Hey folks,
i had the feeling that the front wheel on my brompton wasn't running smoothly. If i hold the axis in my hands and turn the wheel it feels like there is some dirt chafing in the ball bearings.
I have now bought a brand new front wheel and it feels almost the same, so i am wondering… is a bit of chafing normal in wheels of this class? My only point of comparison is a set of more expensive road bike wheels which run very smoothly in comparison.
In the attached video, you can see and hear the nut on the axis twitching as the wheel turns, which imo it shouldn't be doing if the bearings were runnning without issue.
So the question is: Is this normal or should i be looking for a different wheel? Thank you very much for your time 🙂
by Suse23
5 Comments
cant hear etc .. but my guess bearings need clean and grease and if sealed bearings needs replacement
Maybe cones need adjusting(?), could be too tight.
Conus bearing easy to repair or adjust. But yes they are often tightened too tightly and wear out quickly.
With respect to the new front wheel, often the factory setting of the bearings is over tight (the ball bearings are being pinched), which causes the roughness you noticed. Using cone wrenches and open end wrenches, undo the bearing lock nut on the axle and rotate the bearing nut 1/16 to 1/4 turn until the bearings run smooth. Then tighten the lock nut against the bearing nut. It may take more than one try to get it right. Try the same adjustment on the old wheel to see if the bearings were too tight as well.
Two most likely causes the cup and cone bearings are too tight and or a lack of grease.