Bicycle Mechanics - binding rear hub....?!

when i tighten the rear axle nuts on my fixed gear there is a lot of resistance in the hub. when the wheel is off the bike the axle spins freely. adjusting the cones on the hub has zero effect. no matter what i try, whenever i tighten up the axle nuts the hub will not spin freely in the drops.

please help me out with this, i start classes for the semester tomorrow and would like an easy ride!!!

A bent axle, perhaps?

axle is straight...

Threads stripped at the cones? Running chain too tight? bent dropout?

i see i'm going to have to change my title...

Does this condition happen with the chain off the rear cog, or only with it on? If you have a tight chain, could it be binding on an out of round chainring? Or maybe you have a really bad chainline?

It may sound silly, but is a brake pad (assuming you have a rear brake!) rubbing against the rim?

Chain too tight and/or chainring out of true? IIRC you should be able to lift the chain about 1/4-inch from its normal position if the tension is about right.

Tightening the axle nuts alone wouldn't cause binding; if it was a quick release, maybe a different matter.

axle is straight...

It sure sounds like a bent axle to me. It doesn't have to be bent very much. What makes you so sure that it isn't bent?

the hub binds whether the chain is tensioned or not, checked the axle for straightness.

gonna check the threads at the cones later today...take out the axle and all, maybe that will shed some light on the problem.

this sure is a mystery.

Since you hae a solid axle, you can tighten each side independantly. Try to see if the problem is specific to one side of the other. That might help narrow your focus.

thats a great suggestion, ill get on it!!

narrowed it down to the drive side axle nut....

thnks again supcom

found the problem...cracked driveside cone. as i tighten the axlenut, the cone expands, which in turn binds the bearings! thanks for all your suggestions!