Loose Cones?

steelo

When I lift the rear of my bike off the ground (spesh 'hopper 07) I can wiggle the rear wheel slightly. A few in my bike group say its the 'cones' that need tightening. So i'm thinking a chain whip tool and a splined nut for the cassette and then when it comes off there will be a nut underneath thats a bit loose. Is this correct?

I have looked at the Park Tools website but not found anything in their 'cassette and freehub overhaul' page about 'cones'?

Can anyone confirm what to do in this case?

nicklouse

read the section on hub servicing.

as the cones are part of the hub not the cassette.

shefbiker

i've got an '07 'hopper as well and had a similar problem... they come with the standard fairly cheap shimano hubs, and I can only assume that they were supplied slightly overtightened 'cos after not many miles the hubs were trashed... (my lbs commented that they'd had a few of those hubs back with similar problems) it was initially diagnosed as loose cones/shot bearings, but on further investigation i found that the cones and bearing races in the hub were quite pitted - dead hub.
I've now gone for mavic crossrides which are pretty good, and cartridge bearings so no more cones!

check your hubs/cones for pitting else you'll be messing about forever trying to get a smooth ride which is never going to happen!

hope this helps...

steelo

I've just had the cassette off the rear wheel, gave it a good clean, and have also tightened the cones in the hub. The nut came loose on the disc brake side so I adjusted that cone to tighten it so the play in the spindle has now gone. If I titghtened it too much I had problems spinning the spindle (graunched as it turned). I tightened it enough to remove the play but alloy the spindle to spin freely. I reassembled it all, tightened the locking ring on the cassette hand tight as I don't have a 40Nm torque wrench, and now the rear wheel spins lovely without any sideways play at all.

Bit concerned now about how so its likely to happen again and if i'll have to get some new hubs! How do I know which hubs are good? and likewise, which cartridge bearings are good?

nicklouse

so again have you read the info on park? it tells you how to set the cones and lock nuts.

tighten the cassette lock ring tigter than hand tight as it will come lose in use.

dont look at new hubs. Look at new wheels.

steelo

Yeah cheers, read the Park Tools guide, very descriptive and helpful as always (at least when you find the correct bit!).

I've given the cassette lock ring a good few clicks with an adjustable spanner and it all feels solid enough. I'll definitely keep a close eye on it all during my next ride. I will also carry the appropriate spanners with me in case anything goes pear shaped.

Some of those expensive hubs and wheels do look very nice though!