How to Grease the Rear Bearings on a Huffy Bicycle

Maintaining the integrity of a bicycle's moving parts is a simple task that will ensure years of service out from any bike. As the bike is used, small particles of dirt and sand can make their way into the wheel and crank set bearings. Whether the bicycle is a child's first or an expensive road racing model, the process for cleaning and maintaining the bike's wheel bearings is the same, and should be performed at least annually.

Things You'll Need

  • Metric or SAE size wrench set
  • Adjustable wrench, such as medium-size channel lock, vise grip, or crescent wrench
  • Clean rags
  • Small tub petroleum based wheel bearing lubricant
  • Disposable heavy plastic bowl, such as an old Tupperware container
  • Old, disposable toothbrush
  • Petroleum solvent, such as gasoline
  • Rubber gloves
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Instructions

  1. Remove the Wheel

    • 1

      Invert the bicycle and balance the bike on its handlebars and seat. Take care to not crimp the brake or shifter cables if these are mounted to the handlebars. Using the correct-size wrench, loosen the outer axle nuts on both sides of the rear wheel. Slide the wheel forward, toward the front of the bike, and remove the wheel from the frame.

      If the wheel is equipped with quick-release hubs, wrenches will not be needed. Release the cam lock, loosen the nuts by hand, and then remove the wheel in the same manner.

    • 2

      Remove the outer nuts, or the quick lock assembly, from both sides of the axle. Grab hold of the inner axle nut on the chain wheel side of the axle. Remove the inner nuts from the opposite side of the axle with the appropriate-size wrench.

      Once the nuts are removed from one side of the axle, the bearings will be revealed. Remove the bearings and place them in the plastic bowl. The axle will now slide out of the hub. Slowly remove the axle, and then remove the bearings from the chain wheel side of the hub. Place all of these parts in the plastic bowl.

      Some bicycles have bearings which are in a light weight metal race, others have free ball bearings. If the bearings are free metal balls, make sure not to drop or loose any of the small metal ball bearings as the hub is disassembled. If the bearings are in a race, inspect the race to ensure all the balls are present, and the race is not cracked.

    • 3

      Put on rubber gloves, and then pour a small amount of grease solvent into the plastic bowl with the bearings and hub parts. Individually remove these parts, scrubbing all of the old grease and dirt from them with the toothbrush. Place the parts on a clean rag to dry. Dispose of solvent safely after all of the parts are cleaned.

      Using a second clean rag, wipe the hub down with some solvent. When complete, all old dirt and grease should be removed from hub, nuts, parts and bearings.

    • 4

      While the hub parts are drying, take the wheel bearing grease and with an index finger, pack the grease into the bearing race on both sides of the hub, the recessed area from which the bearing was removed. When done, the race will have enough grease coating the sides to hold the bearing when it is reinserted into the hub.

    • 5

      Once the bearings are 100 percent dry, insert them into the bearing race, and coat the bearing assembly with a light amount of petroleum grease. The entire assembly should look uniform, without appearing to be a huge glob of grease. If there is any doubt, a little more grease will not hurt the reassembly process, and is better than not enough. A rule of thumb is to use enough grease so that the bearings will not fall out if the hub is inverted.

    • 6

      Reassemble the hub in the inverse order. When tightening the bearing nuts and locking nuts on the axle, do not use a wrench. Make them finger-tight, and then loosen them 1/4 turn. This will allow the bearings to turn freely without binding. Reassemble the wheel onto the bike, and tighten the axle nuts. When done correctly, the wheel will turn freely and will not wobble.

      If the wheel wobbles on the bearings, loosen the axle nuts and tighten the bearing nuts 1/4 turn at a time. If the wheel binds, not spinning freely, loosen the bearing nuts 1/4 turn at a time until the misadjustment is corrected.