Oh, there is no question this time. It was broken!

Remember that rear wheel I removed and carried to the dealer? Well, when I got it back, the mechanic took the spacer from between the gear hub bearing and the wheel bearing and placed it on the outside. of the gear hub bearing.

So, when I got it back and saw that piece, I looked at it and said; "That wasn't there before. It must be something he had used to balance the wheel and forgot to take off."

Oh the pain that little misguided answer caused me.

I put the wheel in place, slid the axle through, and started tightening up the nut. Looking at the manual it states "92 lbs/ft" of torque to tighten it. I have my torque wrench set, I tighten down, it looks good (well, except for the fact that the castle nut seems to be a little too for down on the thread away from the cotter pin hole - hey I didn't make the rules). Before, putting in the cotter pin I rest my hand on the tire, you know, just to give it that gentle turn of love.

&%$#@!. What the *&%$#!

The wheel isn't turning.

You have got to be f*&%$# kidding me. I used the proper torque and everything, how could this happen. I loosened the nut it spun. I tightened it up again it wouldn't. I took the axle out, looked at everything, everything seems to be in place. Put it back together again, same result.

I did this about three times.

On all those times putting it back together, I noticed there was a spacer flopping about inside the hub of the rim. And then it occurred to me,... Nah! That couldn't be it. I looked over at that "extra piece" of metal that the mechanic left on the wrong side of my gear hub. I picked it up and placed it on the inside of the gear hub bearing. Perfect fit. And,... it was the perfect size for the space between the gear hub bearing and the wheel bearing.

You have got to be kidding me. I placed my fingers inside the gear hub bearing to confirm my fears. Yes, the bearing was now shot because I had literally tried to force the inner race out by torquing down on it.

Bearings shot, brand new bike, only 600+ miles. I am all kinds of pissed off now!

I carried the rear sprocket assembly back out to the service dept, and told the guy at the counter there the story. He didn't even know where to start, how long or how much it would cost (well he wasn't a mechanic, he just works at the desk). Luckily, (and as the guy said, it was just the blessing of him being there) there was a fellow rider there that said he knew a shop just around the corner that does a lot of the work on his bike that could more than likely replace the bearing for me in about 5 minutes.

Dude! Hook me up!

He gave me the directions and the mechanic shop's business card and I was OUT!!!

When I got there the shop was actually closed. But the owner was so cool he let me in anyway and took a look at the gear. If you're in the area and need a shop for repairs, tires, parts, etc., go to Rad's Cycles they'll take care of you.

Rad was back there beating on the bearing for I don't know how long trying to get it out of the hub (which scared me). It then got really silent. He reappeared after a while with another hub from a 636 that he said I could have for $20. Sweet!

I grabbed it and, I was OUT!!!

Got back, switched the sprocket onto the new/old hub, slapped it into the wheel, mounted the wheel, adjusted the alignment, torqued down the axle nut, secured it with the cotter pin and I was done.

Runs great!

My first wheel maintenance, and a broken bearing. Live and learn.



Rad's Cycle
9637 Palm River Road
Tampa, FL 33619
813-514-8775
radscycle@aol.com

http://www.myspace.com/radscycle