Front Hub / Bearings & Parts, Mystery

Jaxson · Jul 31, 2015

I'm having trouble getting the front wheel figured out. I didnt receive a bike w/ all the accessories like, a FRONT WHEEL! I didnt have the luxury of dis-assembly or snapping pictures. I had to buy one and look at the so called "shop manual" to see how she goes together. However, following as closely as possible to the diagram it goes together great....except when I tighten the axl nut. Then it binds the bearings and the wheel doesn't turn freely. Argh! I'm hoping someone can share pics or knowledge about the proper assembly order of the pars. Do I have the right parts?

It's a 1970 w/ a twin lead brake plate. Pictures soon to follow.

Jaxson · Jul 31, 2015

All parts

Right (drum) side parts

Left Side parts

Snorton74 · Jul 31, 2015

I can't tell from your pics if the lockring is present... There is also a front axle spacer listed but no picture.
http://www.oldbritts.com/14_063919.html

madass140 · Jul 31, 2015

the lock ring is shown in your pic. you have all the correct parts and are in the correct order.
is the brake binding or the axle assembly?

Jaxson · Jul 31, 2015

Snortin74, the locking & space are the 3rd picture. The lock ring actually has the felt seal inside it in that pic.

Jaxson · Jul 31, 2015

madass140, the axle is whats binding. Brakes clear plenty. If add a small, thin spacer / washer on the inside of the dust cover (left side), I can tighten the spindle and the wheel spins free. It's not called for on the list of parts, I just added it 2 see what happens. Somehow that cover must be binding the bearings or rubbing. w/o that washer, that dust cover tries to spin with the hub (wheel).

madass140 · Jul 31, 2015

sometimes the dust cover will bind or rub on the outside of the hub itself leaving a witness mark about 2-1/4" dia (roughly)

Jaxson · Jul 31, 2015

It was definitely rubbing but more on the inside, smaller diameter of the hub. The little spacer did the trick I think.

madass140 · Jul 31, 2015

the dustcover/spacer should only come in contact with the smaller spacer between the inner bearing race and the dustcover spacer.
often through previous incorrect fitment the dustcover/spacer is out of shape or worn reducing its overall width allowing it to rub on the hub or threaded lock ring

Hobot · Jul 31, 2015

May I suggest for a future owner to notch out the spacer enough in 2-3 spots to get a decent bite by a sharp drift to knock em out again w/o swearing at the DamPastOwner not thinking ahead.

dave M · Jul 31, 2015

I have had to shim the dust cover out a bit on a couple of different bikes.

kerinorton · Aug 1, 2015

When I pulled my 750 front hub from my bike [ 2ls never been apart from new ] I noticed the dust cover had been making contact with the lock ring. It had made a distinctive mess but still didn't appear to have been an obvious problem when the bike was used. I reshaped it and fitted a thin shim inside the cover to give extra clearance. The inside of the dust cover had picked up aluminium and it was like it was welded to the steel cover. Nothing would remove it. Hence the mod listed above. Does seem to be a common problem.
Dereck

texasSlick · Aug 1, 2015

One of your bearings appears to be the sealed type. Some sealed bearings are 1/2 mm wider than non-sealed. This could account for your bind. Non sealed bearings are 12 mm for single row, double row are 16 mm.

You must bore hubs deeper to use the wider sealed type bearings.

Slick

madass140 · Aug 1, 2015

"You must bore hubs deeper to use the wider sealed type bearings."
A standard 4203 bearing is the same width whether its sealed or not.
I think you are getting confused with a 5203 which is 1.5mm wider than the standard 4203 .
the 5203 is a more common bearing size , thats why some suggest to machine your hub 1.5mm deeper to accept the wider 5203.
but the 4203 standard size bearing is readily available sealed. I know, I fit them nearly every day to Norton front and rear hubs.

Front Hub / Bearings & Parts, Mystery

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