Crunchy hub w/sealed cartridge bearings

[Bokonon]

My fixie has been making nasty crunching noises for the last week, I've finally got round to determining that the rear hub is at fault - using a different rear wheel eliminated the choice between bb and hub. There is slight side-to-side play on the axle and the bearings are noticeably rough with the occasional lump when holding the wheel and spinning it.

The hub is a Systemex with sealed cartridge bearings (not cone and cup) which are pressed into the body of the hub. Is it possible to either remove and replace the bearings, or open them up and service them, or am I looking at having to replace the whole hub?

 

[mickle]

It should be possible to replace the bearings (although I've never encountered a Systemex hub so can't be 100% certain).

 

[Bokonon]

If replacement is possible, is it likely to be doable as a DIY job or is it going to require specialist tools at the LBS?

 

[skwerl]

they should just pop out (w/ screwdriver or preferably a plastic prise tool of some kind) and then you drop in replacements. that's how Goldtec work anyway

 

[Bokonon]

Thanks for the info guys. I'm not sure I'll be able to prise the bearings out as they are just shy of the face of the hub body, but I have found this thread on formula hubs, which looks like a similar setup to my Systemex. I'll give it a go once I've found a ready source of replacement bearings. In the meantime, I've removed the seal on the drive side and got some grease into the bearing which has made it a lot quieter, but it still sounds like it will turn bad again in the near future.

 

[Ivan Ardon]

Did you wash out the gunge that was in there in the first place? I'd give it a good flush out with something like WD40 to get out all of the old grease and grit, then re-pack it.

 

[Bokonon]

Update: easing the bearings out by tapping the end of the axle as per the link above worked. For future reference in case anyone searches for this in the future (like me when I come to replace the bearings again and have forgotten what's what,) the bearings in the sys-ex hub are 6000z (ie 26mm od, 10mm id by 8mm wide.)