Wheel play
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 99
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 68 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
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?
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: St Peters, Missouri
Posts: 30,225
Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1571 Post(s)
Liked 640 Times
in
361 Posts
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.
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.
__________________
My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.
My greatest fear is all of my kids standing around my coffin and talking about "how sensible" dad was.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Toronto, CANADA
Posts: 6,175
Bikes: ...a few.
Mentioned: 47 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1991 Post(s)
Liked 390 Times
in
221 Posts
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?
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?
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: SW Fl.
Posts: 5,502
Bikes: Day6 Semi Recumbent "FIREBALL", 1981 Custom Touring Paramount, 1983 Road Paramount, 2013 Giant Propel Advanced SL3, 2018 Specialized Red Roubaix Expert mech., 2002 Magna 7sp hybrid, 1976 Bassett Racing 45sp Cruiser
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1024 Post(s)
Liked 697 Times
in
449 Posts
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.
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.
#5
Calamari Marionette Ph.D
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?
What exactly will happen if your hubs have a little play?
#6
Banned
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 ?
QR axle or not ?
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Lincoln Ne
Posts: 9,809
Bikes: RANS Stratus TerraTrike Tour II
Mentioned: 44 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3235 Post(s)
Liked 1,001 Times
in
599 Posts
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
Any more most bikes that are stolen amount to Grand Thief
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 36,698
Mentioned: 206 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 16968 Post(s)
Liked 12,508 Times
in
5,924 Posts
Uh...Seek immediate medical attention. Or maybe you just need more gears.
#9
Senior Member
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?
#11
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 99
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 68 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
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.