Today it was raining cats and dogs so I decided to clean up an old
bicycle, a Peugeot U08 I bought new in 1971. Back in the old days it
got ridden and cleaned up regularly. Sometime in the late 70's I'd
upgraded wheels, crank, derailleurs, but when I got a good deal on a
much better Raleigh Gran Sport frame (only $10!) I parked the Peugeot
and pulled off the upgraded wheels and crank. So I had last worked
on it at least 20 years ago, even though I always intended to do
something with it eventually.
The bearings of the original rear wheel were tight and grinding. I
wouldn't have left it in that state unless I just threw it together
to avoid losing parts, something I wouldn't normally do. I pulled
the bearings out and found that the old grease was nearly solid, a
gummy mass like dried rubber cement. Hmm, in contrast the dedicated
Rampart (a Raleigh name) bicycle grease I had put on some parts was
soft and very much more grease-like. And of course the tub of said
grease was like new despite its age.
Of course bicycle parts aren't subject to the loads or heat of car
bearings or suspension parts. Bicycle grease is therefore a
different animal from automotive grease. I can't say what I would
have packed the bearings with way back then. Most likely it was some
automotive variety. The thought that old grease like that might be
doing duty in a trunion is not comforting. Glad I've been lubing
them regularly.
Jim Muller
jimmuller@rcn.com
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