Back wheel rocking slightly...please help!

[Easytigers]

Hi there. Have had my Specialized Sirrus Elite for about 3 months. I've probably done about 600 miles and haven't been over any serious pot holes etc. Today noticed light movement in the back wheel and I could rock it slightly(only about a millimeter). At first I hoped it was the quick release not being tight enough (I haven't actually released it since I bought it!) but tightened it and it's still there. Any ideas???
It's probably ok to ride (and I didn't really notice it when riding) but I don't want to leave it just in case it gets worse...or even leads to something more serious!
Thanks,
Russ

 

[gbb]

If you're gripping the tyre and rocking the wheel side to side and feeling slight movement, assuming the wheel's tight, that only leaves the hub bearings requiring adjustment.
At only 3 months old, i'd be looking for the LBS to adjust them FOC, they shouldn't loosen or come out of adjustment that quick.

 

[cycleruk]

The hub bearings normally have some kind of lock nut or something to stop it from coming loose, i would check to see if these are loose, if they are, then i would stop using the bike until you can get it sorted. just to be safe.

 

[spacecat]

Providing that the QR is tight It's probably fine to ride, and I can't see anything catastrophic happening.

Take it back to the shop, ask them to adjust the bearings and why play had become apparent in them so quickly.

I take it they aren't rumbling?

 

[Norm]

Indeed, if it is the bearings (which it sounds like to me), then I wouldn't ride it as they could be causing damage.

I agree that 600 miles is fairly low for them to need doing but, as it's fairly quick and easy to adjust them (if I can do it!) and it costs nothing other than a few minutes time, I think that the supplier should do them for you.

 

[spacecat]

I agree with Norm if they are at all noisey or you feel vibration through the frame when spinning the wheel, then don't ride it. They may though just require tightening.

I had the cartridge bearings replaced on my fulcrums after only about 800 miles by the lbs. Apparently water had got in and corroded them.

 

[Norm]

I had the cartridge bearings replaced on my fulcrums after only about 800 miles by the lbs. Apparently water had got in and corroded them.

Indeed, and this is one problem with getting huffy on a bike shop for bearings. Whilst it is likely that they have failed prematurely because of something which was wrong at the time of sale, there is a chance (and I'm not saying that it's the case here!) that it was caused by the owner. Keep the supplying dealer sweet, by asking rather than demanding, for instance, and you'll probably get the right result.

One of the pedals on my MTB got graunchy after only a few hundred miles. I stripped and greased it myself, as that bike does get a lot of underwater use (there's a great ford nearby ) and I haven't had any problems since. I quite enjoyed the experience, to be honest, and I've since got into doing much of the maintenance myself, where time allows.

 

[Easytigers]

Thanks for all of the advice. Am going to drop the wheel off today and see what they say. Hopefully foc but you never know!
Russ

 

[Easytigers]

So...I picked up the wheel and the guy said that he'd had to tighten it...not sure what exactly...got it home but now have noticed that the wheel doesn't spin as freely...will this go after time or has he cocked it up???
Thanks for all the help, just wish a bit more savvy and could do it myself!

 

[Mad at urage]

He's tightened the bearings. It shouldn't be difficult to spin (unless the bearings are worn - or v. poor quality). It is likely to tighten them further when you fit the wheel back into the frame! Should really have dropped the bike in to him, so he could get the bearing tightness right when the wheel was in place.

Someone will have a link to an online tutorial for DIY bearing tightening, I'm sure ...

 

[Herzog]

So...I picked up the wheel and the guy said that he'd had to tighten it...not sure what exactly...got it home but now have noticed that the wheel doesn't spin as freely...will this go after time or has he cocked it up???
Thanks for all the help, just wish a bit more savvy and could do it myself!

Sounds like they've been overtightend, it's easily enough done. I would take it back in if you're not confident at having a go.

 

[albion]

I has similar with my wheel.

I had to slightly overtighten it to stop a wobble. After a few a few mins actual use it ended up reasonably OK

 

[gbb]

So...I picked up the wheel and the guy said that he'd had to tighten it...not sure what exactly...got it home but now have noticed that the wheel doesn't spin as freely...will this go after time or has he cocked it up???
Thanks for all the help, just wish a bit more savvy and could do it myself!

Depends, don't assume the worst yet.
If he's greased the hubs at the same time as adjusting them, the grease does cause some initial friction, that'll free up with a little time.

One good way of checking if they've been overtightened is to take the wheel out, grip the axle each side with your thumb and forefinger and spin the wheel, you'll feel any grinding sensation.
If its smooth, but still slower than before, it maybe just extra grease thats causing it.
If you can feel grinding of any kind, it'll be too tight.
Bear in mind, if its a quick release wheel, they should adjust the hubs a tiny bit loose, when you tighten the QR, it takes out the play if they're adjusted correctly. I never worked out the logic of that, but thats the way it is.

 

[Easytigers]

Thanks again for the advice. Will take the wheel out tomorrow and check...It's really annoying as now finally have a 'decent' bike and hoped nothing would need doing (I know...how naive!)...It's so annoying as I have a crappy old mountain bike that I bought for under a hundred quid 10 years ago and it runs like a dream (think I washed it once!)

 

[biggs682]

just because you pay a lot of money does not always mean good quality .

if in doubt try another lbs to set the wheel up or check to see what has been done , they might even do it foc if they think they might gain a customer of there own .