Originally Posted by
dddd
But consider that when buying a motorcycle, this would be like having the final drive chain set up too tight, such that the chain severely over-stressed the chain and output shaft bearings every time that the rear suspension moved through it's travel arc.
But with motorcycles leaving a shop, such an oversight is extremely rare. I've seen it, but it is quite rare!
So with bikes often costing as much as motorcycles, and with each carrying comparable warranties, what is it about the bicycle industry that allows bikes out the door with over-tight hub bearings?
The too-tight hub cones are much less likely to hurt anything other than a bearing surface.
This is a guess, but from the consumer's POV, it is much easier to detect a wheel that's a tad wobbly because the automated assembly didn't get the bearing preload right, rather than one that is just a hair
too tight. Thing is, the machine - unlike mkeller234 and other human mechanics - is incapable of "readjust, readjust, swear, repeat."
-Kurt