So whos right, and how do I tell - (wheel overhaul question)
#1
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So whos right, and how do I tell - (wheel overhaul question)
I don't have a truing stand, so I brought my bike by a shop in a neighboring town to be trued since I was there.
When truing the front wheel, the shop guy said, ' You have a little play in your hub '.
I told him (proudly) that what everything says online - you should have a little play in your hub off the bike that should disappear when you lock the quick release down. The play was apparent in the truing stand - about 1mm side to side if you grabbed the wheel and rocked back and forth. When we locked the quick release back down, there was indeed no play. I had recently put new bearings and grease in my hub (about 2 weeks ago I guess.)
He said something like even if you can't see the side to side play when in the quick release there is some 'up and down' play that you can't perceive and that if it were him, he'd tighten it more. He would not want any play off the bike.
I spent a long time getting it where I could see it wiggle off the bike and where it didn't wiggle on the bike locked down, so up until tonight I was proud of myself.
I thanked him and left. So who is right? Anything else I should make sure of?
When truing the front wheel, the shop guy said, ' You have a little play in your hub '.
I told him (proudly) that what everything says online - you should have a little play in your hub off the bike that should disappear when you lock the quick release down. The play was apparent in the truing stand - about 1mm side to side if you grabbed the wheel and rocked back and forth. When we locked the quick release back down, there was indeed no play. I had recently put new bearings and grease in my hub (about 2 weeks ago I guess.)
He said something like even if you can't see the side to side play when in the quick release there is some 'up and down' play that you can't perceive and that if it were him, he'd tighten it more. He would not want any play off the bike.
I spent a long time getting it where I could see it wiggle off the bike and where it didn't wiggle on the bike locked down, so up until tonight I was proud of myself.
I thanked him and left. So who is right? Anything else I should make sure of?
#2
Good question. I'm on the no play when spinning off the bike camp. If you tighten the hub good enough it shouldn't get any tighter when you compress it with the quick release. So no play for me.
#3
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This is what I went by, 4th paragraph up from the bottom.
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/tooltips/hubs.html
Quoted from the site: (Credit to Sheldon Brown)
"No binding with no play is the proper adjustment for solid-axle hubs, but if you have quick-release hubs, there is an additional, complicating factor. When you tighten the quick-release lever, it tends to compress the axle just a little bit. If the adjustment was just right with the wheel on your bench, it will be too tight when the wheel is installed and the quick release tightened. For this reason, quick-release hubs should be adjusted so that there is a very sight amount of play in the axle when the wheel is not installed."
Also on this page under cone adjustment:
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/cone-adjustment.html
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/tooltips/hubs.html
Quoted from the site: (Credit to Sheldon Brown)
"No binding with no play is the proper adjustment for solid-axle hubs, but if you have quick-release hubs, there is an additional, complicating factor. When you tighten the quick-release lever, it tends to compress the axle just a little bit. If the adjustment was just right with the wheel on your bench, it will be too tight when the wheel is installed and the quick release tightened. For this reason, quick-release hubs should be adjusted so that there is a very sight amount of play in the axle when the wheel is not installed."
Also on this page under cone adjustment:
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/cone-adjustment.html
Last edited by episodic; 05-16-11 at 08:26 PM.
#4
This is what I went by, 4th paragraph up from the bottom.
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/tooltips/hubs.html
Quoted from the site: (Credit to Sheldon Brown)
"No binding with no play is the proper adjustment for solid-axle hubs, but if you have quick-release hubs, there is an additional, complicating factor. When you tighten the quick-release lever, it tends to compress the axle just a little bit. If the adjustment was just right with the wheel on your bench, it will be too tight when the wheel is installed and the quick release tightened. For this reason, quick-release hubs should be adjusted so that there is a very sight amount of play in the axle when the wheel is not installed."
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/tooltips/hubs.html
Quoted from the site: (Credit to Sheldon Brown)
"No binding with no play is the proper adjustment for solid-axle hubs, but if you have quick-release hubs, there is an additional, complicating factor. When you tighten the quick-release lever, it tends to compress the axle just a little bit. If the adjustment was just right with the wheel on your bench, it will be too tight when the wheel is installed and the quick release tightened. For this reason, quick-release hubs should be adjusted so that there is a very sight amount of play in the axle when the wheel is not installed."
#5
Generally speaking, cup-&-cone hubs do get tighter due to axle compression (assuming they're not bolt-on). Some moreso than others. If you adjust your hub to be "just right" without axle compression, then clamp your skewer, it's likely you'll have observably poorer coasting performance if you nudge the wheel and watch it drift to a halt.
#6
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Generally speaking, cup-&-cone hubs do get tighter due to axle compression (assuming they're not bolt-on). Some moreso than others. If you adjust your hub to be "just right" without axle compression, then clamp your skewer, it's likely you'll have observably poorer coasting performance if you nudge the wheel and watch it drift to a halt.
When it is off the bike, I observed the side to side swing from letting the wheel go with the reflector at top - and I counted the side to side swings till it came to a rest.
On the bike when I clamp - I had just about exactly the same side to side swings before it stopped.
Yes, I spent almost 4 hours doing this
![Stick Out Tongue](images/smilies/tongue.gif)
#7
Generally speaking, cup-&-cone hubs do get tighter due to axle compression (assuming they're not bolt-on). Some moreso than others. If you adjust your hub to be "just right" without axle compression, then clamp your skewer, it's likely you'll have observably poorer coasting performance if you nudge the wheel and watch it drift to a halt.
#8
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I don't agree. I've always had hubs adjusted "just right" with no play that spun freely with the quick release on. I now have a pair of Easton Ascents that have a little play in the hub that doesn't go away with the quick release all the way tight. So a little play will still be there, and no play will spin freely. Just my experience.
#9
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Sheldons blanket statement for QR hubs is wrong. The right answer is:
QR hubs should only present itself as loose when off the bike when the act of tightening the QR skewer changes bearing preload. Plenty of new generation, cartridge road hubs will NOT change bearing adjustment when QR'ed.
Some wheels like mavic, have on the bike hub adjustment, while some like the newest dura ace digital lock hubs do not require any 'free play' when off the bike to be properly adjusted.
QR hubs should only present itself as loose when off the bike when the act of tightening the QR skewer changes bearing preload. Plenty of new generation, cartridge road hubs will NOT change bearing adjustment when QR'ed.
Some wheels like mavic, have on the bike hub adjustment, while some like the newest dura ace digital lock hubs do not require any 'free play' when off the bike to be properly adjusted.
#11
While Sheldon is right, he's right only if you are very very good at adjusting your hubs. From my experience, the extra little bit of tightening that comes from the compression of the axle doesn't make up for the somewhat less than perfect job of adjusting the cones that I did.
If you can get the axle adjustment pretty darn good without the quick release, it will still be pretty good with the quick release compressed. Unless you can get it just so, I don't know if it's worth fretting about.
If you can get the axle adjustment pretty darn good without the quick release, it will still be pretty good with the quick release compressed. Unless you can get it just so, I don't know if it's worth fretting about.
#12
I also know that not everyone clamps their skewers to the same tension, and that not all skewers have the same clamping capabilities, so there's bound to be some variance in peoples' experiences with this one.
#13
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The hubs in question are cup/cone/ and bearing. They are shimano deore hubs on a SurlyCross Check - so not talking about cartridge bearings.
#14
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So should I tighten my hubs more if I have no shaking side to side when I'm clamped ?
#15
![cry](images/smilies/cry.gif)
#16
Constant tinkerer
Nope, you're all set. Although much of what has been said may sound confusing, the bottom line is that if the wheel doesn't shake when it's tightened down you're good to go. Sounds like you got the bearing preload set perfectly, with a little looseness when the wheel is off the bike (for a cup and cone bearing.)
#17
Senior Member
Checkout the park tool site to see how to preload quick release equiped hubs when adjusting them. It leaves a little play, but is gone when skewer is tightened. It only takes about 10 minutes using their tecnique.
https://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-...and-adjustment
A 9 or 10mm box end wrench can be used as a substitute using the bike's drop out.
https://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-...and-adjustment
A 9 or 10mm box end wrench can be used as a substitute using the bike's drop out.
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I aim for no play. My wheels spin freely when clamped, and no differently than when not clamped. I have had no problems with bearings or races or cones wearing out.
Honestly, I believe the "leave a little play" rule appeals to those who over-obsess about their bike parts and like to regale others with their secret knowledge of bicycle mechanics. In practice there is a margin for error. If the wheel spins freely on the bike, then it's good.
Discliamer: The above is my opinion and lots of people disagree w/it.
Honestly, I believe the "leave a little play" rule appeals to those who over-obsess about their bike parts and like to regale others with their secret knowledge of bicycle mechanics. In practice there is a margin for error. If the wheel spins freely on the bike, then it's good.
Discliamer: The above is my opinion and lots of people disagree w/it.
#20
I don't agree. I've always had hubs adjusted "just right" with no play that spun freely with the quick release on. I now have a pair of Easton Ascents that have a little play in the hub that doesn't go away with the quick release all the way tight. So a little play will still be there, and no play will spin freely. Just my experience.
#21
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I can't imagine that the amount of compression of a properly adjusted cone/locknut is enough to give you noticeable play off the bike. I have always adjusted the hub so there is no play
#22
https://draco.nac.uci.edu/rbfaq/FAQ/8c.7.html
Last edited by davidad; 05-17-11 at 07:41 AM.
#23
Sheldons blanket statement for QR hubs is wrong. The right answer is:
QR hubs should only present itself as loose when off the bike when the act of tightening the QR skewer changes bearing preload. Plenty of new generation, cartridge road hubs will NOT change bearing adjustment when QR'ed.
Some wheels like mavic, have on the bike hub adjustment, while some like the newest dura ace digital lock hubs do not require any 'free play' when off the bike to be properly adjusted.
QR hubs should only present itself as loose when off the bike when the act of tightening the QR skewer changes bearing preload. Plenty of new generation, cartridge road hubs will NOT change bearing adjustment when QR'ed.
Some wheels like mavic, have on the bike hub adjustment, while some like the newest dura ace digital lock hubs do not require any 'free play' when off the bike to be properly adjusted.
#24
My Shimano XT wheelset (WH-M775) use aluminum axles, and they actually compress a great deal. As operator mentioned, Shimano's latest Dura-Ace level hubs do have a system that addresses that trait.
#25
You are right according to Park tool. https://www.fromsportcom.com/v-2/6/20/v-262001.html Bottom of page.