Excessive Lateral play in rear wheel

[SquareDaff]

Anyone have any suggestions for what might cause this/things to look at?
It's the standard wheel from a Boardman Hybrid Pro (with discs) and the SRAM Rival rear cassette.

When attached to the bike (and with the spindle fastened tightly) there is about 3mm of sideways play in the rear wheel. This seems excessive to me.

Today will be my last day of travelling for a few days so I have time to explore anything anyone suggests.

 

[e-rider]

the bearings have come loose
there should be no movement, get them re-greased and tightened

 

[SquareDaff]

Is it a job I could do OR best left to the pro's? I'm keen to learn how to look after my own bike where I can.

 

[Maz]

Is it a job I could do OR best left to the pro's? I'm keen to learn how to look after my own bike where I can.

You can do it yourself - I managed to, when I had the same problem. You might need a cone spanner for this job. I'm sure there are some online instructions for this job, and I opened a thread a while back to get help with my repair - i'd need to search for the link.

 

[SquareDaff]

Thanks for the reply - just reading the Sheldon Brown bible on this now

 

[smutchin]

If it's cartridge bearings, you can replace them quite easily - you just need to know the right size for your wheel.

Well, I say "quite easily', but I replaced the bearings in my Brompton's rear wheel recently and getting the old cartridges out was a right bloody palaver. But it's not a job to be scared of.

d.

 

[lejogger]

I had the same with my Boardman CX Team. It was just that the cones needed tightening. Is there an audible rattling and are your gears slipping a little as well?

 

[SquareDaff]

I had the same with my Boardman CX Team. It was just that the cones needed tightening. Is there an audible rattling and are your gears slipping a little as well?

Yes - although the gear symptoms for mine are that I can't engage the smallest cog whilst riding but can when up on the stand.

 

[smutchin]

It was just that the cones needed tightening.

Yes, thinking about it, replacing the bearings would be overkill and wouldn't help much anyway if it's just the cones that need tightening. (The difference with my Brompton was that the play was caused by the bearing cartridge disintegrating, not just a loose cone.)

d.

 

[lejogger]

Yes, thinking about it, replacing the bearings would be overkill and wouldn't help much anyway if it's just the cones that need tightening. (The difference with my Brompton was that the play was caused by the bearing cartridge disintegrating, not just a loose cone.)

d.

It may well be the bearings, but I'd suggest that tightening the cones are the simple fix to try first before attempting anything more complex. Although for the sake of learning a bit, you might want to strip the hub down and check the bearings anyway.

Yes - although the gear symptoms for mine are that I can't engage the smallest cog whilst riding but can when up on the stand.

If you've got that much play in your rear wheel I'd be surprised if you didn't have a bit of gear slip. When you say you can't engage the smallest cog, is that a new problem since the play appeared, or has it always been the case? Also, is it when in the large or small chainring? Or both?

 

[smutchin]

It may well be the bearings, but I'd suggest that tightening the cones are the simple fix to try first before attempting anything more complex. Although for the sake of learning a bit, you might want to strip the hub down and check the bearings anyway.

Yes, good advice. I've always found the best way to learn how things work, and therefore how to maintain them, is to just take them to bits. Although I have got myself in a spot of bother with this philosophy a few times...

d.

 

[SquareDaff]

Yes, good advice. I've always found the best way to learn how things work, and therefore how to maintain them, is to just take them to bits. Although I have got myself in a spot of bother with this philosophy a few times...

d.

My philosophy too - and I'm not commutting for 10 days after tonight - so plenty of time to take it to the LBS if I mess up!

 

[SquareDaff]

It may well be the bearings, but I'd suggest that tightening the cones are the simple fix to try first before attempting anything more complex. Although for the sake of learning a bit, you might want to strip the hub down and check the bearings anyway.
If you've got that much play in your rear wheel I'd be surprised if you didn't have a bit of gear slip. When you say you can't engage the smallest cog, is that a new problem since the play appeared, or has it always been the case? Also, is it when in the large or small chainring? Or both?

Only on the large chain ring as far as I know. I try to avoid small and small for obvious reasons.

I don't know for sure when the play started so the gear issue could have existed before. I'll look properly in the next week when I have all day Mon-Fri to spend tinkering

 

[lejogger]

Only on the large chain ring as far as I know. I try to avoid small and small for obvious reasons.

I don't know for sure when the play started so the gear issue could have existed before. I'll look properly in the next week when I have all day Mon-Fri to spend tinkering

That's the spirit!
I certainly wouldn't attempt anything geary until you've sorted the wheel. You'll probably find that one sorts out the other.
Good luck anyway and keep us updated.

 

[SquareDaff]

That's the spirit!
I certainly wouldn't attempt anything geary until you've sorted the wheel. You'll probably find that one sorts out the other.
Good luck anyway and keep us updated.

Thanks. I will!