nowitsshowtime

I started noticing this problem after rolling through the flooded streets last year, and then I basically put the bike away for the winter season. Bike is a Motobecane Track fixed gear from BD.

Flipped the bike over and spun the crank and there is a lot of resistance somewhere. The chain tension is not too tight, so its not that. I thought it might be the BB, and I thought I could hear faint grinding when riding maybe just in my head since I'm looking for a problem. I then loosened up the rear wheel completely, spun the crank, and the wheel glides freely now (therefore ruling out the BB imo).

As soon as I put tension on the rear axle nuts, even the slightest bit it slows the wheel down significantly. I obviously cant ride this bike with the axle nuts not tightened down. Is there any solution to this? I don't get how the pressure from the axle nuts is what is causing resistance in the rear wheel. I'm guessing I'll need a new hub as these are sealed bearings.

ganapati

Sounds like the bearings in your rear hub. You may have overtightened the nuts against the race and crushed them, that would explain why loosening the nuts helps.

Scrodzilla

The stock hubs on the Motobecane track don't have cartridge bearings.

hairnet

It wouldnt spin freely is the bearings are "crushed", and he loosened the axle nuts that hold the wheel to the bike - not the cones.

You say you rode though some flooding and then let the bike sit for the winter. I suppose the bearings and races are rusted and need to be overhauled. Those loose ball Formula hubs don't have much grease and are poorly adjusted to begin with, unless you had them repacked.

jfmckenna

Repack and don't tighten the cones perfectly. IOW there should be a bit of play in the axle that tightening the axle nuts will take out.

hairnet

Solid axles don't compress like hollow axles do. You just need to adjust so that the axle spins freely without play.

Rootzilla

But even with solid axle, tightening the axle nut firmly will tighten the cup'n'cone bearing a little bit. IOW you should leave a bit of play to the bearing before installing the wheel or fine-tune the bearing once the wheel's been installed (Sheldon has instructions for doing this, I think).