Play in front wheel bearings

[gadgetman]

Just fitted brand new SIP PK fork conversion to my 63 GL to allow for hydraulic disc ( ScootRs) and after sending them back due to 'slop' in the link bearings which they sorted, I have fitted everything back on the bike but there is quite a lot of play on the needle roller bearing. so much so that I bought another brand new set of bearings. This has made no difference as if the 20mm stub axle has too small a circumference.
How much play is acceptable and is this normal ?????

[wack 63]

I have found that even brand new Vespas have a small amount of play in the front hub,must be the design?. You need to measure the axle diameter to be sure it is actually 20mm and you could fit two needle bearings into the hub ,just tap the first one deeper with a drift then add the next one.It has worked for me in the past and I believe it was a Beedspeed mod although I have only done it to standard hubs.

[gadgetman]

Thanks for that tip , I heard that Beedspeed do a 20 mm wide roller bearing rather than the standard 16mm to provide the extra support on the same basis

[smiffy1968]

I have in the past visited a very nice bearing stockist and he sourced a longer needle roller for my hub. Although this was mainly because the shaft on my axle was a bit rough....

[gadgetman]

Thanks Wack 63 followed your advice and fitted an extra needle bearing and it seems to have done the trick. I can't think of a downside to this mod so I'm surprised that it's not been adopted as a standard set up.