On the streets and alleys in urban and rural areas, tricycles are constantly shuttling around. They undertake various tasks such as transporting goods and carrying passengers. And the 206 bearing on the rear axle half shaft of tricycles quietly plays a crucial role behind the scenes, and it can be regarded as the silent ‘load-bearer’ on tricycles.

Master Li is an experienced fruit vendor. His tricycle has accompanied him for many years and he has to travel back and forth between the fruit wholesale market and various communities every day. One day, Master Li was about to set up his stall as usual with a tricycle fully loaded with fresh fruits. However, when he started the tricycle, he heard an abnormal noise coming from the rear axle area, and the vehicle felt a bit bumpy and unstable while driving.

Master Li’s heart sank. He knew that there might be a problem with one of the vehicle’s components. Based on his years of experience, he suspected that the bearing on the rear axle half shaft was malfunctioning. So, he carefully drove the tricycle to a nearby repair shop. After listening to Master Li’s description, the repairman first inspected the rear axle of the tricycle and quickly focused his attention on the 206 bearing.

The repairman took out the half shaft from the rear axle and carefully examined the 206 bearing. He found that there were already signs of wear on the surface of the bearing balls, and some of the balls were even deformed. This resulted in the bearing being unable to roll smoothly during operation, thus generating noise and making the vehicle unstable while driving. This kind of wear might be caused by long-term heavy-load transportation, as well as the vibration and impact during the vehicle’s driving process, which made the bearing bear huge pressure and friction.

The repairman explained to Master Li, “Although this 206 bearing doesn’t look big, it is of vital importance to the rear axle of the tricycle. It undertakes the role of rotating support for the half shaft, enabling the vehicle’s power to be smoothly transmitted to the wheels. Once it has problems, the driving safety and performance of the vehicle will be seriously affected.”

Subsequently, the repairman replaced the 206 bearing for Master Li. During the replacement process, the repairman also particularly emphasized the importance of daily maintenance: “When using the tricycle usually, try to avoid overloading as much as possible, regularly check the lubrication condition of the bearing, and add lubricating oil in a timely manner. This can reduce the wear of the bearing and extend its service life.”

After replacing the bearing, Master Li started the tricycle again. The abnormal noise disappeared and the vehicle regained its previous smoothness while driving. He said to the repairman with satisfaction, “Master, thank you so much! This tricycle is my means of livelihood. Thanks to you for fixing it.” The repairman smiled and said, “It’s all what I should do. Just pay more attention to maintenance in the future.”

In another scenario, Grandpa Zhang used his tricycle to pick up and drop off his grandson to and from school. Recently, he found that the tricycle was a bit difficult to turn, and the rear wheels seemed to have a slight wobble. He sent the tricycle to the repair shop for inspection. The repairman also found that the 206 bearing was loose and worn. After the repairman’s careful treatment, tightening it again and replacing the worn bearing, the tricycle could turn flexibly and drive safely on the road again.

Although the 206 bearing on the rear axle half shaft of tricycles is just a small part among the numerous components of tricycles, it silently bears huge pressure and guarantees the normal operation of tricycles. Whether in commercial transportation or daily travel, it plays an indispensable role and deserves our more attention and maintenance.