One of the washers that holds the bearing balls on my bike became warped and spilled out the balls. But I feel like there’s a part missing when I took it apart. Can I get some help please, I miss riding my bike. 🚲
by Stewie_G_Griffin
One of the washers that holds the bearing balls on my bike became warped and spilled out the balls. But I feel like there’s a part missing when I took it apart. Can I get some help please, I miss riding my bike. 🚲
by Stewie_G_Griffin
2 Comments
The cone on that side looks totally messed up, you need a new one. The piece you are concerned about is just a dust cap—if the cone was working properly, it would still keep the bearings in place. You also need grease in there, and it would help if you took the freewheel off (which does require a special key).
If you live in a city with a good bike parts salvage shop, you might be able to match the cone and replace it. If not, you’re going to need either a new axle or a whole new wheel.
Either way, you need some help at this point from someone who knows what they’re doing. Irl is always best, but if that’s not possible, look up overhauling a rear hub on YouTube.
OK first things first: you need to remove the freewheel from the hub. Because right now the freewheel is “in the way”, it really needs to come off so you can gain better access to the driveside of the hub.
Also, in your photo #6, I see an axle spacer smack in the middle of the axle. It doesn’t belong there, on a hub with a freewheel it belongs on the driveside between the cone and the locknut.
One more thing: the “washer” shown in your photos #3 and #4 is actually a dust cover, and is not responsible for holding the bearing balls in place (the cone does that).
I recommend that you watch a few YouTube videos on servicing a cup-and-cone hub before continuing. Here’s a link to a video from RJ the Bike Guy that you might find helpful:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_axwV6sfaAs