Dexter nev-r-lube

[DanDee]

Anyone know how to check for allowable endplay on Dexter's Never lube bearings?



Mine have only 1000 miles or so and when I went to adjust the brakes I noticed some play when you rock the top of the tire back & forth.

(enough so that if they were the normal adjustable bearings I'd be worried!)

Both wheels on the side I'm working on are about the same & no roughness when they are rotated.



Dexter manual says "slight end play" is acceptable. I sent an email yesterday, but meanwhile maybe I could get some real world expertise!



Thanks, DanDee

 

[kbarlow]

DanDee,



On page 49 it talks about Nev-R-Lube bearing end play inspection.



The example they give is for a 30 in. tire and the smallest bearing size of 35MM would give an end play of . 090 in. at the tires outer diameter. That is very close to 1/10 of an inch which seems a little much to me. It is even more end play for the 42MM and 50 MM bearings.



Maybe someone here can explain it for us.



Cheers Ken

 

[DanDee]

Kbarlow,

Thanks for looking that up for me, my Dexter manual has lots of stuff on brake adjustment, but no facts on the bearing adjustment for the neverlube. (page 49 is long term storage)



I think I have the 42mm bearing, but I'll check & see if I can get a reading on the play at the top of my tire.



Still waiting for a reply from Dexter.



Thanks again, DanDee

 

[DanDee]

Checked my other tires... I'm getting about . 060-. 080 play with a dial mike set at about 25" dia. on my tires. I have the 42mm bearings.



It sure seems to allow a lot of play back & forth with the tires off the ground. Scary..... But the bearings seem to turn smoothly and not much play in & out, just from top to bottom.



Maybe these bearings are designed to take up this extra play when weight is applied to the axle?



Tomorrow I'll try to check the torque setting on the spindle nut & see if the factory screwed them up... .



DanDee