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I'm trying to learn and understand wheel hubs. I have a rear wheel hub which has a bit of play in it, (its been tightened up to remove the play) its the stock wheel that came with the bike.
So a couple of questions...…
1. I think the bearings have worn as it feels quite rough when rotated, the play in the hub has been temporarily sorted. Is it just a case of dismantling and replacing the bearings or is there more to it than that?
2. Or is it worth getting a new rear wheel built with a better hub?
I am more technically, not mechanical minded, so forgive the questions! lol
1. depends on the hub.
2. as above
The hub doesn't have any brand name on it, so I am assuming its just a cheap cup and cone hub for the wheel?
I would say it depends more upon the design of wheel bearings you have. It sounds like a Cup-and-Cone arrangement therefore...
1) You may be able to just replace the ball bearings; they're very cheap and easy to do. Or you may find that the race in either the hub or on the axle is damaged. The axle is easily replaced while the race in the hub is more difficult and in some cheap hubs it cannot be replaced.
2) Very difficult to make that decision for you as so much depends upon you and how you will use the wheel in the future.
I have just decided to replace a Wheel with Cup-and-Cone bearings with a new wheel with cartridge bearings. I am doing this to improve the durability and reduce the maintenance effort/cost involved. I know that the current wheel has already required some maintenance and will continue to do so - simply because of the use that wheel/bike gets. It will be much easier to live with if I replace the wheel with a new wheel with cartridge bearings. But it's not free to do that - so you have to balance the cost with the effort and your personal circumstances :o)
Thanks for that, similar to what I had in my head.....
As its knackered, I will dismantle it and have a look, if it can be repaired then great.
If not I will get a new/better quality wheel with a serviceable hub as I am riding a lot more now than I use to.