play in the rear wheel

[alecstilleyedye]

i noticed that there is a little bit of sideways play in the back wheel of my commuter bike this morning. is it a problem, can it be fixed easily (and cheaply), and what are the consequences if i don't.

ta in advance.

 

[domtyler]

Loose cones?

 

[fossyant]

Loose cones - quick fix - just indo the non drive side, tighten the inner nut (this is the cone) and tighten the outer unt onto it. If it has cartridge bearings, then you can adjust them, much in the same way -

 

[joebe]

Before going the whole hog and messing with your cones, double check the quick release isn't too loose.

 

[02GF74]

Loose cones - quick fix - just indo the non drive side, tighten the inner nut (this is the cone) and tighten the outer unt onto it. If it has cartridge bearings, then you can adjust them, much in the same way -

easier said than done - you need special thin cone spanners; normal ones are too fat.

 

[Twenty Inch]

easier said than done - you need special thin cone spanners; normal ones are too fat.

Which everyone should have and which only cost £2.99 from your LBS.

 

[bonj2]

good excuse for new wheels.

 

[Joe]

If they are cartridge and there's still play after tightening then it's time for new bearings!

 

[alecstilleyedye]

good excuse for new wheels.

like your thinking, but this bike only gets hand me downs from the other one, and the wheels on that are far too new to contemplate handing them down just yet.

 

[Sh4rkyBloke]

I thought this thread was going to be about some Hamster-like interaction with you actually playing in your rear wheel... I'm saddened that it's not.

 

[Mr Pig]

Worth taking the cone off one side, removing the spindle and checking the ball bearings. They are very cheap so any wear just fit new ones and some fresh grease.

Try to set the cones so that there is a tiny bit of play in them as the quick release will tighten them slightly. Do the final check with the wheel on the bike and fully tightened up.

 

[bonj2]

like your thinking, but this bike only gets hand me downs from the other one, and the wheels on that are far too new to contemplate handing them down just yet.

why would you 'hand stuff down' from your 'better' bike if it's still perfectly good?
If you even vaguely want to upgrade the wheels on your 'better' bike then do that, if not, then just get cheap wheels for the commuter. You can get a wheelset for under a ton i'm sure - if you take into all the time you've spent faffing around it's neither here nor there.

 

[rich p]

if it's a choice between £100 or tightening a nut then I think I'd try the spanner route first

 

[bonj2]

if it's a choice between £100 or tightening a nut then I think I'd try the spanner route first

in the ideal world... it's never that simple though, last time i tried it the axle was too far through one way and not sticking out the other enough - so I just though sod it, new hub time

 

[alecstilleyedye]

why would you 'hand stuff down' from your 'better' bike if it's still perfectly good?
If you even vaguely want to upgrade the wheels on your 'better' bike then do that, if not, then just get cheap wheels for the commuter. You can get a wheelset for under a ton i'm sure - if you take into all the time you've spent faffing around it's neither here nor there.

the wheel in question (vuelta) is from a set that cost considerably less than £100 (can be seen on the summer bike in my sig.).