Cleaning caged bearings

[Zombie Master]

Kerosene is what I use for cleaning old grease out of bearings, like steering stem bearings. Followed by blowing them dry with compressed air. But do not allow the bearings to spin, which is a temptation for many people. It's a very bad thing to do to a clean, dry, un-lubricated bearing. Then there is the possibility that if the bearing is spun fast enough, it can literally fly apart with devastating effects, including killing you from the flying shrapnel. This has actually happened many times believe it or not.

[Major Softie]

Kerosene is what I use for cleaning old grease out of bearings, like steering stem bearings. Followed by blowing them dry with compressed air. But do not allow the bearings to spin, which is a temptation for many people. It's a very bad thing to do to a clean, dry, un-lubricated bearing. Then there is the possibility that if the bearing is spun fast enough, it can literally fly apart with devastating effects, including killing you from the flying shrapnel. This has actually happened many times believe it or not.

I learned that danger in shop class (another thing gone in 2010). I've never known of any evidence of an actual occurrence though. I mostly remember just being taught that it was bad for the bearing.

[Garnet]

I was also taught not to let the bearings spin because of deadly consiquance, and that was in the days of good quality bearings. I can't imagine what it is like today with the prolifertion of Brazilan and Chinese stuff.

[Airbear]

Sounds like a job for Mythbusters.

[dougie]

But they make such a nice whizzzzzing sound

[Garnet]

Sounds like a job for Mythbusters.

Perfect, Doug has a new bearing nicly mounted on a holding assembly that they can blow up test.

[dougie]

Perfect, Doug has a new bearing nicly mounted on a holding assembly that they can blow up test.

[Zombie Master]

Sounds like a job for Mythbusters.

The operative word is job.

[Chuey]

Sounds like a job for Mythbusters.

The operative word is job.

I'm with Charlie on this one. I can't even see the point of it being (very) bad for the bearing as there is no load on it and it's just spinning happily.

Chuey

[Zombie Master]

Sounds like a job for Mythbusters.

The operative word is job.

I'm with Charlie on this one. I can't even see the point of it being (very) bad for the bearing as there is no load on it and it's just spinning happily.

Chuey

I'm surprised that you don't understand how it can be bad for an un-lubricated bearing to be damaged by spinning it way faster than it was designed to spin. In fact, I'm dumbfounded.