Measuring bearing performance

[NuggyBuggy 0]

It's 2:45 AM, and the scientist in me wants to experiment with some bearings (BSB Titanium) that I received in the mail. I'm new to this game but want to understand everything I can about it.

I have a set of wheels which were mounted on ABEC 5 bearings which I scavenged from a set of Quest 3s. I don't know who manufactured them, they say "MAX 608ZZ", but I *assumed* they wouldn't be the greatest, coming stock as they do on what I understand is not a top-level skate. So I spun each wheel on an upside-down skate several times, recording how long each wheel spun until stopping completely.

Then I mounted the same wheels on my new bearings, using the same axels and spacers and keeping the wheels in the same position, then repeated the exercise. I found that the stock bearings spun MUCH longer (anywhere from 40% to 3 times longer, depending on the size and position in the chassis of the wheel) than the Titaniums. Also, a few ABEC 3s that my LHS gave me out of a scrap pile also spun much longer (from 20% to 2 times longer). The difference is very noticeable even without a stopwatch, and in fact when you spin the Titaniums they are much noisier. I did experiment with loosening/tightening the axles, so the above times are "best-case".

So, I wanted to ask the experts here whether or not the above even makes sense to measure bearing performance. It seemed logical to me that bearings which allow wheels to spin longerare better/faster, but wondered whether there is more to the story than that. I know that in my tests the bearings are not under load, and also am prepared to accept the possibilities that the Titaniums are not great bearings and/or the Quest 3s shipped with good bearings.

Thanks for any help in understanding this issue.

[Sassmasta 0]

Bearings performance is rated on how they perform under load...not free spin...think about a car and the bearings inside the engine.....how they perform outside of the car dont mean crap....its how they perform when they are in the engine and LOADED....I know your tests sound rational, but from my experience, titanium bearings perform extremely well, dont forget about side load as well....just food for thougt.

[Neo5370 132]

That experiment needs some tweaking (unless you already did what I wrote below).

First I don't know if your BSB's came lubricated or not. And if they did I bet it was w/ grease and not oil. If that's the case, the grease needs to "worked in".

Your old bearings (from the sounds of it are clean and lubed) are "broken in".

Throw a little bit of bearing grease and oil in your BSB's and skate on them a few times. Chances are they'll free spin just as well as your old bearings eventually provided you keep them clean of dust and debris.

[NuggyBuggy 0]

First I don't know if your BSB's came lubricated or not. And if they did I bet it was w/ grease and not oil. If that's the case, the grease needs to "worked in".

I didn't know that I might have to oil the new bearings. They just came in two tubes, no literature or anything. Fortunately I did buy some "race oil" so I will try andadd some of that stuff and then I will repeat the experiment. I'm learning something new every step of the way...

[NuggyBuggy 0]

First I don't know if your BSB's came lubricated or not. And if they did I bet it was w/ grease and not oil. If that's the case, the grease needs to "worked in".

Throw a little bit of bearing grease and oil in your BSB's and skate on them a few times. Chances are they'll free spin just as well as your old bearings eventually provided you keep them clean of dust and debris.

Thanks for the tip. Is there a good way to tell if the bearings came lubricated or not ? The bits in between the bearings look vaguely shiny, but I can't tell if that's lubricant.

If I add oil/grease, should I clean them first ? The race oil I have is made by Castrol for BSB. The instructions refer to applying a "thin film of gel", but elsewhere theycall it an oil. Can you apply one type of lubricant over another ?

[Neo5370 132]

First I don't know if your BSB's came lubricated or not.  And if they did I bet it was w/ grease and not oil.  If that's the case, the grease needs to "worked in".

Throw a little bit of bearing grease and oil in your BSB's and skate on them a few times.  Chances are they'll free spin just as well as your old bearings eventually provided you keep them clean of dust and debris.

Thanks for the tip. Is there a good way to tell if the bearings came lubricated or not ? The bits in between the bearings look vaguely shiny, but I can't tell if that's lubricant.

If I add oil/grease, should I clean them first ? The race oil I have is made by Castrol for BSB. The instructions refer to applying a "thin film of gel", but elsewhere theycall it an oil. Can you apply one type of lubricant over another ?

I meant to reply earlier Nuggy.......anyhow.......

I dunno if bearings come w/ grease anymore. Well, it's more like a gel really and you can see it if you take the shield off. It'll look like dull hair gel varying colors.

I don't think many bearings come stock w/ oil but if they did they might be oily.

If your bearings are straight out of the package, never used, I wouldn't bother cleaning them. I'd just take the C Rings and shields off, and add a few dabs or grease or few drops of oil, or heck both.

I bought some of that Castrol stuff, but haven't used it yet. Lemme know how it works out.

I've got those "tear dropper" bottles of BSB Speed Lube. The stuff is pretty fast.