Many people still believe that because something is expensive, it will continue to deliver performance benefits regardless of maintenance. They would be wrong!
Regular maintenance of any moving element of your bike should be done routinely - not only for optimal performance and longevity - but also for your warranty. This is even more the case with high performance products that have tight tolerances and that are built to exacting standards. CeramicSpeed offer a 6 or 4 year warranty on their products depending on whether you use a Coated or Standard product but - like all manufacturers - it is conditional on the product being maintained.
The majority of warranty cases submitted to CeramicSpeed stem from a lack of bearing maintenance. Prevent this by following this simple maintenance guide.
As a general rule CeramicSpeed products should be stripped, cleaned and re-lubed at least once a year. If you ride hard, often or in all conditions it would certainly be beneficial to increase the service interval to help maintain performance levels and protect your investment.
If maintenance is not your bag - bring it to us and we will happily do it for you!
There can be no set rules for how often your Oversized Pulley Wheel System, Pulley Wheels, Bottom Brackets or Headsets should be maintained. However, like all systems it is better to be religious with your maintenance regimes : the more often the better! Remember, maintenance frequency will also depend on the weather conditions that you are riding in, the state of the surface and how often you shift.
Below is some basic guidance for CeramicSpeed products that will keep your machine running smoothly and optimally.
OSPW Systems and Jockey Wheels
General Information
A worn chain will increase the wear on the pulley wheels significantly, so make sure that you change your chain regularly and definitely before it is completely worn out. Under normal conditions, we recommend that you maintain the Oversized Pulley Wheels when you have ridden in wet conditions, washed your bike or each time you lubricate the chain.
For normal maintenance, add a drop of oil into the lubrication points on the back of the OSPW cage plate for optimal performance. Make sure to position the OSPW System horizontally to ensure that the oil reaches the Oversized Pulley Wheel Bearings. We recommend the use of CeramicSpeed Oil on the OSPW System. This is supplied with each OSPW or Pulley Wheel set and can be purchased when it runs out.
When travelling, your OSPW System will likely not fit in the bike box or bag. We strongly recommend that you dismount the whole rear derailleur and pack it aside.
Extended Maintenance
Approximately once every 6 months we recommend that you undertake extended maintenance.
In this case, you should dismount the Oversized Pulley Wheels from the cage, remove the seals from both sides and clean all parts in a shaker with degreaser.
After cleaning, dry the components off, put two drops of oil onto the CeramicSpeed Balls, place the seals back on and remount the Oversized Pulley Wheels.
When dismounting the cage plates, you will need a 2.5 mm Allen Key for the pulley wheel bolts and a 2 mm Allen key for the tower bolts. To remount the screws, tighten the pulley wheel screws up to a max torque of 1 Nm and the tower bolts up to 0.3 Nm. For this, a torque tool is recommended.
If you're riding in wet and muddy conditions, we recommend you undertake extended maintenance more frequently and replace the Oil with CeramicSpeed All Round Grease for better protection.
Bottom Brackets
All bottom brackets will benefit from regular maintenance - indeed, it is the single area where we see most neglect but also the first place to have the finger pointed at when a bike develops a noise!
All systems will install and uninstall differently and for this part of the maintenance procedure please follow the manufacturers recommended process. Please also ensure that you use the correct tools otherwise you risk irreparably damaging bearings and housings. If in doubt, take your bike to a qualified mechanic and preferably a CeramicSpeed dealer.
Once you have removed the CeramicSpeed Bearings you will need to do the following:
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Using a small knife (a craft knife for example) gently and carefully remove the Bearing Seals If necessary, use a cloth or clean brush dipped in degreaser to remove any dirt and old grease and clean the bearings.
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Re-grease the bearings using All-Round, TT/Track or LongLife CeramicSpeed grease depending on your requirements. If you are riding in the dry and are looking for optimal performance then you may choose Track/TT Grease or conversely, if you ride in harsh conditions you may benefit from LongLife grease. Around a 70% filling grade is optimal for performance and bearing wear life.
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Wipe off the Bearing Seal with a cloth
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Re-install the bearing seal
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Re-install the bottom bracket and cranks as per the manufacturers guidelines.
Headset Bearings
Essentially the same process as servicing Bottom Bracket bearings.
Remember to uninstall and install headsets as per the manufacturer’s recommendations and using the correct tools.
For both Bottom Brackets and Headset bearings we recommend performing routine maintenance at least every 6 Months
Wheel Bearings
All wheel bearings need regular maintenance. How often you need to maintain your bearings will vary greatly, depending on a number of factors - including your cycling discipline, the climate you ride in, and the way you clean your bike. If your bike is exposed to extreme conditions or usage, it can be an advantage to perform maintenance more frequently.
Riding road or tri we recommend maintenance between 5,000-10,000 kilometres or at the very least once a year. For off-road disciplines, we recommend more frequent maintenance between 1,000-5,000 kilometres.
To guide you through the maintenance process a number of videos are available on the CeramicSpeed website if not already on the specific product page on our site. Proper maintenance of your hub bearings will help you achieve the lowest friction and the best longevity.
Please note: the installation and uninstalling of CeramicSpeed wheel bearings is best carried out by your local bike shop and CeramicSpeed dealer as specialist tools are required : incorrect installation can result in damage to the bearings.