Hawk Talk

[Megadan]

Originally Posted by wamey

So I took off my hawk's wheels to change tires, noticed that the bearing inner races are almost impossible to turn by hand. Is this normal?

Mine were the same way when I first got my bike. When I removed them they spun freely again so I reinstalled them and they worked fine. I do plan on ordering new ones here soon for both front and rear. I just need to get the bearing specs or numbers.

[wamey]

Originally Posted by Megadan

Mine were the same way when I first got my bike. When I removed them they spun freely again so I reinstalled them and they worked fine. I do plan on ordering new ones here soon for both front and rear. I just need to get the bearing specs or numbers.

Front wheel bearings

Rear wheel bearings

I suspect the spacer tube in the wheel hub is slightly too long and that's why they don't spin (because the assemblers pressed only the outer races when installing the bearings) but I don't know for sure.

[Megadan]

Originally Posted by wamey

Front wheel bearings

Rear wheel bearings

I suspect the spacer tube in the wheel hub is slightly too long and that's why they don't spin (because the assemblers pressed only the outer races when installing the bearings) but I don't know for sure.

I had the same suspicion. They had some lateral bind to them, so they would turn, but they were very stiff. When I reinstalled them with my bearing presses they spun freely.

Thanks for the links!

[Ariel Red Hunter]

Originally Posted by Megadan

Mine were the same way when I first got my bike. When I removed them they spun freely again so I reinstalled them and they worked fine. I do plan on ordering new ones here soon for both front and rear. I just need to get the bearing specs or numbers.

I got the impression his bearings didn't spin after he took the wheel off...ARH

[wamey]

Originally Posted by Ariel Red Hunter

I got the impression his bearings didn't spin after he took the wheel off...ARH

If you stick your finger in the inner race and turn, it takes a lot of oomph to get them to turn at all.

[Ariel Red Hunter]

Originally Posted by wamey

If you stick your finger in the inner race and turn, it takes a lot of oomph to get them to turn at all.

If the spacer is turning with the inner race, and especially if the other bearing's inner race is turning when you do this, you've found the problem. Hopefully, the inner diameter of the spacer is a little bit larger than the inner diameter of the race. If you can find a socket that will fit pretty close to the inner diameter of the race, you can add an extension to the socket and gently tap the lip of the opposite bearing around the inside and work it loose. Don't whale on it. The bearing races are made of hardened steel, they'll chip if you get carried away. You also don't want to get it cocked by driving it too far on one side. So, easy does it...ARH

[BlackBike]

Originally Posted by Ariel Red Hunter

If the spacer is turning with the inner race, and especially if the other bearing's inner race is turning when you do this, you've found the problem. Hopefully, the inner diameter of the spacer is a little bit larger than the inner diameter of the race. If you can find a socket that will fit pretty close to the inner diameter of the race, you can add an extension to the socket and gently tap the lip of the opposite bearing around the inside and work it loose. Don't whale on it. The bearing races are made of hardened steel, they'll chip if you get carried away. You also don't want to get it cocked by driving it too far on one side. So, easy does it...ARH

As they say, ya gotta hold your mouth right (there's an old fashioned one)

[Ariel Red Hunter]

Originally Posted by BlackBike

As they say, ya gotta hold your mouth right (there's an old fashioned one)

The old guy who I learned from told me "You gotta hold your tongue j-u-s-t so"...ARH

[Ariel Red Hunter]

I was watching a youtube video of a guy having trouble shifting a Hawk (he continously missed shifts) with boots on. The shift lever on Hawks (and others) are really too short for big American feet. Do yourself a favor and get a longer shift lever. The foot peg rubbers are too slippery when wet, and the length of the footpeg is too short for the afore mentioned feet. On the other side, if the brake lever is too easy to miss with your feet, Take it off and put it in a vice so you can bend it so as it works better for you. And p-u-l-e-e-z-e wear boots when you ride. They will help to protect your ankles and other parts of the foot when you snag your foot on something. I cringe whenever I see someone riding in flip-flops. If you do that, you are asking for excruiating pain...ARH