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Wheel play

Old 12-28-17, 03:37 AM
  #1  
Ride_Fast
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Wheel play

How bad is wheel play and what's the worst that can happen if you don't fix it? I have slight play on both of my wheels, and I just can't seem to adjust them perfectly. It's either slightly tight or slightly loose, so I chose slightly loose. Do you think that by having it slightly tight it will loosen up the hub over time?
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Old 12-28-17, 06:15 AM
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How old is your bike?

Assuming you have cup and cone wheel bearings, that sounds like pitted cones to me. The tiniest amount of pitting will force you to make the choice between "crunchy" feeling bearings and more wheel play than you'd like. The cheap solution is new cones if you can find replacements.
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Old 12-28-17, 06:25 AM
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Originally Posted by Ride_Fast
How bad is wheel play and what's the worst that can happen if you don't fix it? I have slight play on both of my wheels, and I just can't seem to adjust them perfectly. It's either slightly tight or slightly loose, so I chose slightly loose. Do you think that by having it slightly tight it will loosen up the hub over time?
The worst thing that could happen is that you're riding around with a wheel that could be loud, wobbles, and contacts your brake pads. Could that end in catastrophe? Probably not.

There are Youtube videos on how to adjust them, but as RG mentioned, if your cone is pitted it should be replaced. Try cleaning the bearings and regreasing. I assume you have a set of cone wrenches for the job?
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Old 12-28-17, 06:30 AM
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IMO, slightly loose is better than tight but should be checked often.

Standard hub can have worn balls &/or cones &/or cups &/or bent axle. Inspect all and for axle, remove all parts and roll out on flat surface.
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Old 12-28-17, 12:45 PM
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Originally Posted by Ride_Fast
How bad is wheel play and what's the worst that can happen if you don't fix it? I have slight play on both of my wheels, and I just can't seem to adjust them perfectly. It's either slightly tight or slightly loose, so I chose slightly loose. Do you think that by having it slightly tight it will loosen up the hub over time?
A recent thread in the mechanics forum on the exact same subject. 7 pages of responses...

What exactly will happen if your hubs have a little play?
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Old 12-28-17, 01:13 PM
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Supply numbers , like run out measured at the rim, your answer is related to how much is at issue ... what is the hub?

QR axle or not ?
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Old 12-28-17, 01:14 PM
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About 15 years ago I had a mountain bike stolen out of the back of my garage. Here lately several high price bike belonging to the local bike club members have been stolen.

Any more most bikes that are stolen amount to Grand Thief
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Old 12-28-17, 01:20 PM
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Originally Posted by rydabent
About 15 years ago I had a mountain bike stolen out of the back of my garage. Here lately several high price bike belonging to the local bike club members have been stolen.

Any more most bikes that are stolen amount to Grand Thief

Uh...Seek immediate medical attention. Or maybe you just need more gears.
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Old 12-28-17, 06:56 PM
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Originally Posted by Ride_Fast
How bad is wheel play and what's the worst that can happen if you don't fix it? I have slight play on both of my wheels, and I just can't seem to adjust them perfectly. It's either slightly tight or slightly loose, so I chose slightly loose. Do you think that by having it slightly tight it will loosen up the hub over time?
My bike with a little slop in the wheels is my fastest ride. It's got cup & cone bearings. Wheels probably only twitch about 0.5mm back & forth. I'll get around to tightening it up after another 500 miles or so.
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Old 12-31-17, 11:57 AM
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A little bit wont matter, OP. I wouldnt sweat it.
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Old 01-25-18, 06:22 PM
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I do have the cone wrenches. Replacing the cones did the trick, but the front wheel has very slight contact. I'm fine with that as long as it spins smoothly.
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