How to Adjust a Bike's Hub

Bike hubs sometimes come adjusted too tight from the manufacturer, or they may loosen up as they break in. It's easy to adjust a bike's hub if you have the right tools. These instructions apply to the standard cup and cone style hubs found on most bicycles.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Bike Tools

1. Remove the wheel.

2. Remove the quick-release skewer or the nuts and washers that secure the bike to the frame.

3. Remove the rubber seal if necessary (many modern Shimano mountain bike hubs have seals).

4. Check the amount of play in the hub - a small amount is desirable and will disappear when you clamp the hub back into the bike. If the hub is too tight or has trouble turning smoothly, you will need to loosen it. If there is too much play, you will need to tighten it.

5. Slide the correct cone wrench onto the wrench flat of the hub. Most hubs these days will accept a 13-, 14- or 15-mm cone wrench. Put the correct open-ended wrench or an adjustable wrench on the locknut. For a rear wheel, you will usually want to work on the side of the hub opposite the cassette or freewheel.

6. Loosen the locknut while holding the cone wrench in place. This may require quite a bit of force.

7. Put the open wrench on the opposite locknut while holding the cone wrench in place. Now you may adjust the hub - use the cone wrench to either tighten or loosen as required.

8. Put the open wrench back on the locknut that you originally loosened. Still holding the cone wrench in place, tighten down the locknut.

9. Test the hub for play. You may need to repeat these steps once or twice more, until you get it just right.

Tips & Warnings

• If the bearings feel gritty, you may want to overhaul the hub (see Related eHow "Overhaul a Bike's Hub").
• If the hub is very difficult to adjust, you may have a bent or broken axle.
• Cartridge-bearing hubs generally don't require much attention. However, if you do need to adjust the hub, they often adjust (or disassemble completely) with two 5-mm allen wrenches. If it is not immediately obvious how to do this, you may want to contact your local bike shop or the hub's manufacturer.

Who Can Help:

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[FredT]

on 10/30/2007 The reason for "a little play" is that the cones tighten down on the bearings when the quick-release skewer is closed to fasten the wheel to the frame. A more precise but time-consuming approach takes the guess work out of this process by tightening the quick-release against washers, then testing the hub. Does it spin freely but have no play (sideways wobble) when tight? That's what you're looking for. Too tight will lead to worn bearings and cones, as will too loose. Precise adjustment can keep your hubs essentially free of wear if re-lubed and adjusted every 1 to 5 years (depending on quantity of use and exposure to water and dirt).