Front Wheel doesn't spin freely - Troubleshooting tips?
06-20-11, 10:44 AM
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Front Wheel doesn't spin freely - Troubleshooting tips?
Hello!
I have a 1979 Schwinn World Sport which I've been using to learn about bicycle repair/maintenance. I had the bike up in my stand yesterday, and I noticed that when I spin the front wheel it makes three full rotations and stops. If I spin the back wheel with the same amount of force, it'll spin for quite a while before stopping.
I've confirmed that the wheel isn't rubbing on the brake pads or anything... what should I look at next? Is there anything I can do to confirm whether it's the hub or not?
Thanks!
I have a 1979 Schwinn World Sport which I've been using to learn about bicycle repair/maintenance. I had the bike up in my stand yesterday, and I noticed that when I spin the front wheel it makes three full rotations and stops. If I spin the back wheel with the same amount of force, it'll spin for quite a while before stopping.
I've confirmed that the wheel isn't rubbing on the brake pads or anything... what should I look at next? Is there anything I can do to confirm whether it's the hub or not?
Thanks!
06-20-11, 10:57 AM
#2
Senior Member
Wheel bearings are likely in bad need of cleaning, grease and some tuning. It may be just dried up old grease and grunge. Or you may find that the cups and or cones are badly rusty and pitted.
First step is to get some cone wrenches so you can take it apart and put it together. Second step is to look at what you need to do for the front hub rebuild using www.parktool.com/repair .
If you find that the bearing tracks on the cups are badly pitted and rough I'm afraid that the wheel is basically toast and you'll want to find a newer used one or a new one. The bearing cups are not replaceable. If the cups are OK but the cones are shot you can get new or good used cones by taking your axle and the old cones with you to find some replacements at the LBS.
But most often it's easier to just find another donor bike and do a wheel transplant.
First step is to get some cone wrenches so you can take it apart and put it together. Second step is to look at what you need to do for the front hub rebuild using www.parktool.com/repair .
If you find that the bearing tracks on the cups are badly pitted and rough I'm afraid that the wheel is basically toast and you'll want to find a newer used one or a new one. The bearing cups are not replaceable. If the cups are OK but the cones are shot you can get new or good used cones by taking your axle and the old cones with you to find some replacements at the LBS.
But most often it's easier to just find another donor bike and do a wheel transplant.
06-20-11, 11:01 AM
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Take the wheel out of the frame and spin the axle with your fingers. If it doesn't turn freely, it probably needs service. It's not a difficult job; Park Tools' web site has tutorials on this type of thing.
06-20-11, 04:17 PM
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New bearing and grease is probably need. Also make sure the proper cone with a curved bearing seat is used. There were shops that used a straight cone surface. Then there is proper adjustment of the cones. This means that the cones are never run up tight. With the wheel out of the bike the cones and their lock nuts need to be run up so you can feel the smallest amout of motion, something like half a thousandth of looseness. Then when the quick release exerts compression, the bearing is not binding. That slightest amount of "looseness" also asssures that when out in the sun and hot weather the bearing doesnt run into a binding condition due to expansion because of heat.
