Bike maintenance, what am I missing...
Discussion
I really struggle with bike maintenance, so bear with me.
Hubs, The old cone and bearing type. What's the knack?
I can never get these to be reliable. I'm getting an old 80's racer back on the road and just put some new tyres and tubes on the wheels. Thought I'd have a go at re greasing the front bearings. Stripped it all down and cleaned. I just cant get it to run smoothly. It's either too tight or too slack and wobbly.
Also, back wheel. How the heck do I get that lined up. When I tighten the nuts its pulls the wheel out of line. Am I missing something? literally can not get the back wheel straight in the frame.
Hubs, The old cone and bearing type. What's the knack?
I can never get these to be reliable. I'm getting an old 80's racer back on the road and just put some new tyres and tubes on the wheels. Thought I'd have a go at re greasing the front bearings. Stripped it all down and cleaned. I just cant get it to run smoothly. It's either too tight or too slack and wobbly.
Also, back wheel. How the heck do I get that lined up. When I tighten the nuts its pulls the wheel out of line. Am I missing something? literally can not get the back wheel straight in the frame.
As you would do , just undo the one cone and lock nut on one side, strip out, clean and regrease. Put the bearings in, axle through and then the cone. Screw up to stop the bearings from falling out. Put on the lock nut. This is the bit you get stuck on. Twist the axle a few times, to move the grease out the bearings, to let the bearing seat on the cone and race. (otherwise they will come loose after a few turns) Then, using the cone spanner, gently nip the lock nut. Not to tight. Then use a cone spanner on the 'unlocked' side to stop the axle moving and use the other cone spanner on the nipped up cone. You will find it will turn in and out, but the nip up stops it from undoing large amounts. Roll the axle with your fingers and feel for tightness/ looseness. Adjust again and when happy, then lock the cone and lock nut. Takes a bit of patience, but you will get there after a few goes.
As for the back wheel, try a couple of washers on the axle so they are against the frame . You can also get nuts with a rolling serrated washer which would do the same thing. I am guessing you have just the nuts screwing up against the frame. See this item on ebay 201098115910
As for the back wheel, try a couple of washers on the axle so they are against the frame . You can also get nuts with a rolling serrated washer which would do the same thing. I am guessing you have just the nuts screwing up against the frame. See this item on ebay 201098115910
Edited by Justin S on Monday 9th June 22:46
Edited by Justin S on Monday 9th June 22:49
Justin S said:
As you would do , just undo the one cone and lock nut on one side, strip out, clean and regrease. Put the bearings in, axle through and then the cone. Screw up to stop the bearings from falling out. Put on the lock nut. This is the bit you get stuck on. Twist the axle a few times, to move the grease out the bearings, to let the bearing seat on the cone and race. (otherwise they will come loose after a few turns) Then, using the cone spanner, gently nip the lock nut. Not to tight. Then use a cone spanner on the 'unlocked' side to stop the axle moving and use the other cone spanner on the nipped up cone. You will find it will turn in and out, but the nip up stops it from undoing large amounts. Roll the axle with your fingers and feel for tightness/ looseness. Adjust again and when happy, then lock the cone and lock nut. Takes a bit of patience, but you will get there after a few goes.
As for the back wheel, try a couple of washers on the axle so they are against the frame . You can also get nuts with a rolling serrated washer which would do the same thing. I am guessing you have just the nuts screwing up against the frame.
Thanks. I actually don't have any lock nuts on my axles. It's just the cone then the frame, then the nut.As for the back wheel, try a couple of washers on the axle so they are against the frame . You can also get nuts with a rolling serrated washer which would do the same thing. I am guessing you have just the nuts screwing up against the frame.
Edited by Justin S on Monday 9th June 22:46
And also no washers as you suspected. Which makes sense as to why it's moving. I'll have to get some.
rufusgti said:
doing a bit of reading up and it could be that my bearings are pitted and worn. making it easy to go from lumpy/tight to slack/wobbly. maybe new wheels would be easier.
Nah. If there's nowt wrong wi' your wheels, and they are 'period' items which match the age/image of the bike, keep them. You should be able to buy some new ball bearings and a couple of fresh cone nuts, which would probably sort out any wear issues. On the other hand, if the rims are worn from years of braking, new wheels would begin to make sense. In that case I'd swap them before the current rims wear so thin that they fold over and give up holding onto the tyre beads.
Not seen a SA hub from the 80's ever not having locknuts, even bikes I had in the seventies !! See notes from Sheldon Brown on hubs and cones. I thought most front hubs in the 80's were just taiwan pressed steel, not SA hubs.
http://sheldonbrown.com/cone-adjustment.html
http://sheldonbrown.com/cone-adjustment.html
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