Originally Posted by
dedhed
Loose bearing vs caged shouldn't make any difference in holding adjustment other than if it gets too loose uncaged bearings can fall out. Something isn't being tightened enough.
They were tight, but besides bearings being easily moved - despite the grease - as you put the cone back in, then on old bikes the cup on the bike can become deformed over time (which over tightening can do) , and thus even caged bearings can become loose prematurely, esp, if the user does not return as told to after some break in.