How to prevent freehub body damage?
5 min read
Asked by: Pittsburgh Malkin
The answer is to get a steel body freehub. Shimano should have made the individual cogs with a built in spacer like they do for the 12 and 13 cogs. This would give a wider contact surface area to stop the cog digging into the alu.
Do freehub bodies wear out?
Freehub bodies are highly unlikely to suffer excessive wear. Aluminium bodies are likely to be marked by the pressure of a steel cassette, but such ‘damage’ typically is cosmetic only. Some, higher quality wheelsets have a lightweight steel freehub body.
How do I maintain my freehub bike?
Clean area above cap as well.
- Blow dry with compressed air. Use normal precautions when using compressed air. …
- Use a liquid lubricant in the back side and front. Spin freehub to work lube inside.
- Grease freehub mounting-bolt.
- Install freehub and any spacer onto hub body. …
- Assemble and adjust hub as with hub overhaul.
Should I put grease on freehub body?
So a little grease on a steel freehub certainly can’t hurt when it comes to corrosion protection. Bottom line, not a big deal. If you do regular maintenance and pull the cassette now and then in the process, leaving the freehub body dry shouldn’t hurt a thing.
When should I replace my freehub body?
Check the freehub for wear to see if it needs replacing or just cleaning and relubing. To do this, firmly grab the splined body and give it a wiggle. If it moves more than a couple of millimetres side to side, replace it. Otherwise, a good clean and oil will do fine.
Is ratchet better than pawls?
Ratchet systems are generally spoken stronger, more reliable and need less maintenance compared to traditional pawl systems. Biggest reason for this is that the power transferred from the drivetrain to the wheel is spread of a larger surface. In general hubs that are “louder” usually have more engagement points.
How tight should a freehub be?
You will usually hear clicks as you turn. After 4 or 5 clicks, your cassette lockring should be tight enough.
How often should I repack my hubs?
A standard like “change your oil every 3000 miles” doesn’t exist as far as I know, although here is a suggested one. I ride about 3,000-4,000 miles a year and my rule of thumb is to do the hubs every 300 – 500 miles or so, and the bottom bracket twice a year. Works out to a hub overhaul about every other month.
How often should you service your freehub?
Overhaul the hub every 1500 miles or so to keep the greases and oils inside fresh.
What makes a freehub noisy?
Loudness in the freehub/freebody is usually due to the very light oil used to lubricate the inner parts. Thicker oil can be used to lessen the noise and even grease in some cases, but it’s high viscosity is pointed at for not being so efficient.
Is Lithium Grease OK for bike hubs?
I just bought a big tub of multipurpose lithium grease to lubricate the threads on some new pedals, but I also need to lubricate the bearings of a set of used wheels I bought a while ago. Can I just use the lithium grease I bought or should I use something teflon based? Yes, lithium grease is perfectly fine.
How do you lubricate a freehub body?
Quote from video: Oil right around the edge of the freehub where it joins the rim of the hub holding the spine so the freehub spin the wheel.
Can you put too much grease in a hub?
Too much grease causes churning and higher temperatures. Semi-fluid grease must be used with a vented hub cap. It cannot be packed around the bearing as it will slump.
Are more pawls louder?
A greater number of pawls in combination with more engagement points results in more movement and consequently noise. And since more pawls and engagement points equal greater pedaling efficiency, more expensive hubs offer more of those and sound louder as a result.
What hubs do pro cyclists use?
The distinctive green hubs are Chris King R45s. They use lightweight hub bodies and bearings that are made in-house. The rear hub features a RingDrive system with 45 teeth for fast engagement.
Why do pawls break?
How to make your freehub body last forever
Do freehub pawls wear out?
Freehub bearings
Shimano freehubs can be serviced to an extent, but when they’re worn out, you’ll officially need a whole new freehub as they’re not designed to be disassembled, even if it is technically possible.
How often should you service your freehub?
Overhaul the hub every 1500 miles or so to keep the greases and oils inside fresh.
How do I know if my bike hub is worn?
Hub bearings in good condition will feel smooth when you turn the axle because the grease inside is coating the bearings preventing metal-on-metal contact. Worn out or dry bearings will feel rough, metallic and dry.
Are Shimano hubs durable?
Shimano hubs are very reliable and very good as the other posters have pointed out. But they do require extra maintenance for the bearings and grease (and all but the inner cones are replaceable).
How often should I repack my hubs?
A standard like “change your oil every 3000 miles” doesn’t exist as far as I know, although here is a suggested one. I ride about 3,000-4,000 miles a year and my rule of thumb is to do the hubs every 300 – 500 miles or so, and the bottom bracket twice a year. Works out to a hub overhaul about every other month.
Why are Shimano hubs so quiet?
Shimano hubs have the ratchet in the freehub body which has a degree of isolation from the wheel so are quieter. They do quiten down over time though thats probably due to the pawl springs lossing some of their zing.