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Heard a guy at the bike shop say grease is grease and cringed
I was picking up tubes yesterday and this older dude told a newbie that any grease works for bottom brackets, doesn't matter what kind. I've been using marine grease for years on my old Schwinn and it's held up fine through rain and mud. Has anyone else had bearings fail from using the wrong grease type?
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miaa411mo ago
The whole "grease is grease" thing is just one part of a bigger pattern where people think anything generic works for everything. It happens with tools too, like guys saying any old oil works for a chainsaw chain, but then their bar is cooked in a month. Bearings need the right consistency, not just something slick. Pack the wrong stuff in there and it can turn into a grinding paste or wash out in the first wet ride. I've seen a buddy's hub seize up because he used cheap bearing grease from the auto parts store instead of something meant for bikes. It's like telling someone any shoe is fine for running, then wondering why their feet hurt.
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richard1101mo ago
Right? Seen the same thing with guys using car grease on bike headsets. Stuff's too thick for those tiny bearings and just gums everything up. A friend learned that the hard way on his downhill rig, steering felt like trash after one muddy ride. Specific grease for specific jobs, it's not that hard lol.
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