Rear hub cones keep loosening
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Rocklin, CA
Posts: 158
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Rear hub cones keep loosening
First the history:
Built a new set of wheels for my commuter. I used a NOS Shimano 600EX hub I purchased on eBay. It was new in a box and had never been laced. Took the cones and bearings out just to see the condition of the grease and it was fresh (not dried out). I added a bit of extra Phil Wood grease as it went back together, adjusted everthing correctly, built the wheel, and began to ride it.
Now the problem. Every hundred miles or so I notice that the cones seem to be loose. There is excessive play in the bearings. The first time or two that this happened I just snugged the adjustment up and rode on. It has happened three times now so I dismantled it and had a look. The bearings are all there and still look like brand new. The cups and cones are like new too and no visible signs of wear. The axle is straight and is not cracked/broken. I washed out all the grease this time and regreased with new Phil Wood grease. Again checked the bearing play as it went together and it is perfect. As before the bearings feel very smooth. I've checked each time to ensure I didn't forget to tighten either of the cone locknuts.
I'm at a loss on this one...any suggestions?
Built a new set of wheels for my commuter. I used a NOS Shimano 600EX hub I purchased on eBay. It was new in a box and had never been laced. Took the cones and bearings out just to see the condition of the grease and it was fresh (not dried out). I added a bit of extra Phil Wood grease as it went back together, adjusted everthing correctly, built the wheel, and began to ride it.
Now the problem. Every hundred miles or so I notice that the cones seem to be loose. There is excessive play in the bearings. The first time or two that this happened I just snugged the adjustment up and rode on. It has happened three times now so I dismantled it and had a look. The bearings are all there and still look like brand new. The cups and cones are like new too and no visible signs of wear. The axle is straight and is not cracked/broken. I washed out all the grease this time and regreased with new Phil Wood grease. Again checked the bearing play as it went together and it is perfect. As before the bearings feel very smooth. I've checked each time to ensure I didn't forget to tighten either of the cone locknuts.
I'm at a loss on this one...any suggestions?
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Rocklin, CA
Posts: 158
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by r8ingbull
Go through how you tighten the lock nuts step by step. It sounds like the axle is spinning when you tighten the lock nut to the cone.
#4
Retrogrouch in Training
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Knee-deep in the day-to-day
Posts: 5,484
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Any chance your axle or locknut threads are stripped? You might not notice just tightening them, I'd do a visual inspection.
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 211
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Try taking the cone just past tight, before you tighten the non-drive side locknut. The axle tends to slip with the locknut sometimes when your turning it, and when it's done the cone is in the right position. Make sure the Axle vise is real tight before you start too. I've had this problem with some older exage 600 hubs. That always seems to fix it. You might have to have a helper use a wrench on the drive side to hold the axle while you tighten the non-drive side to get it real good and tight.
#7
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Rocklin, CA
Posts: 158
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by bostontrevor
Any chance your axle or locknut threads are stripped? You might not notice just tightening them, I'd do a visual inspection.
I only had one other wheel do this and when I took it apart the cone was worn out. It was the wear on the cone and bearings that resulted in the increased play in the wheel. The 600 hub I'm describing has no visible evidence of wear and the cones aren't rotating on the axle. It is a very strang problem.
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Rocklin, CA
Posts: 158
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by r8ingbull
Try taking the cone just past tight, before you tighten the non-drive side locknut. The axle tends to slip with the locknut sometimes when your turning it, and when it's done the cone is in the right position. Make sure the Axle vise is real tight before you start too. I've had this problem with some older exage 600 hubs. That always seems to fix it. You might have to have a helper use a wrench on the drive side to hold the axle while you tighten the non-drive side to get it real good and tight.
#9
cyclist/gearhead/cycli...
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: DC / Maryland suburbs
Posts: 4,166
Bikes: Homebuilt tourer/commuter, modified-beyond-recognition 1990 Trek 1100, reasonably stock 2002-ish Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
I don't know this hub at all, but does it have removable cups like some of the fancy hubs have? If so, could the cups be loose after you overhauled the hub, and then they shift around as the bike is used?
#10
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Rocklin, CA
Posts: 158
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by moxfyre
I don't know this hub at all, but does it have removable cups like some of the fancy hubs have? If so, could the cups be loose after you overhauled the hub, and then they shift around as the bike is used?
#11
cyclist/gearhead/cycli...
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: DC / Maryland suburbs
Posts: 4,166
Bikes: Homebuilt tourer/commuter, modified-beyond-recognition 1990 Trek 1100, reasonably stock 2002-ish Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Originally Posted by jimhens714
I wondered that myself although I think the cups are pressed in. I guess if this problem persists I'll have to tear it down again and see if one or both of the cups are loose. I think that would mean the hub is no good. I've got a spare one just like it but wanted to keep it as a spare...
#13
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Rocklin, CA
Posts: 158
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally Posted by r8ingbull
Was this hub a take-off or OEM? or was it sold to retail?