Looking at the provided image, is the cone sufficiently damaged that it need replacing?
Thanks!
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I depends a bit on your expectations. The cone is seriously damaged and thus the hub will never run completely smooth any more. But there is no danger of failure and you could just keep using it. What kind of bike is this and what are you using it for? Commuting, weekend riding, exercising, racing?– Christian LindigJul 22, 2018 at 17:32
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1I'm turning an old racing bike into a fixie, which I'll be using for joyriding and getting around in the city when it's nice out. But I'm pretty concerned with it riding smoothly, so going from what you said I'll try to find a replacement axle. Thanks for the response!– Panga97Jul 22, 2018 at 17:50
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Also pull the fork out, and check the steering races. If there is rust in the grease or pitted balls, get new ones from the bike shop. They are in cages, and it is easier to buy the whole thing from a bike shop if you can, than replace with loose bearings from a bearing shop. (which you can if the bike shop doesn't have caged bearings)– Henry CrunJul 22, 2018 at 22:18
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@ChristianLindig you're right, but that will eat ball bearings much quicker, and that risks damage to the cup side which is WAY more expensive to replace.– Criggie ♦Jul 24, 2018 at 1:23
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2 Answers
That's pretty heavy pitting. If you check the hub inserted race, you'll probably find that it's also pitted, though nowhere near as bad. There's more surface area on the cup, so the cone usually pits a lot more, which is good because the cup is typically not replaceable. If the cup is pitted, however, the cone will prematurely start pitting again, though it will take a while.
The good news is that this isn't likely to result in an unexpected failure that leaves you stranded. These cheap cup & cone hubs will go on and on and on with damaged races and most riders never notice it. In the "old days" of Normandy and other cheap, European hubs, it was rare to find an unpitted cone in a used hub, even if it had never been contaminated with dirt or water. I've seen inexpensive Taiwanese hubs that can go thousands of miles and spin as smooth as a sealed bearing hub. Pick up the front end of any well-used, inexpensive bike and give the front wheel a spin. The amount of rumbling you feel in the handlebars is an indication as to how much the cones are pitted.
BTW, one of the really nice things about hubs with sealed cartridge bearings is that the entire bearing is easily replaceable. As long as these hubs use standard bearings, as most do, the replacements are quite inexpensive and you can replace one in less time than it takes to clean and regrease a cup & cone bearing.
You shouldn't have any problem getting replacement cones through a shop. Check the rest of the wheel carefully and if the rim is true and spokes are in good shape, then by all means go ahead and rebuild the hub with a new cone. Just be sure to replace the balls as well.
Nasty pitting on that cone. Replacement axles and cones are cheap. Go ahead and replace.
answered Jul 22, 2018 at 19:04
