Hitchcocks Forum

Hi guys -- this may be a dumb question, but how tight should the front hub retaining nuts be (the ones that hold on the speedo drive and the hub brake centre)?



The reason I ask is that there's a tight spot as the spindle rotates, and if I slacken off these nuts the tight spot goes away.



Am I just doing them up to tight, or do I need to investigate the spindle and bearings?



Thanks



Ed

Hi ED, ------- tight on the brake backplate and a "firm" nip onto the speedo drive unit (Be careful if you have the plastic bodied type)..If you already have the wheel removed it might be a good idea to check the condition of the two bearings before rebuilding ??....... Mine were original open Indian spec. which I changed to fully sealed European ones....Much better..

Mine has the plastic speedo drive, but it has a steel core through it, so as tight as you like. I have noticed however that it is possible to put it together with the "dogs" that drive the speedo slightly out of line and in that case the wheel does indeed start to bind if you tighten it well up.....

Very tight, if experience with my Bullet means anything. If I don't do the brakeplate nut very tight it will loosen with front brake use in the course of a few miles; this manifests itself with a creaking sound from the front brake if applied with the bike stationary. When tightening the nut, first apply the brake fully, and the shallow cone on the nut and corresponding seat on the plate should then centre the plate within the hub. If you still have a tight spot, it could suggest a problem with bearings and/or spacers.

Thanks all. It was indeed a bearing problem. With the grease dissolved out, one bearing rotates freely, the other not at all.