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I've been volunteered to service an oldish bike. It's an 8 speed Ridgeback hardtail with v brakes. All went well until I tried to service the front hub. One side had had what looked like water ingress so both races were cleaned out and the bearings degreased and put back in in a nice bed of new grease. The race inside the hub is a bit rusty, but I cleaned it as well as I could. The cone on that side needed a bit of a clean up but not too bad now. If it was mine I'd replace the hub. I reasoned that I'd be able to get it back together as well as it would be. A new hub would be uneconomical IMO.
So, when I did put it back together I was able to set the preload on the cones, tighten the locknut and checked for play. A bit gritty, but span well enough. A soon as I put it on the bike it showed enough bearing play to give a sideways movement of about 5 mm at the rim. Back out and all reset again, same thing. No play on being tightened back up, span well enough on the axles alone, but as soon as I put it in the fork it's slack again.
I then checked and discover that it only did this at certain points in its travel. For half the rotation it's spot on, then for the other half about 3-5mm play.
Stripped it again and checked that the axle itself isn't bent. It's straight. Took all the bearings out, regreased, reset and put it all back together again. Same problem.
Anybody out there tell me what's wrong? I have a feeling the inner race may be stretched or out of shape. Can this be fixed without a new hub?
It is either the inner bearing within the hub or the cone.
Cone may not be machined centrally or a badly worn half from corrosion from 'standing' outside.
You could try another axle and cones.
I have front rim-brake wheels for as low as £5 collected from Wokingham that do not exhibit your wear/manufacturing issue.
paul.r.davisAThotmail.co.uk
yeah cone or cup or both is too ffar gone, replace or soldier on.
Thanks for the replies. I've got it as close as I can and to be honest it isnt worth a new wheel. Thanks for the wheel offer, but Wokingham is a bit far from Huddersfield!
I've already done all the cables, give it new brake pads and noodles, stuck him a part worn tyre on and a new inner, a new chain and cassette, bar end bungs and reindexed everything. I've raided my spares box and sourced Internet bargains and can't get the bill under £60 just for bits. He's a butcher at a farm shop so he can pay my labour in chops or sausages..........