You are reading a single comment by @oxfordtoff and its replies.
Click here to read the full conversation.
London Fixed Gear and Single-Speed is a community of predominantly fixed gear and single-speed cyclists in and around London, UK.
This site is supported almost exclusively by donations. Please consider donating a small amount regularly.
@oxfordtoff
assuming what you are screwing in is in fact a cone (i.e. you have cup/cone bearings and not sealed bearings) then you are half way there. There should be another (lock) nut to hold the cone in place once you have found the sweet spot of adjustment. You will need a pair of cone wrenches to do this properly. Also, check the other side's cone and lock nut are locked together.
If it's a sealed bearing hub, the 'adjustment' is simpler but you can get it wrong and have a wobbly wheel.
There should be zero play, regardless of your hub type. If it is a quick release axle a small amount of play should be left but this will disappear when the mechanism is tightened. Running with a loose cone could have damaged the bearings, possibly producing the noise. Either that or you tightened it too much.