Hitchcocks Forum

Hi again
How much movement on the front wheel bearings is acceptable
For the Mot
Cheers

If there is any lateral movement in either front of back wheel then the bearings are ferked. The machine should not be ridden until bearings have been replaced, not a huge job.
My 2 drachma

Seconded!

Worryingly the MOT limits at the rim are:-

the maximum allowable lateral run out or buckling is 4mm for steel rims and just 2mm for alloy. The maximum allowable eccentricity of any wheel is 3mm.

Personally, I would not ride a motorcycle that had a wheel anywhere near as bad as that.

But back to the topic: I'm afraid I don't know how much movement is allowed by the MoT, but I agree with Beezabryan - if you have any at all then the bearings are knackered and you shouldn't take it for an MoT until you've changed them.

This is where we need to be careful, I have worked on old AJS and Matchless machines fitted with adjustable taper bearings in their wheels and play is meant to be 'just perceptible' when they are adjusted correctly, so some play should be permitted in such cases, but for ball race types, as in our Enfields, no play is the correct answer.

Bullet Whisperer, old Ural and other Soviet heavyweights also have heavy duty adjustable taper rollers in their wheels. I have some fitted to wheels from around 1968, - and they're still going strong. They just need a cleanout,grease and adjust once a blue moon..I've personally been thrashing them for 26 years.I never get this performance from ball race wheel bearings.

WHAT THE MOT MANUAL SAYS;**************************2.3 Front Suspension and Wheel Bearings**************Method of Inspection************5. With the front wheel raised check that the wheel and its associated fixing and locking devices are present and secure and that the wheel bearings are not excessively tight or do not have excessive free play. Spin the wheel and listen for roughness in the bearings.*************b. Excessive roughness, tightness or free play in the wheel bearings.
*************** THE TERM "EXCESSIVE" IMPLIES THAT A DEGREE OF FREE PLAY IS ACCEPTABLE, EXCESSIVE WILL BE BASED ON THE TESTER'S EXPERIENCE AND JUDGEMENT.

Paul, interesting design the Matchless/AJS with their non replaceable bearings

Thanks for the input chaps,seems I must make a trip to the bearing shop.
Cheers
Jenks