Hang Sheng Bearings
I recently received some bearing samples from Hang Sheng Inc.
I am going to review all of them over a period of time.
I will start off with the ceramic bearing first.
In-house test/assessment
The tube of 10 bearings:
608-2RS means it is a miniature bearing from the 600 series with a 8 mm bore diameter. The 2RS means removeable seals. Removable seals makes it is easier to clean & check. So it is a good thing to have.
ZrO2 Balls means that the ball is made out if Zirconium Oxide. A non-metallic component suitable to be incoperated into a bearing.
First thing I noticed when I opened the tube is of course, the well built seal. Cheap seals does not contact the bearings inner ring. So this means it does not ’seals’ the bearing as the name points out. The contact with the inner ring will create a little friction but it is barely noticeable when the bearings is ridden. The contact seals off dust and dirt completely so it prolongs the life of the bearing.
Next I pried a seal open and looked inside.
I saw the well polished ceramic balls and nylon cage. Bearings with a Metal Ball Cage have a 40,000 RPM Rating. Non-metallic = 100,000-150,000 RPM. So a nylon ball cage is a plus in a bearing. The bearing also came with high quality synthetic grease. A petroleum based grease is bad because the microscopic deposits cannot be filtered out. The deposits will soon clog up the bearing and leave unwanted gunk that it hard to wash off. Synthetic grease is pure and free of deposits.
Petroleum-based lubricants are made from refined crude oil and contain impurities, which cannot be removed. Synthetic lubricants are man-made. They are blended from various chemicals and have molecules that are uniform in weight and shape. Due to their uniform molecular structure, synthetic lubricants have the following advantages:
- FASTER - Synthetic lubricants are more slippery than petroleum-based lubricants. The uniform length of synthetic lubricant polymers allows them to slide more easily over one another. The result is reduced friction and a faster spinning bearing.
- LONGER - Synthetic lubricants have a higher heat of vaporization (600 degrees F) than petroleum-based lubricants (350 degrees F). Synthetic lubricants run smoother and longer at all temperatures whereas petroleum-based lubricants form deposits at high temperatures and solidify at low temperatures. If you use petroleum-based lubricants, your bearings will eventually “gum up” so you’ll have to skate harder and spend more time degreasing your bearings.
- STRONGER - Synthetic lubricants have greater film strength (3000 psi) than their petroleum counterparts (500 psi). This means that synthetic oil is less likely to be pushed out from between two metal surfaces where there’s a lot of pressure. Greater film strength protects bearing parts better.
Although synthetic lubricants are more expensive than petroleum-based varieties, the performance advantages far exceed their costs.When you’re looking for that competitive edge, a synthetic lubricant can help. The only time I don’t recommend a synthetic lubricant is when you’re on the opposite team.
(source)
Riding test:
I installed these bearings after exploring them a little and waited for the time to skate. That afternoon, an opportunity arised and I quickly grabbed the time to skate. First thing I noticed is that it was really smooth and quiet. Throughout the session, I could definitely feel some speed increase. This process is commonly called breaking-in. The grease/oil find their comfy home in the microscopic pores in the ball races. And the excess grease/oil is soon pushed aside and it starts working wonderfully.
Benefits of ceramic balls:
*Quicker acceleration. Due to decreased centrifugal forces acting upon the races from a lighter material
*Reduced friction & wear compared to steel
*Dissipates heat faster and expands less.[Lower operating temperature]
*Reduced ball skidding
*Less deformation because ceramics are harder compared to steel
*Reduced ball contact area
*Longer life
*More rigid
I will report back again for the real speed test. That is when it is completely broken in.