Mismatched Number of Balls in a Hub Bearing
06-23-15, 07:05 AM
#1
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Mismatched Number of Balls in a Hub Bearing
I dismantled the hub of my wife's bike this morning and found that one side had 8 bearing balls while the other had 9. I am sure that I did not drop a bearing as I had a cloth over my lap. Has anyone else ever found a bearing to contain a different number of balls on either side?
06-23-15, 07:11 AM
#2
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I dismantled the hub of my wife's bike this morning and found that one side had 8 bearing balls while the other had 9. I am sure that I did not drop a bearing as I had a cloth over my lap. Has anyone else ever found a bearing to contain a different number of balls on either side?
06-23-15, 07:17 AM
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Check inside the hub shell as a bearing ball will sometimes disappear into the interior. Otherwise it was an assembly mistake somewhere along the line.
06-23-15, 07:42 AM
#4
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Was this a front or rear hub? I assume the rear. Yes, there can be a different number of bearings on each side for the rear hub as well as dfferent size bearings on each side. Look close and compare the sizing.
Last edited by Jicafold; 06-23-15 at 07:49 AM.
06-23-15, 07:53 AM
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I've seen different sizes, and hence different counts, on the left and right sides of rear hubs. Not often. But it does happen.
Don't sweat it though. Just put back as many as will fit in the race. Don't cram in the last one, because there is usually almost enough space for one more but not quite enough, and you want that little bit of free space. Get the size right of course. Then just fill in the race.
Don't sweat it though. Just put back as many as will fit in the race. Don't cram in the last one, because there is usually almost enough space for one more but not quite enough, and you want that little bit of free space. Get the size right of course. Then just fill in the race.
06-23-15, 08:32 AM
#7
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Thanks, it was the rear hub.
I did check inside the shell but nothing there. Having read the responses here now, I reckon that there is no 'missing' ball. I am sure that both races are the same size - the balls are definitely the same size - but will look more closely to make sure. I have ordered some more balls and will do as suggested by adding back as many as will fit inside comfortably without forcing or 'squashing' them in.
I did check inside the shell but nothing there. Having read the responses here now, I reckon that there is no 'missing' ball. I am sure that both races are the same size - the balls are definitely the same size - but will look more closely to make sure. I have ordered some more balls and will do as suggested by adding back as many as will fit inside comfortably without forcing or 'squashing' them in.
Last edited by rodscot; 06-23-15 at 08:35 AM.
06-23-15, 08:35 AM
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06-23-15, 08:36 AM
#9
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Specifying WHICH hub would go a long way to giving you a correct answer.
06-23-15, 08:37 AM
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06-23-15, 08:38 AM
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06-23-15, 08:42 AM
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06-23-15, 09:31 AM
#13
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I am sorry. I misunderstood. It is an old bike and worth very little. My wife has had it for 25 years and I have no idea what the make is or the make of the wheel. However, I think that I got enough info to help me deal with the problem. Many thanks.
06-23-15, 10:26 AM
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