Sachs rear wheel bearing - press in?

[LittleGreyCat]

I've managed to get the Park Tool two prong tool to remove my Suntour screw on freewheel, and found the time to do the next stage of servicing the rear hub.

Interesting(?) things covered in another thread.

My main concern at the moment is that the bearing outer parts don't look like the pictures in my book.
I think I may have press fit bearings.

Could someone please confirm, and if so advise on the best way to remove and replace.
I assume that I will have to source new sealed bearings.

[ANTONISH]

I may be wrong but that looks like a dust seal.
You could undo the lock nut on the other side and remove what may be a cone.
I don't think that hub has sealed bearings.

[SimonCelsa]

I think the item with 'SACHS' engraved into it is a dust shield for the loose bearings. If you are very careful you could possibly pry this out gently with a small flat bladed screwdriver working circumferentially. However, it is very easy to bend this item and thus I would not bother.

To inspect and regrease this hub It would probably suffice to just remove the locknut, any spacers, and then back out the cone nut from one end of the axle. Do this carefully so you can check how many bearings are in each side, i.e be aware that the bearings are liable to escape if you are a bit hamfisted. Once one end of the axle is bare of hardware it can then be extracted via the other side of the hub.

The hub bearing surfaces should be accessible for cleaning with the dust shields left in situ - use a rag and thin bladed screwdriver for example. Inject fresh grease after cleaning and 'stick' the loose balls back into the hub with convenient 'poking' tool.

Re-assemble and all should be good!!

[LittleGreyCat]

Thanks to both.
Confirmed that this is a dust seal.
I have this apart now, and of course there is another problem.

I noticed that when rotating the axle it was "mildly eccentric" and concluded that the axle was possibly bent.
However this isn't obvious when rolling it on a flat surface (with the lock nuts still in place at one end.
However there seems to be uneven wear on the bearing faces at one end.

Less wear

More wear

Hopefully this shows the difference in opposite sides.
I've added a different image but I'm still struggling to get a decent one.

I am now wondering if it will be enough to replace the cones (if you can get them as an item) or if the cup(s) are likely to be unserviceable as well.
The wear is on the drive side. the vulnerable side for a freewheel as I understand it.

I am wondering at what point I give in and start looking for a new wheel.

[SimonCelsa]

If the wheel was functioning OK prior to this maintenance then I would be inclined to just regrease and reassemble the hub and box it back up again for further use.

Was the wheel causing any problems prior to this inspection?

[LittleGreyCat]

If the wheel was functioning OK prior to this maintenance then I would be inclined to just regrease and reassemble the hub and box it back up again for further use.

Was the wheel causing any problems prior to this inspection?

I was having problems with the quick release not holding, which may have just been finger trouble.
When I took the rear wheel off I could feel a bit of play, and everything sounded very gritty when the wheel was rotated.
I set out to service the hub and, as usual, one thing led to another....

I've located a matching axle at SJS so I think I will replace the axle (getting new cones in the process) and see how well it lasts.
I have a new set of bearings ready to go in.
It has been an easy running hub for a long time so I'm reluctant to go to a new one if I can keep the old one going.

A new wheel would probably cost more than the cash value of the bike, but it has sentimental value.

[Keezx]

Less wear
IMG20211030165939[1].jpg

More wear
IMG20211030164702[1].jpg

Hopefully this shows the difference in opposite sides.

Yes, it shows that your perception of the item with "less wear" is completely worn out and the item with "more wear"is still usable...
To reach this stage of wear you have to ride for several years with allready worn bearings..

[LittleGreyCat]

Less wear
IMG20211030165939[1].jpg

More wear
IMG20211030164702[1].jpg

Hopefully this shows the difference in opposite sides.

Yes, it shows that your perception of the item with "less wear" is completely worn out and the item with "more wear"is still usable...
To reach this stage of wear you have to ride for several years with allready worn bearings..

I assumed that the smaller area of "shiny" was less worn and the larger area was more worn.
A close look (which I can't seem to photograph properly) suggested that the very shiny and broad area was actually deformed where the metal had spread.

As far as I can recall the bearings date back to 1995.
I certainly can't remember replacing them, and as discussed elsewhere I found that I didn't have the correct tool to remove the freewheel to get at the hub for servicing.
The bike just kept running and not complaining.