Cone issues

[joncarre]

OK, week before last I had some play in my front wheel. Not a lot but it was bugging me, so I took it down to West End Cycles and asked them to tighten it all up for me. They phoned me back and told me that I had actually bent my axle, so I asked them to replace it, which they did.
I thought it strange at the time as I had only ridden the bike a half dozen times, and nothing really big, so I was a bit bemused by a bent axle on a brand new bike.
Anyhow, I asked them for the original axle so I could send it back to the shop I bought it from and when I got the axle back it looked dead straight! I thought my eyes must be playing tricks on me and the threads may be creating an optical illusion so I didn't say anything. When I got home I checked the axle, and as far as I can make out it is dead straight, so basically tightening some wheel cones wasn't going to earn them enough money so they changed my axle instead.
I really couldn't be bothered to complain at the time, the wheel was running true, so I left it. However, after two rides since the work was done there is again play in my front wheel (about a cm or two). Firstly, what could be causing my cones to be loosening off so easily, and secondly, should I take it back to West End, or try 1868 down at Llanrwst?

[gar]

if you think west end have conned you id go back to them and make sure they fix it properly or refund you accordingly.
i would never put a foot through the door again after that.
ive not had anything to do with martin but the mechanic down at revs really knows his stuff fair play and you r guaranteed a top job

[voodoopiles]

I had play in my front wheel for ages as I couldn't figure out how to get the bearings out or whose they were (15mm not t'other) . Eventually just took it to my lbs who deduced they were Hope bearings and popped me a pair in for something like £20 job done ...good luck with a solution.

[Oggy]

West end cycles have pulled ya pants down there Jon

Very much doubt the axel would have been bent, obviously not tightend the nuts up against each either, dribblers.

[joncarre]

Aye Oggy, think you're right. I'm going down there tomorrow mornign with my wheel and the original axle to complain. I just find it odd that they gave the axle back to me. Why not say they'd already chucked it in the bin? That's why I didn't query it there and then, I thought it must just be a case of I couldn't see the bend.

I'll let you all know what they say.

[thistle]

Old rear axles (for wheels that used screw on freewheels) used to bend all the time due to the design. Modern rear axles with a freehub and a cassette don't tend to bend much. Front axles rarely bend.

You can get play in wheel hubs if you use the wrong size bearings - front and rear use slightly different sizes (on XT anyway). Not something you'd ever catch me getting wrong

[eyeball]

For the future, I can't recommend Martin at 1868 enough. Great guy, always spends the time to explain things to me (even if, try as I might, it goes straight over my head,) and always charges a fair price for the work.

Plus, if you arrange a time with him in advance, and he can sort it there and then, you're already at the Marin to go for a ride!