American Classic front hub bearing.......

[Woofie]

I am starting to get the feeling that the complaints that I have heard about am classic sprint 350's hubs could be correct.

 

I changed my front bearing two months ago and yesterday I started to hear the noise again that sounds like your magnet is hitting your speed sensor.

When I got the bearings changed last time the sound went away so I know that it is that yet again.

 

People say because the bearings are so small they dont last long, but two months only........ thats going to be a pain in the ass.

 

If I had to ride with the sound for a few days, could anything bad happen?

 

Can you get stronger bearings that will last longer?

 

or should I just get the front hub changed to something stronger and keep the rim and get it respoked? (could be a little costly though)

 

Ideas?

 

 

 

 

[Eugene]

My front wheel bearings lasted forever on my 350s. That ticking sound that you hear could be your spokes.

 

Had exactly the same problem on another wheel that I had and the bike shop sprayed pentrating oil into the spoke nipples and the sound went away for a short while.

 

They did tell me that I needed to replace the spokes as the nipple and spokes had corroded and kinda fused.

[Woofie]

The spokes/nipples dont look corroded but maybe I should give it a go anyway.

Where should I put the oil?

Should I pull the rim strip off or should I just put some on the outside?

Does the hub ever need oiling?

It is a sealed bearing so I dont suppose so but I just want to check.

 

 

[Eugene]

I'm not sure, the bike shop did it for me and never charged me. I would imagine that you would spray it on the outside and the oil will penetrate where needed.

[SteelyDan]

Had a similar issue about 6 months ago. "Ting, ting, ting" on the front hub rapidly became a wobble, then the bearings collapsed. Wheel unrideable. Rider unhappy. Looooong walk home... I had hub replaced and no problems since...

[Johan Bornman]

It is easy to diagnose wheel bearing problems. Just spin the wheel in your hand whilst holding onto the skewer. It is a bit of trick but after a few spins you'll get it right. This will give you direct feedback from the bearing. By spinning several wheels you'll eventually distinguish between the good, bad and ugly.

 

You'll quickly feel if it is the bearings or not. This is something you should do every time you wash the bike, otherwise you may end up walking home like Dan did.

 

The front bearings in ACs are particularly small and need a bit of monitoring.

 

 

 

 

[Woofie]

 

It is easy to diagnose wheel bearing problems. Just spin the wheel in your hand whilst holding onto the skewer. It is a bit of trick but after a few spins you'll get it right. This will give you direct feedback from the bearing. By spinning several wheels you'll eventually distinguish between the good' date=' bad and ugly.

 

You'll quickly feel if it is the bearings or not. This is something you should do every time you wash the bike, otherwise you may end up walking home like Dan did.

 

The front bearings in ACs are particularly small and need a bit of monitoring.

 

 

 

 

[/quote']

 

Thanks JB, but last time I had to change the bearing it was a bit weird.

If I span the wheel in my hands, I had no noise or grating.

The wheel span fine, no noise or resistance. The only time I heard the noise is when there was a bit of weight on the bearing.

Even just pushing the bike was enough to hear the noise.

 

The noise has now gone away on my front wheel?

Do you think that dirt could maybe get stuck in there and that was being ground up now?

 

How does the front axel actually work?

Does the skewer rest on /go through the bearings?

ie. If there was dirt on the skewer, or if the skewer was imperfect could that cause problems with the rolling then?

 

 

 

 

[Johan Bornman]

 

Thanks JB' date=' but last time I had to change the bearing it was a bit weird.
If I span the wheel in my hands, I had no noise or grating.
The wheel span fine, no noise or resistance. The only time I heard the noise is when there was a bit of weight on the bearing.
Even just pushing the bike was enough to hear the noise.

The noise has now gone away on my front wheel?
Do you think that dirt could maybe get stuck in there and that was being ground up now?

How does the front axel actually work?
Does the skewer rest on /go through the bearings?
ie. If there was dirt on the skewer, or if the skewer was imperfect could that cause problems with the rolling then?


[/quote']

 

Cartridge bearings in bicycle wheels fail from two primary reasons: Side loading and seal failure which leads to dirt and water ingression.

 

What you describe is typical - a bearing that feels/sounds smooth until you use it. The trick to diagnosis is to remove the axle and stick your finger into the bearing hole. Now apply a bit of side load and then rotate it a bit around your finger. Roughness will be evident.

 

I can't speculate why your front wheel's noise stopped, without seeing the bike. However, Lift the bike, put the frame against your ear and spin the wheel. The bearing will talk to you -  swiiiiish for a nice bearing and rrrrrrumble for a bad one.

 

Front axles generally press fit into the bearing inner eye and the skewer fits loosely into the hollow axle. The skewer plays no role in the bearing rotation. Dirt on the skewer cannot cause noise or interfere with the bearing. It remains completely static in use. The noise has to come from the bearing itself or in rare cases, the bearing moving on the axle.

 

 

[Woofie]

 

 

Thanks JB' date=' but last time I had to change the bearing it was a bit weird.

If I span the wheel in my hands, I had no noise or grating.

The wheel span fine, no noise or resistance. The only time I heard the noise is when there was a bit of weight on the bearing.

Even just pushing the bike was enough to hear the noise.

 

The noise has now gone away on my front wheel?

Do you think that dirt could maybe get stuck in there and that was being ground up now?

 

How does the front axel actually work?

Does the skewer rest on /go through the bearings?

ie. If there was dirt on the skewer, or if the skewer was imperfect could that cause problems with the rolling then?

 

 

[/quote']

 

Cartridge bearings in bicycle wheels fail from two primary reasons: Side loading and seal failure which leads to dirt and water ingression.

 

What you describe is typical - a bearing that feels/sounds smooth until you use it. The trick to diagnosis is to remove the axle and stick your finger into the bearing hole. Now apply a bit of side load and then rotate it a bit around your finger. Roughness will be evident.

 

I can't speculate why your front wheel's noise stopped, without seeing the bike. However, Lift the bike, put the frame against your ear and spin the wheel. The bearing will talk to you -  swiiiiish for a nice bearing and rrrrrrumble for a bad one.

 

Front axles generally press fit into the bearing inner eye and the skewer fits loosely into the hollow axle. The skewer plays no role in the bearing rotation. Dirt on the skewer cannot cause noise or interfere with the bearing. It remains completely static in use. The noise has to come from the bearing itself or in rare cases, the bearing moving on the axle.

 

 

 

Ok cool.

I now understand how it works.

 

Shot