Grease Sealed Bearing on your Snowmobile Idler Wheels

[@snipervision1]

Great video! Sub’d

[@Paisteboy]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@stevehaver7545]

I pull the bearing completely out of the wheel and remove both seals. Then I clean the bearings with break cleaner until they are totally de-greased and spinning freely. Next I check for any movement between the top and bottom races and inspect the bearing cages for damage. Then set as-side to dry. While the break cleaner dries out of the bearing I clean the seals with a small screw driver and remove any old grease as well. Then I wipe down all the seals with a rag and a little break cleaner till they are all grease free. An old tooth brush or similar works wonders on the bearings and the seals for breaking up the old grease and grime. While sitting at a table I apply grease to each bearing face and work it (press, push, mush,) into the bearings and spin them several time to help distribute the grease into the bearing surfaces. I wipe away all excess grease and install the seals. next wipe more grease away with shop towels and spin the bearing occasionally to make sure the seals are seated properly while checking the edges of the seals and using the pick tool to press in any seal edges that need it. Then you are ready to install the bearing back into the sled. Just pushing in more grease into the bearing which is filled with dirt, moisture, and old grease is a poor choice.

[@Paisteboy]

You're right and I should have done exactly how you said you do it. Thanks for the comment.

[@stevehaver7545]

@@Paisteboy I was thinking you could also use a little gas and a brush in a sour cream container to clean up the bearing as well. Might save money and work better than break cleaner. Just make sure you don't soak the seals in break cleaner or gas it can mess them up if they sit in it too long. Thanks for all the videos, keep up the good work, I do enjoy them.

[@Paisteboy]

Thanks Steve. I will.

[@matthewbegin3462]

Good tip, I bet a good oem style bearing cleaned and regreased will out last a cheap replacement.

[@Paisteboy]

I guess I should have cleaned it out first but they are reusable. Thanks Mathew.

[@edwardabrahamiii3742]

Hey paisteboy i learned that if you use and air compressor and blow out the bearning first b4 packing it with grease itll get all of the smallest fragments of metal out of it and greese it right after itll feel more smooth just something i learned and would like others to know

[@edwardabrahamiii3742]

@@oldjarhead386 but some ppl might be on a budget to or if they dont got another set on hand just yet like i do could even soak the bearing in diesel it acts like break cleaner then air then new grease

[@Paisteboy]

Yeah. I guess you'd have to clean it out then or else any remaining grease will trap the debris.

[@Paisteboy]

@@oldjarhead386 Valid points but say you're about to head out for a ride and notice a noisy or stiff idler. At least you can get it going right away. Thanks for the comment.

[@Castwich]

thanks great video

[@Paisteboy]

You're welcome!

[@MrKmd27]

Nice job Paisteboy! I like your approach when you work on a sled. You are careful and do a nice high quality job. I wish that I was as mechanically inclined (but I don't have the patience). I decided to get out of snowmobiling b/c of the headaches of maintenance. In my next life I will be more focused in shop class.

[@Paisteboy]

Thanks. The truth is if you got a new sled they really only need the most basic of maintenance now. I really only have to grease things for the most part. Keep it clean and keep it indoors when not being used. If we got great snow winters I would say you should get back into it. Thanks for watching Kevin.

[@666dynomax]

people laugh at me for repacking bearings. I actually remove them completely, clean them out (used gas this time as I was out of paint thinner), clean them in alcohol blow them out, let them dry, and repack. switched to Amsoil water resistant synthetic grease this year actually. Two other things i've started using is a needle greaser for greasing drive shaft and jackshaft bearings in place, but also for repacking.... i also bought a bearing driver kit where you can stack two sizes one for inside race and one to get right on the outhside so when driving new or repacked in you're driving on the outside race and stay centered... anyway, running 4 sleds it only makes sense to repack these... i do it every 2 years full skid removal and just do the ole spin test on the ones i can easily get at in between seasons.

[@Paisteboy]

Sounds like you're doing it the right way. I just did this little demo to show that it is an option. You're are correct and I would also clean out the bearing very well for best results. Thanks for watching.

[@adamrr1546]

Found it. I don't think this is my issue though. But thank I'll be checking out more of your videos.

[@Paisteboy]

Yeah. I would look at your chain case.

[@timbarden4578]

Good stuff. I been doing that for 20 years also.should check new bearings before you install them.they barely have any grease so I generally repack them.need some darn snow!!!LOL

[@Paisteboy]

That's not a bad idea. You just have to make sure not to damage the seal of course.

[@mikegordon3436]

I have a needle for my grease gun and i just slip it under the seal. Bearing are cheap but if they are not bad its a good idea to grease them before the season.

[@mikedanaher3413]

I agree. Needle greaser on the grease gun works great.

[@Paisteboy]

I may have to get one of those.

[@Paisteboy]

@@mikedanaher3413 Duly noted.

[@geeyore7726]

Yes, use a pin or pick to lift the seal slightly, and slide the grease needle under. 18 gauge needles seem to be more common, but 21 gauge are smaller and easier to insert.

[@jaboobs1074]

So not to be a negative Nancy, but those bearings are sealed for life. Once that seal comes off it will not stay on correctly and let crap in the rolling elements. And the most common cause of bearing failure is over greasing. 6205 bearings are cheap. If you are taking a the wheel off might as well buy new ones. Go to a bearing place like motion or BDI. They are 5 bucks.

[@Paisteboy]

I hear you but many people have had good luck doing this. Thanks for watching.

[@666dynomax]

I have two sleds. I have better luck taking them off and repacking. If you're careful you will not ruin the seal

[@seanlebourveau6598]

Just did 14 of them.pb then break part cleaner then air.gonna last just as long as the new junk bearings

[@Paisteboy]

Nice! And it was virtually free.

[@919hornet4me]

I thoroughly degrease first, then repack

[@Paisteboy]

That works too. Thanks for watching.

[@666dynomax]

What do you regrease with and do you do them every year

[@919hornet4me]

@@666dynomax low temp synthetic grease, and should be good for a few years at least, unless you put a ton of miles on. I'd say if you spin them and there is no resistance and they spin freely or seem like the grease has dried up, then it's probably a good time throw a little extra is there. If it's an old sled and it has been years, then yeah, a full degrease and pack is probably required

[@larrytemen4789]

Hey, here’s the deal. You about to get the business….first off, those are snap ring pliers. Second, you ALWAYS CLEAN BEARINGS before you add grease. If you don’t that crap get mashed into the ball bearings and the bearing races. Smfh. Stop giving people bullshit advice. If your mechanic taught you this, he’s also an idiot. You just showed how to destroy a bearing and that’s about it.

[@Paisteboy]

Thanks for the constructive criticism.