Do you guys tighten the set screws on the outer bearings?

[waylonh]

.............while reassembling? I didn't see Rock Doctor do this in his vid. Is it ok to float them? Should I just remove the set screws if not?

[Roger S]

The inner bearing with it's shoulder and bolt is doing all the lateral control of the axle.. the outer's set screws just keep the bearing from spinning on the shaft. If you have a tight fit, I can see ignoring the set screws. Sometimes the bearing is a loose fit and I always set the screws with locktite. Usually I locate the bearing so one set screw is on the flat, and turn it down but not tight. Then install axle, tighten all the flange bolts, and then locktite the set screws. I think RD just forgets about them..

[Rock Doctor]

Thanks roger
I don't forget them, they make great slingshot ammo for anoying stray dogs in my yard..........................

Seriously though, I do not use them, although most bearing experts recommend that they should be used. Reasons being that if they are not used then the inner bearing race will slowly spin backwards on the shaft causing wear on the shaft, AND if that is happening then you are effectivly reducing your bearing life by up to 40% or more.
My reasoning for NOT using them is that even if I am reducing my bearing life by 40% or more, chances are still good that I will have a bearing failure before that due to Contamination (water, mud, grit, ect) combined with excessivly heavy loads.

Although I HAVE told people that I don't use them, I don't tell them that any more. I think that for "normal" use, it probably makes a differance, although I don't see any great differance between my service intervals and the service intervals of others that use their machine as I do.

RD