04 (“lower” bearing) = 6803Z = 17 x 26 x 5 mm

Strida part nr. - DIN identification - inner Ø x outer Ø x width