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Bearings for Hope Pro III Rear Hub & BB

1175 Views 5 Replies 2 Participants Last post by SteveUK, Dec 29, 2009

iRoNeTiK

Discussion Starter · Dec 29, 2009

Hey Merry Xmas...

I took my bike in for a tune-up/overhaul and it looks like my bearings on my Hope Pro III ( similar to the Pro II but non-disc) rear hub and the bearings on my Hope Ceramic External Bottom Bracket are shot (especially the driveside).

I found this odd since I've had the bottom bracket and hub since Feb '09 and they need new bearings already? I do a lot of racing (I did about ~35 races) this year, with a few in wet or muddy conditions but for the most part in dry conditions. I live in the Bay Area and race around Northern California. I called Hope and they were suprise as well.

Anyway, I'm looking for some new bearings and specifically what kind I need and if you recommend any brands? I don't think Phil Wood has the size I need. The only info I found on the Pro III was a bearing kit but it only included two bearings, I thought these things have a total of 5? I know the Pro II does.

Pro III:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=39553

Pro II:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=24132

BB:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=36418

I think I will just go stainless steel with the bearings this time around since the races are stainless so it isnt even "ceramic", it's ceramic hybrid, not worth the money. I guess full ceramic will be in the $100's just for the bearings?

I think I will call Hope again tomorrow and try to get new bearings out of them since I havent even had them a year! But I feel like this will happen again after another season and I want something more durable, maybe this was a fluke? I thought their stuff was suppose to be superb.

What is the warranty on Hope products anways? 1 yr? 5 yr?

Thanks for the info in advance.

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SteveUK

· #2 · Dec 29, 2009

Have you had your BB shell faced? I have the SS version which has been in two frames over the last year and a half and it still spins as smoothly as when it went in. My partner also has one on her rigid (which is mostly used for commuting, but has had its fair share of trails) for coming up to a year. She's easily put 1000 miles on it, in every type of weather. I just popped the plastic covers yesterday when I was switching chain rings for her and both bearings are still as new.

How about maintenance? Do you use a chain cleaner? Power washer? Degreaser on your rings/cassette?

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iRoNeTiK

Discussion Starter · #3 · Dec 29, 2009

SteveUK said:
Have you had your BB shell faced?

How about maintenance? Do you use a chain cleaner? Power washer? Degreaser on your rings/cassette?

Nope, I haven't had the BB shell faced.

Maintenance, I usually leave to my LBS besides the periodic chain lubing. I typically just apply more chain lube and wipe off the excess lube (stuff on the outer plates)

I don't use a degreaser because I don't want to deal with removing all the cleaner before I reapply the lube. I hear you have to remove it all since the two conflict. Maybe it's easier than I think

I know I had the BB regreased mid season by my LBS since it was making a god awful noise and I also had the rear hub taken apart and regreased mid season as well.

I'm not the most anal about bike maintenance but I know I'm not the worse and I take my bike into the LBS a lot to have it tuned up and maintained quiet frequently, maybe I need to pay more attention to the BB and Hub?

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SteveUK

· #4 · Dec 29, 2009

I know I had the BB regreased mid season by my LBS since it was making a god awful noise and I also had the rear hub taken apart and regreased mid season as well.

They're all sealed cartridge bearings. Have you ever asked your shop how they "regrease" sealed bearings?

To begin with, get your BB faced. If the two faces aren't parallel it can cause rapid wear of the bearings.

When I asked if you used degreaser, I wasn't suggesting that you should; it was just a straight question. Some people use degreasers to wash the chain while it's still on the bike and also for the front and rear gears. Chain "cleaners" are an incredibly dumb invention and rinsing parts with degreaser in situ is an awful habit, I think, as, for one, the degreaser can quite easily make its way down into BB and wheel/hub bearings. Less of an issue with good quality sealed bearings and well-sealed hubs, but an issue nonetheless. Using a power/jet wash can also have dire effects on bearings, even sealed ones, and also on fork seals.

I was just trying to get an idea of the life of your bearings, as their early demise seems unusual. The fact that your BB was noisey mid-season would suggest that there is an underlying cause.

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iRoNeTiK

Discussion Starter · #5 · Dec 29, 2009

SteveUK said:
They're all sealed cartridge bearings. Have you ever asked your shop how they "regrease" sealed bearings?

To begin with, get your BB faced. If the two faces aren't parallel it can cause rapid wear of the bearings.

I was just trying to get an idea of the life of your bearings, as their early demise seems unusual. The fact that your BB was noisey mid-season would suggest that there is an underlying cause.

I'll have to ask what grease they use and how they apply it.

I trust my LBS but I think I will take it to another bike shop and get their opinion about the bearings, second opinions are good.

Would any LBS face the BB? Should I get my framed faced as well? It's an older 2000 Schwinn Moab Aluminum Frame. I guess it wouldn't hurt.

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SteveUK

· #6 · Dec 29, 2009

Would any LBS face the BB? Should I get my framed faced as well?

I don't know what you mean by getting the frame faced (as opposed to the BB). The only parts of a bike to be faced are each side of the BB shell (which is what I was referring to); each end of the head tube; and the frame and fork (IS) brake tabs. The tools for the BB and HT are quite costly, so not all shops have them.

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