Cup bearings; am I missing something?

[f4radar]

Disassembling the Trail Flite front wheel I found it uses cup bearings.
Each side had 13 ball bearings but there is room in the cup for 14. Is it common to leave some space between the bearings?

 

[f4radar]

That picture is with 14 balls…one more than was actually in there.

 

[Skipp]

I think I’d replace with sealed I’m running a steens front end on a build that required balls….they become a pain in the ass when trying to do different things….just my opinion….

 

[Skipp]

My front end although different is similar….it required a specific number which I found on the hodaka site, but if I remember there was about a 1/16 ball space left over

 

[f4radar]

I think I’d replace with sealed I’m running a steens front end on a build that required balls….they become a pain in the ass when trying to do different things….just my opinion….

Oddly enough the other Trail Flite front wheel uses sealed bearings with a spacer between so I couldn’t compare them.

 

[Skipp]

Oddly enough the other Trail Flite front wheel uses sealed bearings with a spacer between so I couldn’t compare them.

Maybe someone got fed up? Or different year?

 

[Jim Donovan]

I think I would leave the space, you might end up with too much pressure on the balls and cause them to bind. They do have to roll but not against each other.

 

[massacre]

I have 14 balls on both sides of my front and rear wheels on my trail flite.
for what it's worth

 

[f4radar]

I have 14 balls on both sides of my front and rear wheels on my trail flite.
for what it's worth

Thanks I think I have new ball bearings in my future 3/16 I believe

 

[massacre]

Thanks I think I have new ball bearings in my future 3/16 I believe

I did the same. The stock ones were rusted to crap

 

[MiniHawg]

Nice post! I need to take care of my trail flight rear wheel bearings soon. Can anyone else confirm the 3/16 in. ball bearing size? I'm going to order some. Looks like I'm going to try and fit 14 each side.

 

[MiniHawg]

Can someone confirm, the ball bearings go outside of the cups, and are held in place by the acorn nut and some red n tacky? This all just seems wrong to me haha

 

[massacre]

Can someone confirm, the ball bearings go outside of the cups, and are held in place by the acorn nut and some red n tacky? This all just seems wrong to me haha

Yes they install just like an old bicycle wheel

 

[kayde]

My mtd has the 12" front wheel and loose ball bearings front and rear.

I don't recall the exact number of balls I used but my front wheel seemed to be missing a few also so I filled the gap with the correct size balls that i probally sourced from a bicycle.

Also used regular hi temp bearing grease to hold'em in,probably not the best lube but no problem so far.
Setting the acorn nuts and jam nut took a few trys too get the play just rite is very worth while.

These bikes are awesome riders mine has been ridden and raced pretty hard without issues so far and it still feels new and tite for a vintage bike.

 

[MiniHawg]

Thanks! I got mine put together, and I agree, it does ride very nice! I love how heavy it is, it feels so much more solid than my Baja MB200. I'm missing two ball bearings, but it rolls well, and I'm not taking it out on the trails yet.

 

[DaddyJohn]

Missing something? For me, it’s usually several balls when I’m dealing with loose bearings, lol…