wheel bearing service interval?

there are lots of posts about HOW to replace wheel bearings, but i cannot find any about WHEN. and the manual does not address any service interval for wheel bearings.

what is 'normal'? do folk simply check their bearings whenever they change tires (plus/minus each 10,000 km for me)? is there any value to 'repacking' bearing the way one might in a car? or does that imply removal and reinstallation of the bearing anyway, which is more work than it's worth?

or do you just run 'em till they start to make noise and/or get 'sloppy'? and how long does that typically take? (p.s. i commute year 'round, in rainy vancouver canada, which probably 'enjoys' similar weather to britain... i'd guess the grit and wetness are not the best for the bearings...)

thanks, cheers, don

Check them when replacing tyres, or whenever you have the wheel off. It dosnt harm to re-grease, but whats the point of fully replacing something which is otherwise fine?

just check them, make sure rotation is good (rule out binding brakes and chain making wheels not turn so smooth!) and free play is ok I suppose. My near-on-40,000 mile, 10 year old SV still has original wheel bearings, no problems when i checked them last

[flymo]

This is something that should be checked by an MOT tester obviously every 12 months at least. I would normally do a pre-MOT check on a bike and check them at that point.

[yorkie_chris]

I clean and regrease mine every 10k or so. If it is a 2RS bearing you can get a dentists pick type thing to remove the seal intact.

when a bearing is going you will know as either the steering will play up or you'll have play in the wheel bearings. They are sealed for life bearings.

[yorkie_chris]

Yes but like anything the lubricant will eventually degrade and you can extend their life by replacing it.

Whether it's worth it for a £3 bearing is your choice.

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

I clean and regrease mine every 10k or so. If it is a 2RS bearing you can get a dentists pick type thing to remove the seal intact.

yorkie,
i presume you just need to remove the dust seals to regrease the bearings, right? (once the wheel is off for a tire change, for instance) and i had supposed that meant replacing the seals (which are pretty cheap) - but you make it sound like you can actually reuse the seals? also sounds like you 'flush' the old grease, then repack - what solvent do you use? anything more exotic than gasoline? or kerosene?
am i reading you right?
cheers, don

[yorkie_chris]

Depends where the bearing is, if it is covered up with another seal like on SRAD, I don't bother.

You can reuse the seal actually in the bearing.
I flush them with kerosene, then a quick squirt of brake cleaner to wash that out. Then repack with castrol BNS usually.

How much good this does I've no idea, but you might as well if it is accesible.

The amount of grease in the bearing is critical, they're not designed to be repacked really. Too much grease and the balls will skid around and not roll, which is bad. I've heard 70% grease bandied about as a maximum.

[yorkie_chris]

Depends on the use. Suspension bearings and other low speed stuff can be given a full pack. Wheel bearings much less, 1/3rd to 1/2.