Modena: the shield create drag on the bearing.... one shielding is good enough IMO. just make sure the seal is facing outside.

I bought an ultrasonic jewelry cleaner from Target... $19. that thing shakes all the dirt out of the bearing... :D

Thanks over gear. I figured it was best to face the shield outside to keep dirt out. Should I relube the bearings with bearing oil or WD-40 or something like that after using a ultrasonic jewelry clearner?

Red > I do not take the shields off, to much of a pain in the ass like you said. I have the bearing blaster to help clean the bearings, but i dont use motor spray. i picked up a can of, cant think of the name now (will get it for everyone in the morning when i go to the garage), with Teflon to spray the bearings with. Once they are sprayed, i spin them to get all the dirt out. I then soak em in the same stuff i sprayed overnight. When i take them out, i lube them with trinity bearing oil. They come out nice and smooth. the teflon in the spray really helps.

I am thinking of getting the sparkle from Integy to help with the cleaning of the bearings.

IF you don't mind doing a little maintenance, remove all the shields. You will have the ultimate friction free drivetrain.

I don't put anything for relube..... i think oil or lube will attract dirt...

Thanks over gear. I'm going to try that jewelry cleaner out in the near future. This years season starts in 3 weeks. Gotta be fast!!! :D

You must relube your bearing or you can say good bye to the bearing pretty quickly as the friction will slowly start to destroy them!!
They also will not be as smooth!!

what's the best oil for bearings?

I've used the same over the last years. Trinity Royal lube (I have 4 bottles from about 2 or 3 years, I have reserve of oil for another 2 or 3 years more). :D . I have one teflon seal (usually the same that goes on the innards of the hub carrier, diff housing, input shafts, etc) I clean with rpm bearing blaster and put a dab of oil in the side that don't have shield).

Sincerely I'm not a big friend of Trinity stuff, but I reckon that some products from their catalog are fine.

wolf, how could the oil get inside the bearing if the seals are still in it ?

that's exactly I'm going to do. screw the seals.
i'd rather clean the bearings once every 5 or 6 runs, simply just soak 'em or spray 'em with wd40 or acetone than have to remove 8 seals every two months or so.:D

Redsnad--Where in NE are you?

YOU MUST RELUBE THE BEARING!!!! Normally, we remove the inner shield (wolfy...it only takes 2 seconds??!?!?!), spray out the bearing and then soak it for a while in motor spray. Shake it around every now and then (or the jewelry cleaner works good, too!). Remove the bearing and slide it onto a shaft (one it came off of) and check to see how it spins. Is it free? Does it make grinding sounds? If it does, not clean...soak some more. Once that's done, remove them from the soaking solution, put them on a CLEAN cloth to absorb the remaining solution, and put ONE drop of Trinity's Royal Oil. As Corse-R said, it seems to be the best working stuff.

You can leave one shield off (redsand, yer brave!!! :D) and just slide them back on and yer done!

Thanks for everyones response. The TC3 I got from my friend has some really gritty bearings in it.

It's all good Alan :D , I've seen you race and you don't need Traction Compound, your car is always dialed. It's legal this year:D .

I'll pick up a set either tomorrow or Saturday. Has Jason dropped off that 1700 pack?