Okay, I get that the bearings, if not abused, will outlast the rider.
The issue I'm wrestling with is the preload adjustment. Bike is a 1983 model, so I'm assuming that the hub has a cast-in shouldered steel sleeve. This seems to simplify setting up the assembly. But, doubts remain. If I remove the bearings, clean and re-grease them, can I be confident that I can just install all the original bits (with new dust seals, of course) and achieve the proper bearing preload?
I've read the noted guru's method of measuring preload with a string and, quite frankly, I'm left completely baffled by it.