Upside down balll bearings.

[lustyd]

electrical tape. stick the balls in a line, wrap the tape around the race to get the balls in, close the gap, remove the tape

Put something underneath to catch the inevitable drops regardless which method you use unless you have lots of spare.

Don't start this job in the evening, if it runs over you'll be working at night. Start in the morning and you have time to go and calm yourself down if you get stressed

 

[lpdsn]

It's not just the dirt and grease you're trying to avoid. If the ball bearings are Delrin or similar they will wear flat patches very quickly if stuck in any way which will make them useless as ball bearings. You can even cause problems over lubricating them, which is why Harken and the like are trying to discourage squirting MacLube in there.

 

[Stork_III]

What about liquid soap?

Use Shaving foam.

 

[Tony Cross]

So how did you do it then Nostro? How many did you drip in the dronk....? (That sounds like something the policeman from 'Allo 'Allo would say).

 

[Nostrodamus]

So how did you do it then Nostro? How many did you drip in the dronk....? (That sounds like something the policeman from 'Allo 'Allo would say).

I did have real problems getting the ball bearings which meant until I did get them I would have to motor everywhere.... No way was I going to do this so... In true heath Robinson style I used orange plastic BB gun pellets which just happen to be 6mmm and slapped them in with some grease (only a temporary measure). The worked perfectly and cost about 1 euro for 200 as opposed to nearly 1 euro each for the stainless steel ball bearings.
I now how the stainless steel ones I will put in at some point but as it is working so well at the moment with the BB pellets I though... why change it... I also have another 600 of them should it fail and it took 10 minutes to put them in...
The stainless steel ones can wait until winter.

 

[michael_w]

Steal some of SWMBO's face cream. Works a treat to hold the balls in place then will wash away with a good squirt.

Mind boggling.
:

 

[charles_reed]

Washing up liquid and if that's not sufficiently viscous, some of the old, green, translucent Swarfega.

 

[SAMYL]

Have you tried a magnet on the ballrace? If you are lucky the ss balls may be ferrous enough to be attracted to the magnet.

 

[oldbilbo]

'Catching by the balls...'

Have you considered buying a cheap round plastic washing-up basin, cutting a slit across one radius and up the side, then fit this on below ( if poss. ) where the balls are/will be? Seal the slit with gaffer tape or similar....?