Bevel pivot bearings

[nunesaf]

Hi guys

I had a play in my back wheel which persisted even if I applied the back brakes. So, I thought there would be something with the bevel pivot bearings.

Last night I removed the LHS one and this is what I got:



Is that brown colour normal? I can't believe it is cooper grease . I put mole grease into the bearing and the inner part is very very loose. Wonder if this normal.

Anyhow, put things back on and there and there is still a play. Would this bearing be toasted? Any thoughts are welcome

 

[boxer]

Hint - click on the thumbnail for the bigger picture.

The bearings need tightening/loading to a specific torque, 5nm if I recall. If you've torqued them up correctly ensuring the threads were spotless then it sound like the bearing may well be gone.

With the bearing together stick yer finger in the bearing bore and rotate, anything other than smooth then replace.

They're a taper bearing so this may account for the very, very loose thang.

They're pretty cheap to buy at around £12 each, so if you've the FD off I'd suggest replacement anyway.

 

[MikeP]

I put mole grease into the bearing and the inner part is very very loose. Wonder if this normal.

Did you separate the adjuster from the lock-nut or just wind it back in as it looks in the image?

If you didn't separate the two and clean up the adjuster, then torque the adjuster to 7nm, all you will have done is returned it to the ill-adjusted state it was in before because the lock-nut will prevent the adjuster from doing its job.

As Boxer says, feel for any notchiness in the taper bearing with your finger and replace them (both sides) before attempting to adjust them.

If you haven't already done so, I'd suggest loosening the gaiter and seeing what comes out. I've done a few thrust bearings and never seen one that colour before.

Perhaps the mole grease is that colour?

Clean the thread:

Clean the adjuster:

Clean the lock-nut:

 

[nunesaf]

Hya,

Yes, I did separate the lock-nut from the pivot (what a pain it was without a vice) and cleaned it until the nut was flying nice and smoothly through the pivot.

At this point in time I feel reluctant to fully remove the bevel, for several reasons - being the main one as I am alone and may need some help . Btw - i couldn't find anywhere those plastic ties to fix the gaiter.

I didn't use any torque wrench to tight it up to 7NM. Just did it manually until I felt no play in the bevel. Then put the wheel back on, felt the play, removed wheel.. etc.. several times . I reached a point where I guess it was overtight and still had that very small play. Of course I undid this .

Yes, I will replace the bearings - my brother has them already for me, but will do that by the end of August. I trust the bearings will hold until then (and a "few" miles later... around 2000 miles from now).

Thanks

 

[davegs]

Pivot bearings

Thease should not be a pain to take apart, they are put together with lock tight and need to be heated with a hot air gun before being undone they then come apart easilly. Some experts reckon yiou don't need locktight but knowing my luck I always use it. Put in the adjuster and bearings with locktight and do them up to the correct torque, let it go hard and then crank up the locknut to the corrcet torque. Mark the adjuster and s/arm with a pencil so you can check it hasent moved when lock nut is tightend up.
I've done this m,any times now and always works ok.
dave gs.

 

[nunesaf]

Thease should not be a pain to take apart, they are put together with lock tight and need to be heated with a hot air gun before being undone they then come apart easilly. Some experts reckon yiou don't need locktight but knowing my luck I always use it. Put in the adjuster and bearings with locktight and do them up to the correct torque, let it go hard and then crank up the locknut to the corrcet torque. Mark the adjuster and s/arm with a pencil so you can check it hasent moved when lock nut is tightend up.
I've done this m,any times now and always works ok.
dave gs.

Hi Dave,
Yes, the hot gun worked just fine. I put things back together and did make a mark on the pivot adjuster. I didn't use locktite at all, as I understand I will be doing a bit of test and try. And for my trip, I will take the tools to adjust in case of need - the hotgun is obviously excluded from the list . Honestly, I had more work in putting the back wheel on than to do the whole job!

Ta

 

[Steptoe]

. Just did it manually until I felt no play in the bevel. Then put the wheel back on, felt the play, removed wheel.. etc.. several times .

leave the wheel on and adjust the paralever bearings through the spokes

 

[nunesaf]

leave the wheel on and adjust the paralever bearings through the spokes

I wish I could do that, but I don't have that tool which allows you to tighten the lock-nut whilst securing the adjuster. Thanks for the suggestion Mr. Steptoe