i have a relatively new beach cruiser. But lately I am noticing that my hub brake takes longer to engage when I backpedal. There is too much play or slack when I feel the need to stop. I ride a cruiser because I assume I can fix most things on it but with this issue I am unclear where do I start. I initially assumed it is something in the hub - a cone adjustment? - but am wondering now if it more related to the crank? I havent done anything yet.
I have no idea what happens in that 'bottom bracket' - is that possibly the culprit? Something I can fix myself?
Thanks
Pete

Probably nothing to do with the crank. Assuming none of the parts are damaged or missing, it's usually easy to adjust play out of coaster brake hubs. (Play in the hub is usually the cause of the symptom you described.)

The relevant section of the video below starts after 1:00.

You don't have to take the hub apart. However, you might need a cone wrench, a bicycle-specific very thin open-end wrench (go to around 1:30 in the video).

The cone wrench size is almost always 15 mm. You can look up the hub brand to confirm the wrench size needed, or just bring the wheel or the whole bike to a bike shop and buy the necessary wrench there, or just pay them to do the adjustment..

thanks for the quick reply Trak and for supplying the video.

However I can be pretty dense mechanically. I took the wheel off and cleaned it up.

In the video the guy hand tightened the cone without the lock nut on and was happy with how it felt. Then the video jumps to him tightening the lock nut.

I still need to buy a 15mm cone wrench to do the adjustment but it appears my 17mm ratchet fits the locknut.


Am I correct in thinking these would be my steps:

1. I remove the lock nut.

2. I use a 15mm cone wrench to tighten the cone

3. Keep my 15mm wrench on the cone while i use the 17mm ratchet to hold the cone in place?


How should i visualize what the cone is actually doing?

Thanks Pete

i am having trouble with the forum. I sent a detailied reply but it disappeared.......will try again later

I am having trouble successfully replying to you for some reason. Spent a lot of time drafting the last one but it got waylaid somehow.....
So - Thanks for the quick reply Trak - and thanks for the video.
I am dense when it comes to things mechanical so please indulge my questions:
I took my back wheel off and cleaned it up.
In the video the guy hand tightened the cone and then jumped right into tightening the locknut.
In my case do I:
1. remove the locknut with a 17mm ratchet
2. tighten the cone (with a 15mm cone wrench - that i will buy)
3. hold the cone in place with the 15mm and then ratchet on the locknut with the 17mm ratchet

How should i visualize the job of the cone?
Is it generally ok to hand-tighten the cone and just use the wrench to hold it stationary while the locknut gets set?
Sorry for all the questions
Thx
Pete

As I replied in your other thread, new forum members will often have their posts flagged by the forum software.
When those posts are flagged a moderator needs to approve them. That situation should disappear after a few more posts.

Pete,

Yes, I wish the guy who did the video had spent a few seconds explaining how cone adjustments work.

Basically, the idea is to hold the left end of the axle with one hand while screwing in the cone on the right end by hand. You want to achieve an adjustment where the axle is turning freely on the bearings, with no grinding, but also with no slop/play.

Once you've adjusted it to where there's no grinding and no slop, you hold the cone stationary with the cone wrench and tighten the lock nut against it with your other wrench.

Then check to make sure that there's still no grinding and no play.

Why it's a good idea to check the adjustment at this point: sometimes the cone moves inward a little on the axle when you tighten the lock nut against it.

If that happens, simply hold the cone with the cone wrench, back off the locknut, and repeat the adjustment procedure. You'll quickly get a feel for how to finesse the adjustment so there's no grinding and no play. It's satisfying, once you get it right.

Joe