10-23-2008, 04:18 PM
Hi all, I just attempted my first hub overhaul on my beater bike last night. The adjustment phase took me more than 2 hours. It felt like playing a harp as I was hugging the wheel and have one hand on each end of the axle feeling for play as well as turning the cone. Now I understand what the 'art' is about.
Mine is a solid axle, not QR. This might be tough to answer, but my question is what does it feel like, or how can I tell, if the bearings are binding? Is it a 'gritty', instead of 'gooey' feeling when I turn the axle with my fingers? I have the cones adjusted now so there's no play at all if I wiggle the axle, and the wheel pendulums if I suspend it by the axle ends.
Given it doesn't give a gritty feeling, is it advisable to err for no play at all and give up that extra looseness to ensure all bearings in the hub share the load instead of just one or two carrying the load at any given time (with an adjustment that has play).
Mine is a solid axle, not QR. This might be tough to answer, but my question is what does it feel like, or how can I tell, if the bearings are binding? Is it a 'gritty', instead of 'gooey' feeling when I turn the axle with my fingers? I have the cones adjusted now so there's no play at all if I wiggle the axle, and the wheel pendulums if I suspend it by the axle ends.
Given it doesn't give a gritty feeling, is it advisable to err for no play at all and give up that extra looseness to ensure all bearings in the hub share the load instead of just one or two carrying the load at any given time (with an adjustment that has play).
