Feeling some vibration on stem and dropbar
10-16-20, 12:22 AM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Feeling some vibration on stem and dropbar
I feel some vibration on the stem and dropbar when i lift the front wheel and rotate it. Is this a headset or hub issue? Two weeks ago, i had the hubs repacked and last week i took it out for some laps. I noticed the vibration when i wiped the tires after cleaning. I checked the front wheel for some play and moved it side to side, seems there's no play at all. I noticed some grease was leaking out of the front hub, i just wiped it off. I also checked the headset for play and moved the bike back and forth, there is also no play. I notice though that if i hold the bike by the saddle and move forward, the bike easily steers left or right on its own, so i hold it by stem instead. Does this mean top cap needs a little more tightening even though there is no play at all? When i ride and do no hands though, it keeps straight.
Just to add. I had the hubs repacked coz i noticed, after replacing the inner tube, the front wheel doesn't seem to run smooth. It feels there's some roughness when i rotated the axle. But there's no play though.
Just to add. I had the hubs repacked coz i noticed, after replacing the inner tube, the front wheel doesn't seem to run smooth. It feels there's some roughness when i rotated the axle. But there's no play though.
Last edited by iamLefty; 10-16-20 at 12:32 AM.
10-16-20, 02:06 AM
#2
Blamester
Nothing to worry about.
The wheel is secure with no play and no binding?
The wheel is secure with no play and no binding?
Last edited by blamester; 10-16-20 at 07:51 AM.
10-16-20, 02:13 AM
#3
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If you felt that the wheel had some roughness, it could mean wear on the hub bearings. Packing with grease would not fix that, but it might increase the drag in the hub bearings and so cause the wheel to more readily steer left or right when you push the bike from the saddle.
trev
trev
10-16-20, 02:25 AM
#4
Senior Member
That's caused because the wheel bearings have some pitting that causes some roughness when spinning.You should check the cones and replace them if they have significant pitting.
Anyway, I have a bike that does this and have not fixed it for years as I only use it as a urban bike and have been planning to put a dynamo hub on it anyway. No issues so far. The wheel probably has more drag than it should, but I'm not able to notice anything when riding.
Anyway, I have a bike that does this and have not fixed it for years as I only use it as a urban bike and have been planning to put a dynamo hub on it anyway. No issues so far. The wheel probably has more drag than it should, but I'm not able to notice anything when riding.
10-16-20, 03:31 PM
#6
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That's caused because the wheel bearings have some pitting that causes some roughness when spinning.You should check the cones and replace them if they have significant pitting.
Anyway, I have a bike that does this and have not fixed it for years as I only use it as a urban bike and have been planning to put a dynamo hub on it anyway. No issues so far. The wheel probably has more drag than it should, but I'm not able to notice anything when riding.
Anyway, I have a bike that does this and have not fixed it for years as I only use it as a urban bike and have been planning to put a dynamo hub on it anyway. No issues so far. The wheel probably has more drag than it should, but I'm not able to notice anything when riding.
Edit: This can be caused by by an adjustment which feels perfect on the bench but then becomes too tight when the axle is compressed by a quick release, tightening the adjustment. An axle vise like this allows adjustment while the QR is engaged, avoiding this issue: https://www.steintool.com/portfolio-...ub-axle-vises/
Last edited by dsbrantjr; 10-16-20 at 04:45 PM.
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10-16-20, 04:23 PM
#7
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10-16-20, 04:41 PM
#8
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Don't think anything of the front wheel flopping left or right as you push it around while off the bike. Some bikes do and some bike don't many are in between. That has some to do with trail, angle of headset and other stuff. Now if you ever push it and it starts acting like that particular bike has never done before, then it might be asking for you to look at something.
As for the vibration, too tight a cone bearings can cause that, but I find it hard to detect once the wheel is installed. And I'd think that if you are feeling that on the bike, then the races are toast already.
The common source I've had with vibration is brake pads scrubbing. Both with disc and caliper rim brakes. More so with rim brakes as I keep my pads pretty close to the rim and any little bit of the wheel being out of true will be noticed with a little drag and vibration. At least that is what I've experienced.
As for the vibration, too tight a cone bearings can cause that, but I find it hard to detect once the wheel is installed. And I'd think that if you are feeling that on the bike, then the races are toast already.
The common source I've had with vibration is brake pads scrubbing. Both with disc and caliper rim brakes. More so with rim brakes as I keep my pads pretty close to the rim and any little bit of the wheel being out of true will be noticed with a little drag and vibration. At least that is what I've experienced.
10-17-20, 02:55 AM
#9
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Edit: Thoroughly checked for play on headset, there's none. I opened the quick release, mechanic closed it too tight. I adjusted it, spun the wheel, seems there's now only very little of the vibration, and none when wheel is spinning fast. I'll try it out for a spin tomorrow.
Last edited by iamLefty; 10-17-20 at 04:55 AM.
10-17-20, 03:05 AM
#10
Junior Member
Thread Starter
That's caused because the wheel bearings have some pitting that causes some roughness when spinning.You should check the cones and replace them if they have significant pitting.
Anyway, I have a bike that does this and have not fixed it for years as I only use it as a urban bike and have been planning to put a dynamo hub on it anyway. No issues so far. The wheel probably has more drag than it should, but I'm not able to notice anything when riding.
Anyway, I have a bike that does this and have not fixed it for years as I only use it as a urban bike and have been planning to put a dynamo hub on it anyway. No issues so far. The wheel probably has more drag than it should, but I'm not able to notice anything when riding.
10-17-20, 04:33 AM
#11
Senior Member
In any case, it should be safe to ride. It's just that the wheel won't spin as smooth as it should and bearing life will be shorter.
10-17-20, 05:00 AM
#12
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Great then. I'll take it out for a spin tomorrow. There's now less vibration, just a tiny bit after i adjusted the quick release, and none when wheel spins fast. Mechanic had it too tight.
10-19-20, 12:06 AM
#13
Senior Member
Don't ride with a loose QR as it's dangerous. Adjust the cones correctly instead.
