Have questions or want to discuss cycling? Join Now or Sign In to participate in the BikeRide community.

New: Take Part in the May's Giveaway: Win the LIVALL PikaBoost 2 E-bike Conversion Kit


Wheel hub bearings. Room for one more ball?
#1
Hi all.

Recently my bicycles wheel hubs are showing their age and need a proper servicing.

I have stripped down both wheel hubs and was surprised to notice that I could comfortably, without any steady handed trickery, fit two more bearings in the cup for my rear wheel hub and one more bearing in the the cups of my front wheel hub.

According to the Shimano tech document my rear hub takes nine 1/4 inch ball bearings per side and the front hub takes ten 3/16 inch balls per side.

Should I stick with what Shimano is saying or should I pack the cups with as many bearings as it can comfortably take???
  Reply
#2
You did get the correct ball size? (just asking)
It is normal that 1 additional ball might fit in (though usually it would be slightly too tight). If there's really room for one additional ball (and everything can be assembled as it should, check over locknut distance and orientation of axle) I probably would put it in.
  Reply
#3
typically if original bearing were caged, add one ball
There are two kinds of people in the world, "Those who help themselves to people, and those who help people!"
  Reply
#4
Nope, no caged, just loose in the cup.

I have since been advised by the LBS that it is normal for the cup to not be completely filled with bearings and to simply obide by the Shimano tech docs.
  Reply
#5
This last advice is standard for any loose ball cup and cone bearing.
DO NOT ADD EXTRA BALLS EVER over the OEM design. As others have said, a less than full fit is normal, and packing more balls in (even if they fit) screws up the bearing cone/cup geometry and ball circulation; and will lead to rapid failure. I found this out the hard way by packing an extra (25th) ball into the rh ball ring of a Sturmey Archer AW 3 speed...
cheers,
AW-hub.



(10-21-2011, 07:58 PM)d3v Wrote:  Nope, no caged, just loose in the cup.

I have since been advised by the LBS that it is normal for the cup to not be completely filled with bearings and to simply obide by the Shimano tech docs.
  Reply


Possibly Related Threads...
Thread
Author
Replies
Views
Last Post
 
4,247
02-07-2022, 02:46 PM
Last Post: Jesper
 
4,117
08-30-2021, 03:46 AM
Last Post: Poissonj1
 
21,823
05-26-2015, 02:31 PM
Last Post: eric1023
 
50,851
01-13-2015, 12:13 PM
Last Post: joseph wolf man

Forum Jump:

[-]
10 Latest Posts
Mental Health Warning: Recumbents May Ca...
Yesterday 08:58 AM
braking by reversing the pedals
Yesterday 08:52 AM
Urtopia Carbon Fold
05-23-2025 03:04 PM
Wearable Fitness Trackers
05-23-2025 02:31 AM
POLL: Are non-recumbent riders looking a...
05-22-2025 01:02 PM
Safest bike helmets
05-22-2025 04:14 AM
The great thing about trikes
05-21-2025 12:48 PM
Cycling industry is pricing out their ow...
05-21-2025 10:07 AM
How waterproof are eBikes?
05-20-2025 09:38 PM
Ebike
05-20-2025 05:37 PM

[-]
Join BikeRide on Strava
Feel free to join if you are on Strava: www.strava.com/clubs/bikeridecom

[-]
Top 5 Posters This Month
no avatar 1. Flowrider
21 posts
no avatar 2. Painkiller
18 posts
no avatar 3. enkei
13 posts
no avatar 4. meamoantonio
12 posts
no avatar 5. GirishH
11 posts