Very Stiff Rear Wheel

Curious Yellow

Hi all, I've lurked here to gather tips in the past but I've now exhausted Google and Youtube trying to fix my problem and I've registered to try and get some help. There are some very knowledgeable people here.

I have an MTB that I recently had serviced. The bike was unused for a long period. The bike went in for service and I was told I needed to change the cassette and chain. I elected to do this myself because it didn't seem too difficult. Anyway, I also elected to clean out the freehub and the ball bearings. I finished doing this and installed the cassette.

The rear wheel will not spin freely anymore. When I spin the wheel with the bike turned upside down the wheel will turn approximately a single revolution and come to a complete stop. The front wheel turns freely for several revolutions before gradually stopping.

I've checked the common causes and it doesn't match any of them.

The first thing I checked was that the ball bearings weren't being held too tightly. This is not a problem as the wheel spins freely when held by the axles.

The next thing I checked was if the wheel was seated in the dropouts properly and this seems to be fine as well.

The third thing I checked was whether I'd put the locknuts and the protector cap sealing the freehub the wrong way. I compared it to my road bike and this seems to not be a problem either.

The fourth thing I checked was if the disc pads were impeding the wheel. I removed the brake pads and reseated the wheel. Still no luck. The wheel still will not spin freely.

The wheel was fine after the service but I didn't check it before removing it to install the cassette. I'm kicking myself for assuming it was fine after being ridden home after the service because I now don't know if the bike was already the way it is now or if it's something I've done. The next time I'll definitely check the state of play before removing anything for maintenance.

Does anyone here know what the issue could be? I'd be really grateful for your help.

Thanks.

rake

back the bearings off a bit if youve had the cup and cones out. qr clamp the axle and compress it slightly. bearing adjustment is best done with the axle clamped up.

TuckerUK

The first thing I checked was that the ball bearings weren't being held too tightly. This is not a problem as the wheel spins freely when held by the axles.

If you use a QR, you do realise that the clamping force of the QR compresses the axle thereby tightening the bearings? It's a long shot I'll agree, but could the bearing adjustment be a little tight anyway, and the additional load from the QR is really the straw that breaks the camel's back?

Correct way to adjust cup and cone for use with a QR is to leave a smidge of bearing freeplay which the tighten QR will take up.

rake

like i said.

Curious Yellow

Thanks. Not entirely sure it's the bearings being compressed by the quick release or that the axle nut being too tight. I checked the number of free threads on the axle before re-installing the wheel and they're the same.

Also, if the bearings are being held too tight then wouldn't the wheel not turn at all when held by the axles alone? The wheel turns freely when I hold it by the axle which is why I think it's something to do with the way the wheel fits into the well for the disc brakes.

Need to go to work now, but I have to use the bike tomorrow. This is going to become a task for my local bike shop, unless I blow off tomorrow's ride.

rake

Curious Yellow wrote:

Thanks. Not entirely sure it's the bearings being compressed by the quick release or that the axle nut being too tight. I checked the number of free threads on the axle before re-installing the wheel and they're the same.

Also, if the bearings are being held too tight then wouldn't the wheel not turn at all when held by the axles alone? The wheel turns freely when I hold it by the axle which is why I think it's something to do with the way the wheel fits into the well for the disc brakes.

Need to go to work now, but I have to use the bike tomorrow. This is going to become a task for my local bike shop, unless I blow off tomorrow's ride.

the qr goes through the axle and is in tension, this compresses the axle slightly which can be enough to make the bearings bin. its a well known thing, i know thinking about it you wouldnt think it could be enough to tighten the bearings, but if they are adjusted spot on snug with a loose axle they will tighten as you tighten the wheel in. A way around this is to put some nuts large enough to slip over the axle ends, then tighten the qr as if bolted in the frame and adjust the bearings.

Curious Yellow

You guys were right :oops:

I've adjusted the axle so the quick release now fits just enough to tighten the wheel onto the dropouts which has fixed it. It was about a thread too tight the last time.

I think I'll start saving up for sealed cartridge hubs from today! The cup holding the bearings and the cones are pitted. I don't want to mess around with overhauling the bearings again in the future. It seems more trouble than it's worth.

Kevlees83

Here's an interesting one for ye, I've got exactly the same problem wheel spins fine when held but as soon as I put it in the frame it stiffens and is really difficult to turn either by hand or crank, only problem is I have hope sealed hubs so I'm stuck for a solution gonna take it to local bike shop tomorrow and hope they can fix it