The lubrication of bicycles generally includes bearings, chains, brakes, pillars, brake cranks, bells, brackets, and other sliding parts. The following is a summary of my experience.
1. Rolling bearings on bicycles.
(1) Structure: The rolling bearings on bicycles are composed of a bowl (outer ring of the bearing), a shaft guard (inner ring of the bearing), a steel ball (rolling element of the bearing), and a ball frame (retaining frame for the bearing, some do not use this frame). Its structural feature is that when disassembling a bicycle, the rolling bearings are disassembled accordingly; When assembling a bicycle, the rolling bearings need to be carefully adjusted.
(2) Adjustment: The front fork, front axle, rear axle, center axle, pedals, and flywheel on the bicycle are all equipped with rolling bearings. When assembling, assemble the rolling bearings according to the prescribed process and techniques. If the bearing components are not flexible or stuck when rotated by hand, it indicates that the assembly is tight; If the rolling bearing components are shaken back and forth along the axial direction by hand (the front and rear axles can shake the wheels; the front fork can lift the handlebars up and down; the middle axle can shake the crankshaft), a large amount of play occurs, indicating that the assembly is loose. The axle nut can be loosened, and a thin wrench can be used to tighten or loosen the axle block until the adjustment is flexible and the play does not exceed 0.5 millimeters, which is considered appropriate.
2. Adding lubricant to bicycles and its effects.
Adding lubricant to bicycle components can provide lubrication, cooling, waterproofing, rust prevention, and other functions. Direct friction of parts without lubricant is called dry friction; The friction caused by adding lubricant to the parts is called wet friction. The resistance of wet friction is several tens of times less than that of dry friction. So, bicycles with lubricating oil not only have higher mechanical efficiency and a lighter ride, but also longer service life of the parts.
3. Types of lubricants.
There are two main types of lubricants commonly used in various machinery: lubricating oil and grease.
(1) Lubricating oil: There are many types. There are mechanical oil, gear oil, high-speed engine oil, automotive oil, cylinder oil, and so on. Various lubricating oils are classified into different oil grades. Choose the lubricating oil that should be used according to specific conditions such as different machinery, different speeds, different loads, and different temperatures or seasons. For example, the flywheel, chain, and transmission components of bicycles are lubricated with mechanical oil, and the oil number is not limited. Generally, flywheels use No. 10 mechanical oil with lower viscosity.
(2) Lubricating grease: divided into sodium based grease and calcium based grease.
Sodium based grease (with two oil grades 1 and 2) has a higher drop point than calcium based grease, but poor water resistance. Mainly used to lubricate high-temperature and heavy-duty machinery. No.1 grease is suitable for machinery with temperatures below 115 ℃, and No.2 grease is used for machinery with temperatures below 135 ℃.
Calcium based grease (with 1-4 oil grades) is the most widely used. It has a low drop point, water resistance, and is suitable for lubricating various machinery with temperatures below 55 ℃. Generally, use No. 1 grease at high speeds, light loads, and low temperatures; Use No. 4 grease at low speeds, heavy loads, and high temperatures. The rolling bearings of bicycles are all lubricated with calcium based grease (commonly known as butter), and No. 3 butter is often used.
4.How often is it appropriate to add lubricant.
After disassembly, assembly, and adjustment, bicycles (including new ones) that have just been replaced with grease can no longer have their rotating parts lubricated with sail oil during the first few months of use. According to the usage and conditions, the entire vehicle should be thoroughly wiped every one to one and a half years; Remove all oil sludge; Disassemble and wash the rolling bearings; Replace with new butter before assembly and adjustment. Normally, rotating and sliding components such as the front, rear, and center axles, as well as the flywheel, chain, and brake, should be lubricated with mechanical oil once a month.
5. Method of adding lubricant:
Method of adding butter:
(1) Add butter with an oil gun: If there are oil holes on the front and rear axles, remove the oil hole clamp before refueling, and then fill the oil gun (which can be replaced by a medical syringe) with butter and inject it into the oil hole. When injecting, butter often flows out of the oil hole. You can place a rubber pad between the oil hole and the nozzle of the oil gun (only two layers of cloth are needed when using a syringe), poke a small hole in the middle, and let butter pass through. When injecting, press the rubber (or cloth) tightly to prevent butter from flowing out. Stop injecting when the front (or rear) shaft and rolling bearings are completely filled with butter and the dirt inside is squeezed out of the shaft stopper. The advantage of this refueling method is that it is easy to operate and does not require dismantling of bicycle components.
(2) After disassembling the parts, add butter: Before adding lubricating oil, clean the disassembled parts thoroughly. When lubricating the rolling bearings of the front, rear, and center shaft components (which have larger steel balls inside), you can first use a clean right index finger to pick some butter and apply it to the ball path of the steel bowl. Then, dip the tip of the right index finger in some butter to stick one or two steel balls (the steel balls can be placed on the left heart), and install them on the ball path of the steel bowl. After filling the steel bowl with steel balls, apply a layer of butter on the outside of the steel balls and smooth them with your fingers.
When lubricating the rolling bearings of the front fork and pedal components (their steel balls are small), it is difficult to load the steel balls one by one and it is also easy to lose them. You can mix the steel balls and butter together on the left heart first, and then use your right index finger to dig a few steel balls at a time and install them on the ball path of the steel bowl. The steel balls must be installed on the fairway, not on the edge of the steel bowl, and arranged neatly without uneven density. After filling the steel bowl with steel balls, there may be some gaps between the balls, but the total gap cannot exceed the diameter of one steel ball.
Method of adding engine oil
(1) Generally, a small oil can be used to add engine oil. If there is no oil can, it can be done with an oil brush or wire dipped in oil.
(2) When adding oil to rotating parts such as the front and rear axles, flywheel, etc., first wipe off the mud and sand around the parts, then tilt the vehicle body and use an oil pot to inject the oil into the gap next to the axle block. Rotate the wheel or crankshaft, and the oil will be carried into the rolling bearings; Tilt the car body to the other side and use the same method to add oil to the bearings on the other side. Then use a clean cloth to wipe off the oil stains on the surface of the components. When adding engine oil, do not add too much at once, otherwise it will cause waste, dirty bicycles, and dirty clothes. To add oil to the flywheel, one is to add less oil, the second is to add oil at a longer interval, and the third is to choose oil with less viscosity. Otherwise, the high viscosity of the oil inside the flywheel or dust can cause the spring to lose its elasticity, causing the flywheel to spin and power to not be applied to the rear wheels, rendering the bicycle unusable.
(3) When refueling the bicycle chain, one hand flips the pedal backwards to rotate the chain, while the other hand drips oil onto the chain. As the chain rotates, the oil is evenly distributed throughout the entire transmission component.
(4) The refueling method for other parts that generate relative sliding, such as the brake fork, pillar, brake crank, car bell, car bracket, etc., is to directly inject engine oil onto the friction surface of the parts.
The above are some of my insights on the use of bicycles, hoping to be helpful to everyone. We are Ningbo Shenglu Vehicle Industry Co., Ltd. Our company mainly produces 5 series of products, including bicycle axle covers, tooth discs, center axles, bowl sets, and brakes. It is a professional factory, supplier, and manufacturer of bicycle accessories. Entrepreneurs in need can contact online customer service or send emails for procurement. website: https://www.hubs-sf.com
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