1969 Midget front hub bearings

[BlackHealey]

Hello MG owners, I am rebuilding the front hubs for a friend's 69 Midget and I am having a heck of a time trying to attach the hub to the axle. I bought new wire wheel hubs, new bearings and rebuilt king pin/axles. I set the bearings in place with a drift and when I slide the hub over the axle, the axle does not protrude above the outer bearing, so I am not able to install the nut and washer.

The hub is all the way on the axle, as it can not go any further without hanging up on the rear plate. Does this mean that the outer bearing is not installed completely? I have to hit it pretty hard with the drift and mallet to get it where it is currently. I am not sure how hard I should have to tap it to get it in place.

Is this a common problem?
Please help!
Thanks. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[rimzimmer]

The bearings do have to in a certin way round (Outer thrust in)otherwise the wheel can fall off, but as the are not tappered the hub shoud still sit in the right place, are the bearings the same size as the old ones?
When hitting the bearings in try to us a large socket or pipe off cut the fits the outter race this way the load is spread evenaly and the baering ahs a better chance of going in square, the note of the sound will change when the bearing has hit the bottom so thats when to stop hitting it!!

 

[Trevor Jessie]

You should probably pst this in the spridget forum. But it sounds like the outer bearing is not completely seated. the above advice seems good. BTW, this is not a common problem that I know of.

 

[Ed Kaler]

[ QUOTE ]
and rebuilt king pin/axles.

[/ QUOTE ]

Are they for WWs?? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
Ed

 

[aeronca65t]

Shouldn't be any big deal.
You have everything set up as in the picture below, right?

 

[kennypinkerton]

I love exploded diagrams. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[PeterC]

I have a feeling you followed the diagram! With the hub in your hand looking at the inner, oil seal side, the outer bearing gets pressed or drifted all the way in away from you, then the spacer, then the inner bearing, then the oil seal. I have a suspicion you are trying to put the bearing in from the outside after the wheel is on the spindle, like an MGB. That diagram could get you thinking that way. PM me if you need help. Peter C.

 

[Trevor Jessie]

Ya know Peter, I've looked at that diagram many times and never noticed the bearing being on the outside of the hub. Hmmm, probably because I replaced the bearings before looking at it.