Fixing free 2nd hand bike!

Frith

Hi.

I've been given 2 old bikes for my sons and have spent today cleaning them up a bit. The front wheel on one is almost jammed. I have used oil but nothing seems to make a difference. I undid the nuts and washers on either side of the wheel (so I could have removed the wheel) and tightened everything back up again and its just as bad!

Any hints please?

Liz

Incisor

ACEY wrote: »

I've been given 2 old bikes for my sons and have spent today cleaning them up a bit. The front wheel on one is almost jammed. I have used oil but nothing seems to make a difference. I undid the nuts and washers on either side of the wheel (so I could have removed the wheel) and tightened everything back up again and its just as bad!

Any hints please?

If you actually remove the wheel, you will find a locknut on either side of the wheel on the threaded spindle. If you loosen one of these, you can then screw back the cones [about half a turn or so - but don't unscrew the cones by miles, else the balls will fall out], to release the pressure on the bearing. If this frees up the wheel, you can then tighten up the locknut against the cone to hold it in place on the threaded spindle, and refit the wheel.

Sorry about this talk of locknuts and threaded spindles, I appreciate that it might be less than helpful - if you know these words, you would probably have it fixed by now, but then I only have words to play with.

Frith

Thanks for your speedy reply.

OK, the wheel is now off the bike and with me as I type!

Will have a look....

Liz

Frith

OK. Locknuts are loosened but I can't loosen the cones! They are smooth and round so spanners won't fit properly.

Liz

Incisor

ACEY wrote: »

OK. Locknuts are loosened but I can't loosen the cones! They are smooth and round so spanners won't fit properly.

Well, nevermind, take a big well done for having understood what I was on about. It's decades since I last touched cones, so I am not quite sure what to expect, but you might find that the cone on one side is more friendly than the cone on the other. You might also find that the cone has a pair of flats, rather than 3 pairs of flats [ie 6] like on a normal nut.

Frith

Its still looking very round! I tried pliers as well but they were starting to shear off bits of plastic which I thought would possibly be a bad thing...

mjburton

Is now a bad time to say don't use oil? Oil stays sticky and so dirt an fluff will stick to it and clog up.
Use WD40 or GT85 or such like. It lubricates but doesn't stay sticky or attract stuff.

Not sure what is sticking the wheel. I presume they are straight, all the bearings etc are ok?

Incisor

ACEY wrote: »

Its still looking very round! I tried pliers as well but they were starting to shear off bits of plastic which I thought would possibly be a bad thing...

Plastic?? I said it was decades since I had done this, but I doubt plastic is adequate for cones. Do you actually have there a dust cap which just pushes on over the cones?

Frith

I thought it would be a dust cap but no attempt at pulling or prising is getting either of them free!

I have put the wheel back on for now as it still turns and at least the bike now works enough for my son to go up and down the garden when he comes home tonight.

My neighbour had a look (cycling fan) and he says perhaps its a sealed unit? He is going to ask when his bike goes in for a service next week.

Thanks.
Liz

Incisor

ACEY wrote: »

... My neighbour had a look (cycling fan) and he says perhaps its a sealed unit? He is going to ask when his bike goes in for a service next week.

Well, if he's actually seen it, I'm going to defer!

Frith

Well, he was a bit vague!
Thanks for your help. When the boys come back I'll have to get the seats at the right height, I think I'm better at jobs that just need a hammer....

Liz