Originally Posted by
3alarmer
I can't easily get a good adjustment on wheel bearings without a cone wrench on each side. I can do it, eventually, but it's much more painful than it needs to be. I always assumed that was the reason for so many hub cone failures on these.
A Shimano cassette hub also cannot be adjusted on the right side, and they have a reputation for robustness, not failure.
I agree, it's a pain, but I would not go so far as to say it's the cause for the Helicomatic bearings' poor longevity, or else by that logic, Shimano cassette hubs would also be dropping like flies. I chalk the poor reliability up to too small bearings, too few bearings, and possibly bad metallurgy in the cones.