Topic: Logic check? Collar at center of wheel hub between bearings?

[Alan F.]

This is an early CBR/Hurricane wheel 17x2.5"

My question is about the Collar located at the center of the hub between the wheel bearings. 
I've got a wheel I'm planning on using, but it doesn't have the collar (spacer) to go between the wheel bearings.  Yes I can buy one, but I've got a small lathe, plenty of steel and all winter...

The question is, I figure I can just measure the distance between the bearings and make a spacer to fit the axle and be squeezed between the inner races of the bearings when everything is assembled.

I've got a different wider wheel (CBR F2 17x3.5") that I do have the spacer for but it's way too wide to use on this wheel.

I'm mentioning it because I figure I could always measure the distance between bearings on this wheel and calculate the spacer length, then compare my calculated spacer length with the actual spacer's length...and if there's a difference of a few thousandths more or less, I can apply the difference to my calculated spacer for the narrow wheel.

Sound about right?  I don't want to wreck a new set of bearings in the first couple of miles, it may be worth buying one from Honda just for peace of mind. 
-Alan

[gane]

Alan, Call me chicken, but.. if you know origin of hub, just buy a new spacer. bearings run a pretty tight window for centering, and due to unladen clearances are difficult to measure accuratly. If changing bearing sizes to say facilitate changed axle dias, use a known reference for spacing. be safe/ luck g

[Bodi]

These wheels (usually) work by retaining one side bearing with a retainer ring, the bit that screws in and gets staked tight. The opposite side bearing "floats" in its bore, it can slide side to side relatively freely. The centre sleeve spacer contacts the inner race of both bearings. Tightening the axle nut clamps down on the "sandwich" of spacers, speedo drive, bearing inner races, and centre sleeve.
So the length of the centre sleeve is not critical. The floating bearing should be located roughly where the original spacer sleeve put it, but a few mm either way won't be a disaster.

[Alan F.]

These wheels (usually) work by retaining one side bearing with a retainer ring, the bit that screws in and gets staked tight. The opposite side bearing "floats" in its bore, it can slide side to side relatively freely. The centre sleeve spacer contacts the inner race of both bearings. Tightening the axle nut clamps down on the "sandwich" of spacers, speedo drive, bearing inner races, and centre sleeve.
So the length of the centre sleeve is not critical. The floating bearing should be located roughly where the original spacer sleeve put it, but a few mm either way won't be a disaster.

Agreed, but this post wasn't about a stock wheel with bearing retainers.
Thanks for the input, it's bound to help someone further on down the line.
-Alan

[754]

I have built quite a few.
 Trick is to get the spacer to stay centered, you may push the claws or washers off, and reuse..

 but often I use 2 alum discs..either knockouts from RotoBroaching or hole saws, will work, or part off spacers from solid

 Should be OK with 20 or 30 thou clarance as axle chamfer should line it up shpould it drop..