Fake or genuine ?

[Speedy1959]

Hi... Again . . .
The saga continues....
As you may know I have bought a 2nd set of wheel bearings due to "expert fitment" of the 1st set being installed incorrectly.
I have decided to install the 2nd set myself!
BUT, I need your thoughts..
I got the complete set of 5 KOYO wheel bearings off eBay for almost £60..
I have always been a believer in NOT buying crappy cheap parts of any sort for any application..
My question is are these KOYO bearings genuine?
I ask because there is NO Laser etching of the make or part number on the metal edges of the bearings..
The rubber seals do say KOYO    JAPAN    and a size/part number..
I shall try to scan them and post a photo..
What do you think?
The irony is that MUCH CHEAPER bearings were available on eBay.. I bought more expensive ones assuming that this meant they would be genuine !!

Obviously I dont want to go to the trouble of removing / replacing bearings if the ones I have bought are crappy fakes !!

HELP !!!

[gsxbarmy]

What's on the sides of the ones you have already installed Simon? I know you will have to remove a wheel to check, but you will have to do that anyway!

From looking at Koyo's site It seems variable as to whether they etch or stamp Koyo and the bearing number on the edge. You'll need to find your exact type on their website but from looking at pictures of their taper roller sealed bearings they don't (but do on say angular contact and deep groove bearings

http://www.koyo.eu/en/products/by-product-group/automotive-bearings.html

For the bearings you have it would appear on the face of it and from looking at the pictures at the bottom of the above webpage that they don't, but Maybe contact them directly or enter your bearing number to find out and make sure. But I think you have genuine ones, from memory, when I fitted Koyo bearings they were exactly the same as your picture.

[Speedy1959]

Thanks very much Dave...
The bearings did come in sealed plastic bags with the KOYO emblems in Blue on them, but not in boxes.
I am not too bothered about boxes as long as the bearings arent cheap fakes..
I will take note of the bearings that are in the bike on Saturday.. I did buy those from the same supplier on eBay and the 1st lot of bearings I had off him arrived in exactly the same way.
I have actually e-mailed him directly to ask if he will confirm they are genuine..
I have also e-mailed KOYO (Europe) to ask their advice.
I shall keep you posted with the responses I get..

On a related note..
Those of you who have replaced wheel bearings in bikes..
Did you use the hammer and drift method or did you use some sort of press / screw type press ?

[Andre]

Puller to uninstall. Hammer and using old bearings as drift.

Looked at my old (original) KOYO bearings. They look the same as in your picture.

[Speedy1959]

Thank you Andre..

S.

[gsxbarmy]

One tip Simon - put the new bearings in your freezer for 24 hours before you install, you'll find they will drift in a bit easier.

As Andre says for removal / fitting (although I tend to use a suitably sized socket and a wooden mallet for drifting them in). Either method works in all honesty.

[Speedy1959]

Thanks again Dave...
I also have a hot air gun on standby..I can set it to low heat..

Thanks again.

S.

[Speedy1959]

Just had a response from the seller on ebay:

Hi Simon
Thank you for your purchases I can assure you I am fully aware there are copies about but I only buy my stock from a reputable registered Koyo source/wholesaler of which I have been dealing with for 8 years or so.
Apologies but I do remove them from the outer packaging/box as to their bulk and postage charges being greatly affected and the boxes having the hologram to denote genuine.
Hope this helps any issues let me know as a biker myself I am fully aware of the dangers of using inferior or fake parts and the penalties that could bring to my self so again these I assure you are Koyo Japan nothing else.
Kind regards
John @ jgmotorcycles

I am very glad he responded as he did...
If anyone else is in the market for decent wheel bearings then he is one seller on eBay who seems above board.

S.

[gsxbarmy]

Excellent, glad he got back to you so quickly to confirm 

[Speedy1959]

I bought a set of bearing drifts on Fleabay which cover all sizes I will need for the wheel and sprocket carrier bearings..
I also made a bearing puller using half inch threaded rod (Photo).. I used the largest of the drifts (81mm), which I layered in hard cork to act as the stop.
The large 36mm deep impact socket is just about perfect for the wheel bearings but I do not have a socket large enough for the sprocket carrier bearing, hence buying the set of bearing drifts (which cost less than a very large socket !)..
I now have the choice of "Bash 'n Drift" or "Squeeze 'n Crush" 

I have various lengths of threaded rod out of the 1 meter length I bought.. 10", 12" and 14" so it doesn't matter what width of wheel hub I come across.

S.