Hubs

[Farky]

Hello, the rear wheel on my fixed has thin nuts on the inside of the stays and if I over tighten them, the wheel binds and if they're not tight enough, it seems loose and there's side-to-side movement. It seems to be a bit of an art to get this right and I just wondered if this is normal and does anyone have any tips; I get it right but then when I tighten the wheel nuts, the wheel binds so I'm back to loosening the wheel and trying again...

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[accountantpete]

It's reasonably easy if you understand the principles and accept the fact that it takes a bit of practice to get right.

The bearings are held between a race on the axle and a race on the cone (which is on the outside near the stay).

You tighten up the cone until there is still free movement but no play (ie the wheel is not binding).

Now if you left it like this the slight friction from the bearings would loosen the cone and play would develop.

So after finding the sweet spot you need to fix the cone so it can't come undone - this is done but using a lock nut immediately behind the cone. You tighten the lock nut up to the cone and then simultaneously undo the cone and tighten the locknut into each other so that the friction holds them in place.

I'd have a look at a few videos on youtube so as to get a better idea of what I am talking about.

 

[Farky]

Didn't even think of youtube. Thanks Pete, very helpful!!

 

[biggs682]

its all good fun this messing about with bikes and its amazing what you can learn from others in the know