MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
One of my CK headsets is a bit rough so I'm looking to clean/regrease it. I've taken the bearing cover and inner seal off (the latter has perished a bit..might need replacing), and I'm in the process of flushing out the bearings with WD40 whilst scrubbing with a small brush. Should this be enough to get the bearings moving smoothly again? It appears not, and I'm getting through quite a lot of WD40 :-). Any suggestions as to a good way to get those bearings smooth as butter again? Toothpaste perhaps? Or maybe that is an urban legend. Cheers.
When I've done mine, i've flushed the worst out with brake cleaner, then cleaned it witha brush and some soapy water , then flushed with brake cleaner again, let it evaporate, and then filled with lovely thick grease.
It'll always feel rough until you put the new grease in.
ultrasonic cleaning bath?
Cheers Peter. By brake cleaner, do you mean iso alco? Looking at the grease I've been trying, it is a bit thin, will try some thicker stuff I think.
I can't remember who imports them but after they clean them they use CK hub oil, I was recommended by them after I cleaned mine to use a winter chain lube. Fimish line or something like that.
You can send it back to them for cleaning but I can't remember how much they charge. what they do is drop it in a US bath for a while, it can take a while but it works a treat.
I used some citrus type IPA replacement that I had lying around from servicing my pikes the last time I did it. Then forced as much thick grease in there as I could.
Cheers guys, most helpful.
Mine was a bit gritty even after trying to flush it out. I got the lbs to remove it from the frame (they suggested it was buggered) and soaked the whole thing in cleaner for a few min.
Was nice and smooth after that, lbs bloke seemed surprised.
soak in parafin.
Remember you'll have distorted the seals though so the bearings will only last a few days afterwards.
I thought the seals were designed to be lifted cynical?
I used citrus based solvent degreaser, used an airline to dry and repacked with synth grease on my hope ones and they are spot on 🙂
http://www.cyclistno1.co.uk/features/maintenance/hope-headset-service.htm
Jetwashing works too (with the seals already removed). Have the frame pointing downward towards the headtube for drainage!
wd40. liberally.
HP air line to dry.
finish line bearing grease.
sorted every time 🙂