bearing grease & does water get into bearings !

aSTerix

aSTerix

Joined
Dec 18, 2014
Messages
681
Location
Oman
Bike
ST1100AY
I have both my wheels off the bike and am about to pressure spray them, thought it would be sensible to cover the axle entry and protect the bearings, this got me to thinking !!

1) What stops the water getting into the bearings when riding in heavy rain and through puddles ?

2) If the rain/water does get in then does that mean the grease should be waterproof ? the Honda service manual just specifies normal grease
 
The bearing seals and dust seals keep the water out under normal riding conditions which is to say indirect water spray for the most part. Puddles aren't an issue on occasion, when the seals are in good shape, but I wouldn't suggest that you make a habit of it. All of the bearings that I have had to replace were damaged as a result of water ingress due to worn seals.

I have no idea what type of grease is put in to the bearings when manufactured but if I were to re-grease them I would use water rated grease.
 
Definitely never use a pressure washer anywhere on a bike. To help prevent road water from getting past seals, it is good practice to put a thin bead of grease ( I use white grease) on the inside lip of the outer seals before reassembling the wheel on the bike. Wipe off any excess that extrudes from the seal to avoid the grease from collecting dirt. Normal water spray will not get in.
 
Don't use the pressure washer, your Dubai bike's probably never seen water, don't start now.
A spray on brake cleaner or WD40 will clean the wheels with a little elbow grease. Just keep it away from the bearings and clean the discs off with the brake cleaner afterwards.
When employed to do such things, Castrol LM was the go to grease for bearings and the like but others may ( :rimshot1:) have their own recommendations, the bearings are sealed anyway and not easy to get grease into, unless you really, really try.
Hope it helps.
Upt'North.
 
You'll be telling us next it's down to climate change :biggrin:.
We won't go there......
Sorry about the rain, saw one of my neighbours had cut their lawn yesterday. That's at least two months early.
The only thing I can remember about Dubai weather was feeling like the sun was burning off layers of skin, and that was October!?!
Upt'North.
 
Mechanics routinely use a grease rated for wheel bearings. Unless your use involves submersion in water (boat trailer, for example) special grease is not needed. The design and seals keep water out of the bearing. Boat trailers often have a grease nipple and are designed to keep water out of the bearing area. I doubt if they are rated for higher pressures - like that picture of a truck w/ two Ducati's on it posted elsewhere sitting on the Med. sea floor.
 
I was told by someone (IGOFAR?) that to never let the water level get over the bearing height. Like when going through flooded streets. Did I remember this right?

Also, never let the water get to the battery level and definitely not the air intakes

Just using a garden hose, I splashed too much water around the fuse box area on the left upper rear cowl at the swing out grab handle. This resulted with intermittent turn signal and headlamps. I kept them off until the bike was totally dried out, and all was well.

conclusion:
These bikes are water resistant, not water proof.
More like they can take rain and splashes, but not high volumes of water from all directions
 
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I use BelRay Marine Grease (waterproof, useable in sterntubes, etc...), fill the gap between seal and bearing race cover, cover the lips, clean the contact areas of spacer & speedo drive case...
plus: also smear a layer on the cleaned axle shafts... would be a bugger to get out if that starts to corrode ;)
 

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