I went to put my rebuilt front end together and when I put the dust cap over the inner bearing it wouldn't stay put! I put in a new bearing cup (it used to have ball bearings)and a new Timken roller bearing, greased everything up and then the dust cap won't stay put. I tried tapping it in place with a small tack hammer but it sure seems like it isn't fitting like it should - and it isn't sitting flush with the hub. I did this on my '16 Touring four years ago and the dust cap just kind of snapped right in and was nice and firm. The cap is the neoprene kind sold by all the vendors. I got so frustrated I had to walk away so I haven't looked into it deeper. I made sure the cup was tapped as far as it would go into the hub - is it possible that I went too deep and the cap isn't getting behind the cup that holds it in? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Bill, as far as I know, the hole in the hub is the same size all the way, the diameter of the bearing cup. The dust cap is the same diameter.
Don't know if this helps or not.
Allan from down under.
What type of hub do you have, and are you using original or modern-type parts? It's common for the early hubs to get sort of wallowed out to the point that the felt retainer won't press in and stay in. A '14 hub would have had ball bearings, a felt seal, and a concave felt retainer with the name of the wheel maker stamped into it. I have no personal experience with using modern replacement parts like neoprene seals and roller bearings in an early hub, but if the seal of whatever type isn't a light press fit and won't stay in place, you can cut a shim, form it into a ring, and install it in the hub, and then try pressing it in.
RV has the answer. Scissors and an old can.
Bill, if it makes you feel any better i had the same problem with the new seals i bought for my 25. Had to take it all apart and replace it with the old, but properly fitting originals. Not a happy camper like yourself after purchasing.
You could glue them in the hub with RTV.
Thanks for all the advice, guys. After cooling down a bit I took another look at the problem. The cap fit tight when I took the bearing out so I assumed that the cup wasn't deep enough in the hub. I took an old cup, turned it upside down and used it to pound on the new cup. I tapped it down just a pinch more and what do you know - the cap fit as it should! Thanks again for the assistance and advice.
o.k. I guess the real question now is how tight are the caps supposed to be? I tapped both races down as far as they will go and re-installed both dust caps. They are a snug fit but will pull off without too much effort. I was under the impression that once they were tapped into place that they should be very tight and difficult to pull off without some force.
Usually they are quite a tight fit and caution is needed when hammering them in but reasonably snug is OK too as the only force exerted on them when installed is the seal rubbing the surface on the spindle which isn't much. Obviously a drop-in fit is no good. In lieu of shimming I have on one occasion stood the seal on end and with a pin punch made 4 divots in the standing metal edge from the inside out which locked the seal in place. Ain't exactly easy but it centers nicely.