Bearing Seal?

I was just installing my new Avon Road Riders and Girling rotors when I noticed a strange substance over my front wheel bearing. It feels like a dried gelatin apparently sealing in the grease? Is this normal? Is this how grease is sealed into all open bearings?

Also, when inflating this front Avon onto my original wheel, I never got the distinctive POP! that occurs when the tire goes into place on the bead. I inflated the tire to over 50 psi twice, still no POP!. Once deflated, the tire can be pushed off the bead by hand. Is this just how the original wheels are made? if so, that seems like a safety issue...

I'm not wanting to change rims, these ones are still really nice, no rust inside or out! Also, I change my own tires, fix my own flats, seems like the alloy rims would get damaged by use of my tire irons?

Oh, and is there a good source for those cool old spoke mounted tire balancing weights? I've looked a little on the web, but mostly finding modern versions. They seem expensive too. Some sell individually, but how do you know in advance what weights or how many you need? Seems like I will need a set of them?

I spray my tire sealing area with tire shine-silicon helps to slide over rim when inflating. I use solid solder for spoke weights. Some will correct me but I think there is to be a felt washer to "seal" dirt from bearing.

RTFM

Bearings need to be serviced.
That looks like a coating of wheel bearing grease.
Mineral spirits works great.

There no "pop" because the rim design doesn't have the bead retention lip like modern tubeless tires.


Murrsickles are dangerous. Everything is a safety issue.
Only YOU know where the line is.

There is usually a raised rib on the sidewall near the bead that you can look at to see if the tire is seated equally all around. You may have to go higher than 50 lbs - watch your fingers. I use RuGlyde which helps a lot too.

Is it me or is that disc fitted the wrong way around (disc inwards)?

Oops! New guy mistake! I wasn't sure last night so I "busted a move" and put it the way that I thought it looked good, doh! I guess putting it the other way would make more room for caliper clearance???
Thanks L.A.B.!

There is something amiss with the grease and the bearing. The grease should be behind the metal retainer plate
where the ball bearings are. I am not sure what that is on the outside of the retainer plate and thus visible in the photo.

I would suggest to clean it off.

But then the rabbit hole could be entered and you might pop off the seal retainer/felt and push some grease in.
That only deals with one side of the front....

I recently replaced my unsealed bearings front and rear with sealed bearings. Won't have to worry about then for
the rest of my ownership!

Dennis

DennisMo said:

There is something amiss with the grease and the bearing. The grease should be behind the metal retainer plate
where the ball bearings are.

Click to expand...

If it's not old grease then I don't know what it is.

I normally fill that area on both sides with grease as it holds the end caps in position.

Thanks everyone!

I hope to get some time on this tonight. Maybe that mystery substance is old dry grease, but it was more like rubber or cured silicone. The PO previously had said he greased the wheel bearings and that they're all fine... I better have a look just to be sure! I have not yet seen a metal washer / retaining plate or felt seal. Maybe they're under there?

It sounds like the bead issue with the wheel is normal. The old tires came off the bead by hand too. I'll just have to live (hopefully, lol!) with it.

On the balance weights, Steadfast has a 4 weight set 1/2 Oz each, for $15.00. That may get me by? They look just like the ones I have, which is what I want. I noticed Andover carries them too, not sure of the metric or financial conversions.

And of course, I'll get that rotor flipped over too!

The rear wheel is next. It looks like even more fun! I do look forward to learning as I plan to be able to change it out on the roadside, probably in the dark, and in the rain... after patching my tube. I do not plan on being a flat tire sissy!

Cured silicone is ok as it was likely used to stop the grease cap from popping out!
Dennis

Edfury828 said:

I better have a look just to be sure! I have not yet seen a metal washer / retaining plate or felt seal. Maybe they're under there?

Click to expand...

What you can see in your picture is the dished washer with the felt seal behind it.

Thanks again L.A.B.! Now I can see what you're saying.
Considering how very little the PO actually rode the bike, and believing in his sincerity, I will leave well enough alone (or not go down that rabbit hole - DennisMo) for now.
I'm just trying to get this bike road worthy by June, still have a little ways to go and not much time.

Last weekend was our NWNO Tech Day. I recieved much help and learned a lot! Mine's the black one

If you do go down the rabbit hole and replace bearings, there is one tool you can buy on amazon that makes pulling the difficult ones very very easily.
Dennis

DennisMo said:

If you do go down the rabbit hole and replace bearings, there is one tool you can buy on amazon that makes pulling the difficult ones very very easily.

Amazon.ca

Dennis

Click to expand...

Thanks Dennis! I have a 5 lbs slide hammer, but not those black parts that fit into the bearings. That looks like a slick way to go. The kit you linked to is sold out, but there are other similar ones, now I know. I'll keep it in I'll for the future! Still hoping to get some time in on the project at hand... I'll get there eventually!

The ones I used the puller on, I also heated the surrounding ares with a propane torch.
Dennis

I will try use the bearing puller to pull out the inner disc brake caliber piston (after a little heat).