Hubs running rough

[ian789]

I took my wheels off and the hubs on the front wheels run rough and the back wheel is so tight it's hard to turn by hand

They're wheels which came with a £250 hybrid so aren't going to be the best quality and have done around 1000 miles.

How do you adjust them? I can uscrew the nut a bit but it goes tight as soon as I put the wheel back on the bike

Picture of hub

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

I think you have cup-and-cone hubs, so following this should do the trick. Good luck!

 

[Zoiders]

By the time they are running rough on a cheap wheel set it's possible you have not only damaged the cones but also the cups.

Be prepared to have to replace it, even after only 1000 miles.

 

[mickle]

Warranty!?

 

[ian789]

I've followed that guide and it seems everything is smooth

 

[Zoiders]

Have you wiped the grease off yet?

Look for wear that has got through the case hardening of the steel insert in the cups, it will start to fret and gall.

 

[ian789]

Just cleaned the grease off and theres two small marks and a clear line showing where it's been running. Is that a problem?

 

[Zoiders]

They look a bit tired, look at the cup in the hub as well.

 

[Alembicbassman]

Shiny line is OK, you're looking for pitting where the surface has flaked away due to friction.

A new axle is only about £8 and comes with cones, nuts washers etc. A new set of balls is about £3 so it's not a disaster.

Pack with lots of new grease (the Weldtite TF2 150ml tube with grease gun is very useful £11)

Tightening is trial and error, it should be smooth enough to turn by hand but tight enough not to have any play.

This cone came off my road bike. The surface has flaked away

 

[Zoiders]

The problem with cheap cones is that they tend to be cast and then case hardened, not machined.

Shiny starts to turn into rough quite quickly as you have reached the softer metal underneath.

 

[mickle]

Warranty!?

 

[fossyant]

The hubs have no sealing. This happens. The main issue is the hub bearing surface, if this is pitted, then no chance (new wheel). TBH, the hub parts look generic, but to get the bits might cost as much as a wheel. If the hub race is clean, then new cones (the bits on the axel) might keep you going.

If on a budget, replace the bearings, grease it up, tighten the cones till you have a tiny amount of 'wobble' then see how they go....

My kids bikes have hubs like this.. they work fine, but won't stand up to a daily commute... Perfect for an occasional use bike though.

Let us know how you go on.