How would I know if one of my bearings has fallen out of the race during assembly?

Question

I have just replaced the bearings in my tandem's bottom brackets and I am worried that one of the bearings might have fallen out while I assembled it. It is oil-lubricated, so there was no grease to hold the bearings in place while I screwed the cup in. If a bearing or two was missing, how would I know?

Answer 1

If they're small bearings you may get away with one or two.You'll know because there'll be a bit of play in your pedals.

Answer 2

Hold on, let me get my bearings............ ummm........ I dont know

Answer 3

Small additional note to what Mirage said.   Most loose ball bb's use 9 balls per side.  There's no guarantee, but if yours doesn't use 9, it uses more.  If you have 8 or fewer, then you're probably missing a bearing.  

If worse comes to worse, you can buy new caged bearings, or just fill the cup with loose balls...put in as many as it will hold and then subtract one.  Use the same size as what's already in there, of course.  

Answer 4

According to quantum physics, you will never know. If you attempt to observe the bearing you may change the outcome of whether it is in or out of the race.

Quite a problem you have there...

Answer 5

If there is no grease in the bearing you should be able to hear it if you turn the shaft slowly.  If you have a ball or two missing you will hear a definite click as the top ball comes over and falls into the gap.  You will get a small click normally but a more noticeable click if there is a gap.  If the bearing is packed with grease you won't hear this happen.

Answer 6

Mirage has the best answer go with his reply.

Cycle Guys answer had me in stitches- I like it !!

.

Answer 7

Yipes. You really should have used some petroleum based grease for the job... the translucent brown stuff... then completed the rebuild with oil.

Anyway, if you can see the bearings there should be a 1 bearing gap. When replacing loose bearings you basically fill the cup then remove one. More than that and you will hear a ::click:: as you are turning. If you have the bb apart again, count all the bearings from both sides... there should be an even number.