Topic: tight front axle on 76 550 K

[CapeCafe]

I recently rebuilt the front wheel on my 76 550 K.  I put in new spokes, nipples, bearings and seals.  I removed the old bearings (orig) by heating up the hubs and they dropped right out.  I installed the new bearings by placing them in the freezer and then putting them in place on the still hot hub.  They both slid right in with no need for banging.  The speedo side is exacly flush with the hub and the rotor side is snug against the hub.  When I put the speedo back on and the seal/bearing retainer on the rotor side and then insert the axel and snug it up, it is very tight to spin.  It just seems to me it should be spinning more freely.  Is there somthing I'm missing here?  My first thought is the distance collar in the hub, but that seems to only go in one way and is flush up against the inside of both bearings.

Should I simply expect it to free up once I start riding on it or did I do somthing wrong?  Thanks

[LesterPiglet]

I had a problem with mine for a while where it wouldn't line up. I tried everything. It ended up I had installed the axle from the wrong side.    I'm not saying that's your problem but worth looking at.

[CapeCafe]

On my bike, the distance collar was the only piece I was concerned with possibly getting backward.  Aftere taking a couple dry runs with it, I realized how the end/size difference worked to rest up against the inside of the bearing sleave on each side.  I'm pretty sure I have it correct.  The axel slides through without a problem, and when you peer through, the bearings and collar make one smooth transition across.  It stiffens up when I put on the speedo and gear box retainer/cover, then install the rotor side axel collar and axel nut.  When these are snugged up by hand it is very hard to spin the wheel while trying to hold the axel shaft steady.

[tlbranth]

I had the same problem front and back and while I can't recall the exact setup, it goes something like this: One bearing's outer race seats against a flange. The spacer spaces the inner races. If the second bearing is pressed in too far or not far enough the bearings will bind. Like I said, I don't remember exactly but it seems there was a bit of an art to getting the second bearing in right by tapping this and that 'til there was no binding.

[CapeCafe]

I found my problem - I hope It seems it was one of 2 things, or a combination of both.  I replaced the big O-ring under the speedo gear box retainer with a new one and I got the speedo gear to engage deeper.  Once I popped the speedo in just slightly further, the collar inside of the speedo gear came out about a 1/4 inch further than before.  I ran the axel through and tightend the axel bolts and it spins smoothly on the bearings now.  It won't spin on the stand for 60 seconds, but I'm sure that will loosen up with some miles.  Again, thanks for the advice.