More Bearing Fun (or have you bought a duff one?)

[nice2day]

As regular readers would know I bought the new C3 main bearings made by FAG in Portugal. (I'm a sucker for EBAY and cheapo prices).

I have to say I found them a bit notchy even after oiling them. Hmmmm...Perhaps these are FAKE bearings I thought, so did a search and low and behold fake bearings, it seems, are rife in this nasty cheating world of ours.

Anyway after doing some searching I found the following anti-fraud site sponsored by the major bearing manufacturers (WBA) This site has an app download that allows you to scan, from a SMART phone, the QR code that is on the label of the box the bearing is sold in.
Well I downloaded it and did the scan...In a second, it reads the picture and gives its verdict...Well in my case they are supposed to be genuine, but being the paranoid type of bloke I am, it makes me think that surely if someone was making fake bearings all they have to do is copy the QR code?
Anyway I guess I'll have to trust the app and relax...maybe the notchiness will soon wear away

Here is the download site...Give it a go, you'll either be happy or mad when you realise its probably too late to get your money back.
https://www.stopfakebearings.com/#protectyourself

Les


PS: Maybe I should have bought SKF bearings?....What's your thoughts on this or is there no difference?...If SKF is everyone choice I can see myself buying a 3rd set....I just love wasting money.... NOT

[DAVID THOMPSON]

i had a 1974 r90s BMW every bearing in the transmission
that went bad said made in USA
dave

if you have the 5 speed in those bikes lay bike in its side and put a full QUART IN IT
after i started doing that i never lost any more bearings..
the fill hole was too low in the transmission..on mine

[Blurredman]

I have known about counterfeit bearings for a few years now, and the advertising of such a thing has become more pronounced in recent years, so it is no surprise to me. But I have also had new 'named' bearings come that might be considered a little loose, but in the end I've never actually had a bearing blow out on me- not saying it won't happen..

I tend to buy all my bearings off e-bay too.
But I have no preference to a certain make.. Tend to go for the reasonably cheapest.. (not too cheap that it seems too good).

NTN, Koyo, SFK, FAG, SNH (bearing sets from Ost2Rad supply those-Not to be confused with HNS- it can be read upside down as so..),NSK, THK.

As I say, I have no loyalty- all the biggest (apparently because they're the best..) are much of a muchness. If they're easy bearings to remove, like wheel bearings I'm not concerned too much. Those spare wheels which I have renently put tubes and tyres on, now have pairs of bearings that are no-name, and cost £1.90 for two.. I don't understand how the seller makes any money when the postage costs £1.40.. The reason I bought these cheapo bearings were not because of longevity, but I didn't want to put any money in new bearings on wheels that might be oval drumed or warped disced and quite frankly may not last long before a spoke broke anyway..!


But.. Those are temporary, and as I say. EASY bearings to replace.. Engine bearings are a different story indeed.

I have downloaded the application, and I have a spare koyo bearing still in it's box which I will try this on

As for QR codes, that's a good point. I wonder how they could tell a fake QR code? I assume they're changed quite regularly, but there must be a database of old QR codes for old bearings that have been on the shelf, and if that's the case, then a fake bearing with a fake QR code or a bearing with a genuine but OLD qr code would both come up as the same result, being genuine or counterfeit, depending on how the database is used-surely?

[Puffs]

Apparently those bearings cost the trader 10p each? Surely easily replaced, but still maybe not the first choice for your next round trip to Vladivostok. But knowing the background, in your case I'd bought those too for that wheel.

I wasn't aware imitation bearings existed, nor that there was a detection app - ta Les.

FAG should be OK. Yes, in 2020 FAG can come from Portugal. And Michelin from Brazil, Pirelli from Germany, Continental from Spain, and Audi from Belgium. The country of origin should have no impact on the quality, we are led to believe.

Like Blurredman, I'm not particularly choosy either. I think FAG & SKF should be on par, but I'm no expert on bearings.