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View Full Version : Captive Wheel Spacers?

squirrel_hunter
15-09-12, 09:52 PM
Can someone please explain to me how they work?

I have spent quite sometime, tonight for instance, arguing with bikes, wheels, and their spacers. Its an argument that I always win, it just takes too long. So it got me thinking those racers can change wheels quite quickly and they have yet to resort to evolving an additional set of arms (don't get me wrong an additional set of arms would be very useful I just don't fancy buying all new t-shirts just yet). I understand that they use captive wheel spacers to help them and I have seen them available for many bikes. But I was wondering how they work, how they are fitted, and why they are not standard?
Bibio
15-09-12, 10:06 PM
they work just like the sprocket spacer in that the spacer is 'captive' in the race so less likely to fall out when putting the wheel back on.
andrewsmith
15-09-12, 10:12 PM
It boils down to cost, they aren't cheap.
I'm really considering swapping out on the rear for ease over the winter
squirrel_hunter
15-09-12, 10:18 PM
they work just like the sprocket spacer in that the spacer is 'captive' in the race so less likely to fall out when putting the wheel back on.

But what captivates them?

You say captive in the race. That makes me think of the bearing races, so an interference fit to them, would that not mean different bearings or spindle?
AndyBrad
15-09-12, 10:35 PM
They sit behind the dust seal for the bearing.

Hasn't yc got a lathe? He might knock you some up? ?

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
barwel1992
15-09-12, 10:57 PM
i thought the captive ones were just top hat spacers that sit inside the bearing rather than sitting against its face

although you could make some like above that use the standard bearings

i could possibly knock some up as well, would need measurements though as i don't have a sv any more and you'd need new bearings for top hat type
Bibio
15-09-12, 11:39 PM
would that not mean different bearing

yes
Mr Speirs
16-09-12, 07:05 AM
Lots of people on trackdayriders use them and swear by them.
They are the same as standard except they are machined so there is a slight lip on the side nearest the bearing. This lip sits behind the dust seal on the bearing and holds it in place.

Hope this helps.
squirrel_hunter
16-09-12, 09:52 AM
Lots of people on trackdayriders use them and swear by them.
They are the same as standard except they are machined so there is a slight lip on the side nearest the bearing. This lip sits behind the dust seal on the bearing and holds it in place.

Hope this helps.

How is that possible with sealed bearing units like I see in my wheels?
mikerj
16-09-12, 10:57 AM
How is that possible with sealed bearing units like I see in my wheels?

It doesn't fit behind the seal which is part of the bearing, they fit behind the outer "dust" seals, which AFAIK the majority of bikes have, even if they use sealed bearings within the wheel and sprocket carrier etc.
squirrel_hunter
16-09-12, 11:23 AM
Take for instance the SV650 rear wheel. On the left hand side there is a bearing and then a seal on the sprocket carrier before the spacer. So the captive spacer would sit between the bearing and the seal? But how would this work on the right hand side as there is no seal, and again how would this work on the front as there are no additional seals?

Does anyone know of a pictorial fitting guide for captive spacers so I can see how they work?
mikerj
16-09-12, 12:31 PM
On the front you have to fit larger bearings (http://www.twfracing.com/PartsPages/stocksvcapspacersf.html), and the captive spacers fit inside the bearing. Same on the RH rear (http://www.twfracing.com/PartsPages/stocksvcapspacersr.html).
Spanner Man
16-09-12, 01:56 PM
Good afternoon all.


Making the spacers is easy enough on a Lathe. The problem when trying to fit them to an existing bike, is often obtaining bearings that are of the correct depth, & outside diameter to fit in the wheel, whilst having a larger bore to accomodate the spacer.


Cheers.
barwel1992
16-09-12, 03:17 PM
if any one finds out the OD/ID and depth of bearing needed for the captive spacers i can find out how much they are and we probably have them in stock at work in various grades ceramic,steel ect
Luke-SV
16-09-12, 05:52 PM
Iff some one sorted out a kit for the sv I'd buy one, just to make life easyer on trackdays!
21QUEST
16-09-12, 07:15 PM
http://twfracing.com/zparts.html
Sid Squid
16-09-12, 09:30 PM
Typically they're just a standard size spacer with a thin flange that sits behind the dust seal.

I've made several for race bikes - they're neither expensive or difficult.
squirrel_hunter
16-09-12, 11:08 PM
Typically they're just a standard size spacer with a thin flange that sits behind the dust seal.

I've made several for race bikes - they're neither expensive or difficult.

So does that mean new bearings and such like? I read that as somewhat of a contradiction to others who say new bearings are needed, or is it model specific?

I'm asking this as more of a generic question not just for the SV but for other bikes and for example an SV running a GSXR front conversion and such like.