Cb550 F2 Rear Wheel Bearing Installation

[bbrian66]

Many thanks for all of these replies - all really helpful. If I have time,  I hope to look at this tomorrow,  otherwise it will have to wait a week while I'm away.

[bbrian66]

Right - I've tried driving the bearings in further and they have not moved. I assume the n/s bearing is fully seated.

The retainer screws down fully into the bearing outer race, but still leaves just over 1mm between the retainer and the top edge of the sprocket carrier.

I assume the retainer is meant to clamp down on the carrier to squeeze the cush drive rubbers. Could it be that my rubbers are worn down? Does anyone know what thickness the new ones are?

[Oddjob]

No it’s not meant to crush the rubbers, there needs to be a small gap to allow the carrier to move.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

As Ken says the carrier needs to be able to rotate slightly as it takes up the drive on acceleration and deceleration.
If the drive rubbers are new you might need a small amount of red rubber grease to fit the sprocket carrier. The hub  D ring will also need some grease to reduce the chances of damaging it.

I suspect I misunderstood your first post, these things are difficult to describe especially without photos of the actual issue.

[bbrian66]

Hopefully you can see the feeler gauge in the gap...

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

A picture paints a thousand words, at least you know the bearings were fitted okay.
When the wheel is in the frame & axle torqued up it should be all good.

[bbrian66]

Thanks Ted. That would be really good news. I won't be able to get back in the workshop until the end of next week,  but will press ahead and let you know what happens.

[bbrian66]

I've now got the hub pretty much assembled. Retainer is tightened right down. I'm still not convinced this much movement is correct.
I've hopefully attached a short video to demonstrate this.
I don't want to go any further unless everyone agrees this is normal.

[Oddjob]

No, that's not normal.

Personally I'd remove the bearings and see what it feels and looks like when assembled without the bearings in place. You'd know what it should look like then. Mine is completely solid by hand, needs considerable force to make it move and then it only goes forward not sidewards like yours. My wheel is bare ATM so I could assemble it and see what it looks like. Might take me a few days to find everything though, limited mobility at the moment.

[bbrian66]

I've just stripped an old 550 wheel that is in very good condition, and measured from the top surface of the bearing to the top surface of the sprocket carrier, using a set of vernier calipers, on both old and new wheels.

The difference is an average of 1.4 mm. It has to be that my bearings are not seated right. I'll see if my local machine shop will put them in their press to double check. Otherwise out they must come.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

When you look down into where the spindle fits does the center spacer and inner races look like everything is seated right ?

Is it possible that a spacer tag has become trapped between the bearing and the hub on the left side?

[bbrian66]

Good news - my local engineering works managed to press the bearings in another 0.5mm. All seems happy now. Can't believe it's been such a saga.
Thanks for all the help on here.