Play in rear wheel

"Keith Willoughby" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I noticed a clunking as I rode yesterday. I finally found

out it was due

Quoted message said:

to the rear wheel - there's a few mm of play in it. Before

I take it all

Quoted message said:

apart - is this likely to be a hub problem, or an axle

problem? And am I

Quoted message said:

likely to be able to fix it (replacing the bearings?) or

is it likely to

Quoted message said:

need a new wheel?

--

before you get too involved in tweaking bearings etc, is
this a Quick Release wheel? I had a bit too much movement
in a wheel and found that tightening the QR slightly made
enough difference (but do not overtighten of course)

IanB

"Keith Willoughby" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I noticed a clunking as I rode yesterday. I finally found out it was due
to the rear wheel - there's a few mm of play in it. Before I take it all
apart - is this likely to be a hub problem, or an axle problem? And am I
likely to be able to fix it (replacing the bearings?) or is it likely to
need a new wheel?

--
Keith Willoughby http://flat222.org/keith/
This is the year

My problem was the hub, so I took it to local LBS specialist who fixed it
for a few quid. Done 400 miles since, no problem.

--
Simon Mason
Anlaby
East Yorkshire.
53°44'N 0°26'W
http://www.simonmason.karoo.net

IanB said:

"Keith Willoughby" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I noticed a clunking as I rode yesterday. I finally found

out it was due

Quoted message said:

to the rear wheel - there's a few mm of play in it. Before

I take it all

Quoted message said:

apart - is this likely to be a hub problem, or an axle

problem? And am I

Quoted message said:

likely to be able to fix it (replacing the bearings?) or

is it likely to

Quoted message said:

need a new wheel?

--

before you get too involved in tweaking bearings etc, is
this a Quick Release wheel? I had a bit too much movement
in a wheel and found that tightening the QR slightly made
enough difference (but do not overtighten of course)

And if not, it's very likely it's just the cup and cone bearings
needing adjustment. Quite simple with the right tools (open ended
spanner and cone spanner). Sheldon has an article on it.

<http://www.sheldonbrown.com/cone-adjustment.html>

Tim

Keith Willoughby said:

I noticed a clunking as I rode yesterday. I finally found out it was
due to the rear wheel - there's a few mm of play in it. Before I take
it all apart - is this likely to be a hub problem, or an axle
problem? And am I likely to be able to fix it (replacing the
bearings?) or is it likely to need a new wheel?

It's normal for wheels to *flex* a bit at the *rims* when pressed hard so
assuming the problem really is with the hub...........

If you have cup and cone type bearings, which most hubs have, you'll be
able to adjust the cones to get rid of any play. Most cartridge hubs
can't be adjusted in this way.

See the instructions here:
url:http://www.parktool.com/repair_help/FAQindex.shtml#wheel

and here: url:http://www.sheldonbrown.com/cone-adjustment.html
.....Note the great tip about using two like-spanners at the same
time, a trick Park miss. And don't forget the quick release skewer has an
imporant side-effect on the bearings.

~PB

Tim Hall said:

IanB said:

"Keith Willoughby" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I noticed a clunking as I rode yesterday. I finally found

out it was due

Quoted message said:

to the rear wheel - there's a few mm of play in it. Before

I take it all

Quoted message said:

apart - is this likely to be a hub problem, or an axle

problem? And am I

Quoted message said:

likely to be able to fix it (replacing the bearings?) or

is it likely to

Quoted message said:

need a new wheel?

--

before you get too involved in tweaking bearings etc, is
this a Quick Release wheel? I had a bit too much movement
in a wheel and found that tightening the QR slightly made
enough difference (but do not overtighten of course)

I tried tightening the QR a little, but it didn't help.

Quoted message said:

And if not, it's very likely it's just the cup and cone bearings
needing adjustment. Quite simple with the right tools (open ended
spanner and cone spanner). Sheldon has an article on it.

<http://www.sheldonbrown.com/cone-adjustment.html>

Cheers all!

I don't own the tools needed, so I think I'll take it to my LBS.

--
Keith Willoughby http://flat222.org/keith/
"New songs and true songs and songs to bring you"

Keith Willoughby of Anarchists for Big Government said:

I noticed a clunking as I rode yesterday. I finally found out it was due
to the rear wheel - there's a few mm of play in it. Before I take it all
apart - is this likely to be a hub problem, or an axle problem? And am I
likely to be able to fix it (replacing the bearings?) or is it likely to
need a new wheel?

Those of us belonging to the category of fatbirdorbastardonbike are hard on
wheels. The stresses we put on wheels every day eventually weakens them, so
they are more subject to accident damage. Undo the far end of your quick
release skewer, take it off and remove the entire thing from the wheel. Is
it still straight or is it bent? If bent, remove the axle too to examine
its state. I manage to break an axle every few years. I'm off to the bike
shop this afternoon to get a replacement for the latest casualty.

Steph
fatbirdonabike