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Front wheel question

Started by Penasquitos Joe · · Last activity · 8 posts · 1,525 views

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Mountain Bikes
Published
5 March 2003
Last activity
6 March 2003
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Penasquitos Joe
Posts
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  1. While riding recently the skewer on the front wheel jumped ship. (I don't know what happened but all
    of a sudden the bike got hard to pedal and when I took a look, the skewer was GONE!) Since I wanted
    a mechanic's opinion on the condition of the wheel I took it in and had him replace the skewer and
    repack the hub. So here's the question. I put the wheel back on and noticed play and noise like the
    bearings were grinding. I tried to adjust it but the dust cover doesn't stay in place, thus exposing
    the innards. So what's the proper adjustment on the front wheel? I think I need a diagram to verify
    that everything is put back correctly but haven't found anything on the web yet. Can anyone suggest
    and sites that might help with repairs. Thanks, all. I'm a newbie and trying to get started in this.
    I appreciate the input.

  2. Penasquitos Joe <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    While riding recently the skewer on the front wheel jumped ship. (I don't know what happened but
    all of a sudden the bike got hard to pedal and when


    I

    Quoted message said:

    took a look, the skewer was GONE!) Since I wanted a mechanic's opinion on the condition of the
    wheel I took it in and had him replace the skewer and repack the hub. So here's the question. I
    put the wheel back on and noticed play and noise like the bearings were grinding. I tried to
    adjust it but the dust cover doesn't stay in place, thus exposing the innards.


    So

    Quoted message said:

    what's the proper adjustment on the front wheel? I think I need a diagram to verify that
    everything is put back correctly but haven't found anything on the web yet. Can anyone suggest and
    sites that might help with


    repairs.

    Quoted message said:

    Thanks, all. I'm a newbie and trying to get started in this. I


    appreciate

    Quoted message said:

    the input.

    Check out Sheldon Brown's site - haven't got the URL handy, but a Google search should turn it up
    for you - give it a shot, it's an excellent resource.

    Shaun aRe

  3. "Penasquitos Joe" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    While riding recently the skewer on the front wheel jumped ship. (I don't know what happened but
    all of a sudden the bike got hard to pedal and when


    I

    Quoted message said:

    took a look, the skewer was GONE!) Since I wanted a mechanic's opinion on the condition of the
    wheel I took it in and had him replace the skewer and repack the hub. So here's the question. I
    put the wheel back on and noticed play and noise like the bearings were grinding. I tried to
    adjust it but the dust cover doesn't stay in place, thus exposing the innards.


    So

    Quoted message said:

    what's the proper adjustment on the front wheel? I think I need a diagram to verify that
    everything is put back correctly but haven't found anything on the web yet. Can anyone suggest and
    sites that might help with


    repairs.

    Quoted message said:

    Thanks, all. I'm a newbie and trying to get started in this. I


    appreciate

    Quoted message said:

    the input.

    Sure, www.sheldonbrown.com and parktool.comhowfix hub.shtml What brand,
    model hub is it?

    Mike - I'm the only one I trust to screw up my bike.

  4. "Penasquitos Joe" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    While riding recently the skewer on the front wheel jumped ship. (I don't know what happened but
    all of a sudden the bike got hard to pedal and when


    I

    Quoted message said:

    took a look, the skewer was GONE!) Since I wanted a mechanic's opinion on the condition of the
    wheel I took it in and had him replace the skewer and repack the hub. So here's the question. I
    put the wheel back on and noticed play and noise like the bearings were grinding. I tried to
    adjust it but the dust cover doesn't stay in place, thus exposing the innards.


    So

    Quoted message said:

    what's the proper adjustment on the front wheel? I think I need a diagram to verify that
    everything is put back correctly but haven't found anything on the web yet. Can anyone suggest and
    sites that might help with


    repairs.

    Quoted message said:

    Thanks, all. I'm a newbie and trying to get started in this. I


    appreciate

    Quoted message said:

    the input.

    shimano-europe.comcycling

    --
    DTW .../\.../\.../\...

  5. Quoted message said:

    "Penasquitos Joe" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    While riding recently the skewer on the front wheel jumped ship. (I


    don't

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    know what happened but all of a sudden the bike got hard to pedal and


    when

    Quoted message said:

    I

    Quoted message said:

    took a look, the skewer was GONE!) Since I wanted a mechanic's opinion


    on

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    the condition of the wheel I took it in and had him replace the skewer


    and

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    repack the hub. So here's the question. I put the wheel back on and noticed play and noise like
    the bearings were grinding. I tried to


    adjust

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    it but the dust cover doesn't stay in place, thus exposing the innards.


    So

    Quoted message said:

    what's the proper adjustment on the front wheel? I think I need a


    diagram

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    to verify that everything is put back correctly but haven't found


    anything

    Quoted message said:
    Quoted message said:

    on the web yet. Can anyone suggest and sites that might help with


    repairs.

    Quoted message said:

    Thanks, all. I'm a newbie and trying to get started in this. I


    appreciate

    Quoted message said:

    the input.

    shimano-europe.comcycling

    search for HB-M570 -

    DTW .../\.../\.../\...

  6. "Penasquitos Joe" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
    "]news:[email hidden]...

    Quoted message said:

    While riding recently the skewer on the front wheel jumped ship. (I don't know what happened but
    all of a sudden the bike got hard to pedal and when


    I

    Quoted message said:

    took a look, the skewer was GONE!) Since I wanted a mechanic's opinion on the condition of the
    wheel I took it in and had him replace the skewer and repack the hub. So here's the question. I
    put the wheel back on and noticed play and noise like the bearings were grinding. I tried to
    adjust it but the dust cover doesn't stay in place, thus exposing the innards.


    So

    Quoted message said:

    what's the proper adjustment on the front wheel? I think I need a diagram to verify that
    everything is put back correctly but haven't found anything on the web yet. Can anyone suggest and
    sites that might help with


    repairs.

    Quoted message said:

    Thanks, all. I'm a newbie and trying to get started in this. I


    appreciate

    Quoted message said:

    the input.

    Nelson Binch sent me this, excellent advice, follow it closely!

    Quoted message said:

    Required tools and parts (for most shimano) 13mm 15mm 17mm cone


    wrenches. 18 1/4 inch ball bearings (rear) 20 3/16 ball bearings (front) Waterproof grease (in my
    case, Coastal Marine Grease)

    remove rubber seals. Clean away as much grit and grime as possible. Use the smaller cone wrench (13
    front, 15 rear) to hold the cone while using the 17 (or a 17mm open end wrench - or, in a pinch, an
    adjustable wrench) to loosen the locknut. Do this on the non-drive side of the rear. Unscrew the
    parts and place them in order, so all the funny little washers go back in the proper place.

    Throw away the old bearing (I use a magnet on the end of a probe tool to get stubborn ones out of
    nooks and crannies) and use a degreaser (avoid simple green - WD40 actually works well for this) and
    maybe a toothbrush to clean everything out of the hubs. A dose of rubbing alcohol will wash away the
    last contaminants.

    Put a glob of grease in each cup. There is no such thing as too much at any point. The grease is
    thick enough to hold the bearings in place while you work. Put 9 in each cup in the rear, 10 in the
    front (this applies to most, though some oddballs use other sizes and counts)

    Clean the axles as well as you can, dry them, then check with the cone wrenches that the side you
    didn't take apart is properly tight. Put the axle back through and thread the other parts back on.
    Add grease at every opportunity.

    Holding the tight side, snug the cone down on the bearing. Hand tightern the locknut. Now give the
    loose cone a quarter turn, so the bearings actually feel too tight. Hold the loose cone with the
    cone wrench and tighten the locknut. There should be the tiniest bit of play when you're done.
    Tightening the skewer takes this last bit of play out. Reinstall the rubber seals. Wipe off any
    grease that splooched out and you're done.

    It's not hard, and most LBSs do it fairly cheaply ($5 a hub, plus parts 10¢ per ball, so roughly $7
    a wheel) so if you have access to a shop, have them do it or at least walk you through the process.

    What I like about ball bearings is this: as a trained mechanic, I can always keep them in tip top
    running shape. If the hubs develop play, I can adjust that out. Maintenance is easy and cheap. Ball
    bearings of good quality are readily available.

    Cartridge bearing hubs (I'm trying a set on one bike right now) are nice and low maintenance, but
    once they develop play, there is little you can do to adjust it. You simply need to have the
    bearings replaced, and sometimes they can be hard to find. I even have one hub, on the front of my
    hybrid, that is totally unserviceable. It has no provision for disassembly. Forturnately, despite
    being 10 years old, it is still smooth as silk, though I think use on a hybrid and not a MTB has
    something to do with it.

    --
    DTW .../\.../\.../\...

  7. Thanks to everyone for sending some help my way. After taking a look at the hub I discovered some
    warping inside where the bearings live. A crack resulted so now this raceway wouldn't hold the
    bearings any longer. In the end it seemed cheaper to get a new wheel than to have a new hub
    installed. Well, at least I didn't get banged up when this all happened and I'll eventually recover
    from the hit to the wallet, once I get back to gainful employment. Thanks again for all of your
    help. The sites are very informative. Joe "Penasquitos Joe" <[email hidden]> wrote in
    message "]news:[email hidden]... While riding recently the skewer on the
    front wheel jumped ship. (I don't know what happened but all of a sudden the bike got hard to pedal
    and when I took a look, the skewer was GONE!) Since I wanted a mechanic's opinion on the condition
    of the wheel I took it in and had him replace the skewer and repack the hub. So here's the question.
    I put the wheel back on and noticed play and noise like the bearings were grinding. I tried to
    adjust it but the dust cover doesn't stay in place, thus exposing the innards. So what's the proper
    adjustment on the front wheel? I think I need a diagram to verify that everything is put back
    correctly but haven't found anything on the web yet. Can anyone suggest and sites that might help
    with repairs. Thanks, all. I'm a newbie and trying to get started in this. I appreciate the input.

  8. Penasquitos Joe said:

    Thanks to everyone for sending some help my way. After taking a look at the hub I discovered some
    warping inside where the bearings live. A crack resulted so now this raceway wouldn't hold the
    bearings any longer. In the end it seemed cheaper to get a new wheel than to have a new hub
    installed. Well, at least I didn't get banged up when this all happened and I'll eventually
    recover from the hit to the wallet, once I get back to gainful employment. Thanks again for all of
    your help. The sites are very informative. Joe "Penasquitos Joe" <[email hidden]> wrote
    in message "]news:[email hidden]... While riding recently the skewer
    on the front wheel jumped ship. (I don't know what happened but all of a sudden the bike got hard
    to pedal and when I took a look, the skewer was GONE!) Since I wanted a mechanic's opinion on the
    condition of the wheel I took it in and had him replace the skewer and repack the hub. So here's
    the question. I put the wheel back on and noticed play and noise like the bearings were grinding.
    I tried to adjust it but the dust cover doesn't stay in place, thus exposing the innards. So
    what's the proper adjustment on the front wheel? I think I need a diagram to verify that
    everything is put back correctly but haven't found anything on the web yet. Can anyone suggest and
    sites that might help with repairs. Thanks, all. I'm a newbie and trying to get started in this. I
    appreciate the input.

    the probable reasone your skewer whent byby is you are over tighening
    it. it only needs just enough force to hold it in place.

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