[ukbullitt]

This is the second time I have replaced my main pivot bearings on my 09 Heckler. They have lasted about 1 year this time before I started to notice play in them again. I guess the Scottish weather is not too kind to them and I have been doing some pretty hard riding on it this season. I try to avoid washing the bike around the pivot bearings. I now find it pretty easy to swap over the bearings without proper tools. Here is a method which works for me without any specialist tools:

Prize off the outer seal of one bearing. I use a punch to break the inner race so you can remove the balls and you are left with the outer race in the frame

With a socket the same size as the inner race, use a socket extension and punch out the bearing on the other side of the frame.

Disassemble the bearing you have just punched out, remove the outer seals you can remove the small wire ring on the inner race and you should be able to push out the balls and inner race.

Reassemble the bearing still in the bike using the inner race you have just dismantled, fill the outer race about half full with balls and fit the inner race the wrong way round (the side where the wire used to be to the outside)

Spread the balls evenly around the bearing race, and punch out from the other side using the socket and extension.

Give the bearing faces on the bike a really good clean with alcohol or similar aswell as the outer races on the new bearings.

Put the new bearings in the freezer for 1/2 hour

Apply some loctite bearing retainer to the bearing faces on the bike

Using the pivot axle I made up a tool using a 17mm socket, some threaded bar, a nut and some washers which go over the pivot axle. (See picture)

Fit one bearing on the pivot axle and slide up to the drive side end, push the pivot axle through the frame so the bearing is ready to be pushed home, thread the bar into the pivot axle so the bearing on the other side is ready to be pushed home (so you have bearing/large washers/socket/washer/nut in that order), then wind up the nut until both bearing are pushed home.

I found using the pivot axle the bearings were pushed home very square, whereas before I had just used threaded bar with a nut and washer each side which was more difficult to get them to line up properly. Also putting the bearings in the freezer helped as it was really easy to get them pushed in

 

[craig SL]

I also used and macgyvered tools the first time,but with the correct tools from SC I replace the heckler and superlight bearings in minutes. It makes a big difference even with the scary price I had to pay for the tools from the distributer in South Africa.

 

[Dougal]

What sort of bearings are you using and how do they look when they fail?
Is there signs of rust? Contaminated grease or are they simply hammered to death?

 

[ukbullitt]

Bearings are Enduro 7902RS MAX. They looked like this

They feel gritty - most of the grease washed out even though I have tried to be careful with washing. I notice play when I hold the seat and rock the top of rear wheel from side to side. I don't know whether I should try to prise the seals every few months to re grease, but to be honest the bearing are only a few pounds each so it is just as easy to replace them.

 

[Dougal]

You can replace them with 6902 bearings which are the same size but not angular contact. I'm still unconvinced about angular contact bearings in such a situation, angular contacts are very sensitive to preload and it will be hard to get it right on a swingarm.

 

[ukbullitt]

Do you have any experience of running 6902 bearings? I saw they were cheaper than 7902 and more widely available, however £6 for the 7902 and £1.50 for the 6902 it is not big bucks for either

 

[Burak]

Same issue for me, just one time, now i full unmount all de suspension arm every 2 month, cleaning and greasing again, and bearings are clean since 2 years now. I also wash my bike only 1 time every 4 rides.

Here is mine :

It has been one time like this , the first time, then it never reach that point, i always controled frequently

 

[ukbullitt]

Burak do you prise off bearing seal and re-grease?

 

[Burak]

I replace completly the bearing with new one, than i made frequently maintenance

 

[Dougal]

Do you have any experience of running 6902 bearings? I saw they were cheaper than 7902 and more widely available, however £6 for the 7902 and £1.50 for the 6902 it is not big bucks for either

Not personally no. But I sold some 6902 Max bearings to a shop for this application well over a year ago and haven't heard back. The bike would have been under a year old when the first bearings needed replaced.
Keep in mind caged bearings don't last as well in a suspension pivot as full complement (max) bearings, I'd expect 6902 Max bearings in your neck of the woods to be a similar cost to the 7902's. But it's the hassle that you're trying to minimise in this case.

 

[Burak]

Burak do you prise off bearing seal and re-grease?

I do it also one time, taking out ALL grease and sand with air compressor than regrease, and re-mount all suspension

 

[el cap]

I'm starting to hear creaks on my lower pivots on my '08 Santa Cruz Blur XC VP. How long can you ride it before replacing them? It still rides OK, but I can hear the creaking sound sometimes.

 

[Burak]

It depend of the riding conditions : rainy weather, muddy, dirty trails. Here in Belgium, we ride all year long. But often in wet conditions, i replaced the first time my bearing after 1 years and 4 month ( http://forums.mtbr.com/santa-cruz/new-heckler-swingarm-maintenance-455895.html ). Now i do maintenance more oftenly and i was riding bearing from 2008 to now before i crashed my Heckler.

 

[cman8]

He all, im new here and pretty new to Mt. Biking but loving it and going 2-4 times a week. I was gonna upgrade my Iron Horse Maverick 4.5 and am set the heckler is the bike for me. My question is, i am able to buy a 2009 Heckler large frame for $800 is that a good deal or should I wait? Thanks for any replies and again sorry if I hijacked.

 

[Burak]

Second hand Heckler in Europe are around 600 € ($820). I think that in US it can be a little cheaper

 

[cman8]

Sorry I might have written that wrong, I am able to buy a complete bike with a large frame not just the frame for 800. It has a fox fork and an RP23 rear. from looking on line just those two are about 300 to 400 bucks. What do you guys think? good deal for a complete bike for 800?