Rear wheel bearings and the spacer

[ph0010421]

Hello
Feels like a daft question, but I've got replacement sealed bearings for the rear wheel. Feels wrong to remove the seal just so I can clip in the spider thing to hold the spacer. Which got me thinking what the spacer does?
Both bearings press against a machined shoulder as far as I can see. I can loose-loctite the diameter reducer in position on the bigger bearing so that doesn't fall out next time I withdraw the axle.

All the best, Paul

[Johnny4428]

I take it you are referring to the shoulder which the outer bearing ring fits against. I definitely would prefer the bearings being supported in the centre, thats where the clamping pressure is applied.

[Nurse Julie]

The spider thing doesn't hold the bearing 🤔

[K2-K6]

The spacer gives the all up total clamping dimension for the non rotating components within the wheel design,  so stays still with the frame spindle etc.  If the spacer is wrong in dimension it'll either pinch the bearings and preload them if too short,  or allow the wheels to ultimately move sideways if too long.

So dimension is critical,  how it's held is as you speculate as convenient to prevent it dropping out of alignment when the spindle is removed.  I guess the original is just the cheapest and simplest they found to do it,  but the placement is ultimately controlled by the spindle going through there. Making location just convenience.

It doesn't really matter if there's no "inside" face seal on the bearings as nothing really gets in there anyway. 

You'd probably swear at it if you couldn't get the spindle through, well I would anyway  depends then how confident you are in the loctite solution.  It is more shear prevention (two surfaces sliding past each other) rather than "glueing" in position two components, so not ideal in doing what you want.

[ph0010421]

I take it you are referring to the shoulder which the outer bearing ring fits against. I definitely would prefer the bearings being supported in the centre, thats where the clamping pressure is applied.

You've articulated my concern nicely. So the spacer is clamped tight between the two bearings inners? Drifting out the second bearing came out like a missile so I didn't see exactly how it was.
Thanks Johnny

[ph0010421]

The spider thing doesn't hold the bearing 🤔

Hello Nurse Julie. Thanks for the reply. Yes, I worded it badly. When I drifted out the second bearing, it came out like a bullet, so I missed it, but the spider 'retains' the spacer to the groove on the bearing inner, no? To assist with assembly, I guess.

[Bryanj]

Nope it located the spacer to the wheel macined bore but frequently gets distorted to a smaller diameter when removing bearings and needs the "legs" straigthening

[ph0010421]

You the man. They came out looking like they'd been 10 rounds with Mike Tyson. I see exactly what you mean. Thanks pal