I don't think it's my ham fistedness. It feels as cruddy as it did with the old bearings in.
If you remove the axle the non-drive side stays on and it feels buttery smooth. Even the drive side one when pressed out feels fine.
It just feels a tad fecked when all pressed in place. It feels very tight (oooh-errrr) but the main concern is a nasty notchy feel as the wheel rotates.
I'll have a gander at either a new wheel (this one is ancient – 2000?) or a spares kit.
The concern I have is I've deformed the free-hub twice now in this wheel – it's grown a bulge on the inner edge that has caused the pawls to get nasty. Each time I've filed it down with the Dremel – but I think now may be the time to say ta ta to this wheel……