Lonestar Carrier Rebuild

[swanitalia]

Does anyone know if the RPM twin row rebuild kit will work on the  Lonestar twin row carrier? I'm trying to decide how I should rebuild a  carrier that I am getting used, might go with standard bearings or I  might try hybrid ceramic bearings.

[rk88r]

I don't know, why not just order the bearings from Lsr? If you take the bearings out there should be numbers on them.

[swanitalia]

LSR wants about twice as much as the RPM kit costs. I know most aftermarket carriers are the same, I found a RAD kit that costs about a 1/3 of LSR rebuild kit.

[dem3500]

all the twin row bearings are the same and will fit your lsr. i have an lsr carrier and last time i bought bearings i got an all balls kit iirc. boss bearing has the same kit as well

[swanitalia]

all the twin row bearings are the same and will fit your lsr. i have an lsr carrier and last time i bought bearings i got an all balls kit iirc. boss bearing has the same kit as well

How are the boss bearings holding up? I found a kit from them for cheap.

[dem3500]

How are the boss bearings holding up? I found a kit from them for cheap.

IMHO all bearings are the same. I wouldn't be surprised if there all made by the same manufacturer in. I put them in in the middle of summer and haven't taken them apart yet although it's on the to do list.

[swanitalia]

How often do you rebuild yours? What's best way to remove the bearings from a carrier, I've never done them before.

[dem3500]

How often do you rebuild yours? What's best way to remove the bearings from a carrier, I've never done them before.

once a year. get a drift or something long enough to fit through the carrier and hit with a hammer. push the center sleeve off to one side and pound out the bearing going around the whole bearing making sure it slides out even and not cocked so it binds

[rk88r]

Heat the carrier it really helps.

[Skeans1]

once a year. get a drift or something long enough to fit through the carrier and hit with a hammer. push the center sleeve off to one side and pound out the bearing going around the whole bearing making sure it slides out even and not cocked so it binds

A little heat and a good brass drift they'll walk right out, option b if still on the bike a good slide hammer would work as well.

[broken1]

One time I put mine in a crappy pan on end & put it on the stove top on medium heat & drank beer until I heard the bearing fall out. It stinks up the kitchen though... If you don't want to wait that long than heat & a punch would be quicker.

[swanitalia]

Ok I got some boss bearings for the carrier and I have a question. Can I remove the inner shield/seal on the bearing so when I grease the carrier the bearings can use the extra grease? I am using a very good grease that would improve bearing life and reduce friction over standard greases.

[Jerry Hall]

Ok I got some boss bearings for the carrier and I have a question. Can I remove the inner shield/seal on the bearing so when I grease the carrier the bearings can use the extra grease? I am using a very good grease that would improve bearing life and reduce friction over standard greases.

I would not waste the money on ceramic bearings or super duper grease.  The RPM that the axle turns is very low as compared to the RPM used when testing ceramic bearings and synthetic grease trying to show their benefits.

Most axle bearing failures occur because of rust pits in the bearings.  Keeping seals and 0-rings in tip top shape is very important.  Even when you have new seals and o-rings it is still next to impossible to keep the water out of the bearings if you enter water that is over the axle, even when you enter very slowly.

Another important components in a bearing carrier is using a spacer of the correct length between the bearings. If you have an aluminum spacer throw it away and use a steel spacer. The aluminum crushes and side loads the bearings and causes a lot of bearing failure.

[swanitalia]

I would not waste the money on ceramic bearings or super duper grease.  The RPM that the axle turns is very low as compared to the RPM used when testing ceramic bearings and synthetic grease trying to show their benefits.

Most axle bearing failures occur because of rust pits in the bearings.  Keeping seals and 0-rings in tip top shape is very important.  Even when you have new seals and o-rings it is still next to impossible to keep the water out of the bearings if you enter water that is over the axle, even when you enter very slowly.

Another important components in a bearing carrier is using a spacer of the correct length between the bearings. If you have an aluminum spacer throw it away and use a steel spacer. The aluminum crushes and side loads the bearings and causes a lot of bearing failure.

Thanks for the reply Jerry. The spacer is steal so I don't have to worry about that. As for the grease, I keep it in stock and use it on everything.

[thesmith87250r]

I like the rad carrier myself it has a grease zerk on the outside so it can be greased without pulling the carrier . i have had 5  years on the same bearings.  the grease zerk is recessed on the outside where the chain adjustment holes are.