Stiff wheel bearings after replacing?

[frank.youngman]

The description is freehub inner spacer,comes in different sizes according to hub.It fits inside the rear of the freehub body.Its easy to miss because it only protrudes by 1-2mm.Interestingly when I fitted an Ekar groupset to my gravel bike I needed a new Campagnolo freehub to convert the Novatec hub and the seller went out of his way to point this part out.I found one of my missing ones under the fridge!

 

[baron von greenback]

Have you tried different bearing

 

[elite504]

What Bikeworkshop said.
But more likely what others have said, you're missing a thin shim washer somewhere under the freehub body, and tightening the wheel has put a side load on the inner race of that bearing. Plenty of vintage CNC hubs such as the Supereight or Nukeproof hubs utilised very thn shims, but finding them now may be a problem.

OR, the bearing is knackered. Try replacing that first, PROPERLY, loading the races correctly when pressing it together so as not to damage the new bearings. All being well, the bearings should be a pretty tight press-fit on both the hub shell or freehub body, and onto the axle.

Item 10 here is called "adjusted washer"
https://www.eshop.novatecwheels.eu/Data/2766/UserFiles/Drawings_3D_explosion/818SB_v25.jpg

There is a reason stuff like this exists (looking for no brand in particular):
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/13595549...mkcid=28&google_free_listing_action=view_item