Topic: Why bother with the bearing retainer rings on the wheels?

[drumstyx]

My bearings were in there so tight, there's no way they needed the retainer rings to stay in. Every other bike I've worked on was just a press fit (and even then, some not even as wedged as these were).

[Lostboy Steve]

I have had this thought come to mind... but I figure they must be there for a reason, and I refuse to be the guy to test out leaving them off.

[Rookster]

The retainer is there so the bearing does not get pushed out when installing the opposite bearing.  The spacer gets sandwiched in between so one of the bearings has to be solid otherwise the entire sandwich could shift and cause your disk to be too far or too close to the fork leg.  It isn't to hold the bearings in but to get the correct wheel spacing between the forks.

Scott

[Bodi]

The retainer ring is all that locates the wheel on the axle. You really, really, REALLY, do not want to go without it.
Any wheel hub not needing a bearing retainer has a different design, there are several. The design of our Honda hubs with one floating self-aligned bearing absolutely requires the other bearing to have that retainer.

[chewbacca5000]

I used to have a powdercoat oven and would put the whole wheel in at 300 degrees and they use pit possie bearing removal tool and they all cam out easily.

Getting that hub good and hot made the difference.  I would use welding gloves to hold the wheel.

[evanphi]

I've seen lots of newer wheels with snap rings instead of the screw in retainers. Similar to our fork legs.

[754]

Morris wheels use NOTHING to hold the bearings in..
Neither do spool hubs and many other wheels.
the wheel spacers however, do previous nt side movement.

[flybox1]

Safety might be reason. 
There are forces in all directions going through the front end.
I would hope they help keep the bearing races in alignment, as well as provide some measure of weatherproofing.
(factory installed bearings were not completely sealed, IIRC)

[754]

Morris built magnesium. Roadracing wheels..pretty sure safety easy a concern..

[PeWe]

Retainer yes, lock it by punch marks - no. The new retainers I put in after bearing replacement are only screwed in. I locked them very hard with deep punch back in the 80's. I had to use brutal force to remove them. The rear retainer for hub is not locked at all, used copper grease when the threads were to damaged after all holes after punchs. OEM + replacement.
The bearing must be seated firmly, retainers are a part of the package on axle with bearings, spacers all torqued together in a rigid packages . It must be very flimsy otherwise or the inner race might get more sideway forces than outer wich will ruin the bearing quicker, right?

[drumstyx]

Retainer yes, lock it by punch marks - no. The new retainers I put in after bearing replacement are only screwed in. I locked them very hard with deep punch back in the 80's. I had to use brutal force to remove them. The rear retainer for hub is not locked at all, used copper grease when the threads were to damaged after all holes after punchs. OEM + replacement.
The bearing must be seated firmly, retainers are a part of the package on axle with bearings, spacers all torqued together in a rigid packages . It must be very flimsy otherwise or the inner race might get more sideway forces than outer wich will ruin the bearing quicker, right?

No way I'm re-punching these buggers. Even drilling them out, the front one was destroyed, and one of the rears will have to have some burrs ground off. The one with the round holes is still pristine though for some reason.

[Ricky_Racer]

Morris wheels use NOTHING to hold the bearings in..
Neither do spool hubs and many other wheels.
the wheel spacers however, do previous nt side movement.

Yeah, Frank, my Cambray (Campbray) CB750 wheels don't use a rear bearing retainer. Freaked me out at first, but I guess it's just the way it is. RR