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Hey folks, looking for some help as I'm stuck fixing my hubs.
Rear hub developed some play and rumble so clearly an issue with the bearings. LBS is a dealer and took a quick look and confirmed, but a 6 week wait for service slot. I generally like to fix things myself and generally handy with maintenance so decided to do this one myself. Cassette and disc off, and only one of the end/dust caps came off (non drive side). Was able to pop the axle through from the non-drive side, and ended up with the axle/cap/sealed bearing all still connected.
As it stands I've got the replacement bearings waiting to be installed, but I just cannot get the old bearings/cap off the axle no matter what I try! The bearings can't be pushed the other way because there appears to be a lip, and can't go off the short end because the end cap blocks it. I clearly need to get this cap off somehow but stumped. No easy way to direct wd40 or similar at any opening...
Any ideas?
Bike/Hub details: Orbea Laufey with Orbea brand hubs (which are Modus CLK252R-X12 according to them, and schematics obviously not available).
Refit the axle to the hub, clamp the end cap in a vice, just enough to grip it without damaging it and then pull the wheel up
This how you remove end caps on DT Swiss wheels
Can't see from the pic, are there flats on the end-cap suggesting it's threaded, and possibly a left hand thread, or is it pressed on?
There are flats on the end caps at both ends.
Opposite end is threaded and was normal direction, and admittedly I simply assume that would mean both sides are the same - can't imagine it would be pop-off on just one side.
Ok, so threaded then, is there a hex inside the axle that you can fit a key into?
Didn't see the flats on the end cap in the pic
As said the axle should take an allen key in the end then you can hold it still whilst undoing the end cap with a spanner
Smooth and circular all the way through unfortunately, nowhere to use a hex key anywhere. I've tried it in a vice with softjaws too, but no budging it. I was wondering whether it was maybe _not_ an endcap and a single peice, but I can see the seam on the inside of the axle.
You'll possibly need a shaft-clamp to hold it tight enough without causing damage (possibly make one from scrap?).Have you tried turning both ways, drive-side caps are sometimes left-hand threads.
I've tried both directions with whatever leverage I can muster through my arms but no movement, it must be fairly seized. I'll have to look at something to clamp it better but don't really have anything to DIY it
I'm not recommending it as such, but certain mechanics have been known to file small flats on the shoulder the bearing seats on, and clamp that in the vice.
I have worked on a few hubs recently that had threaded endcaps and no tooling on the axle. Had to clamp the axle in shaft clamps in the vice.
Stupid design.
Cheaper to manufacture, and nobody gives a sh*t once it leaves the factory.
Thanks all, I'm amazed at how much assistance has been offered in such a short time span on a Saturday avo. As much as anything its nice to see I'm not just being an idiot here... Now to figure out how to clamp this thing, not sure I'm quite ready to file it down!
@bigyan - sorry, could you share a picture of the kind of shaft clamp that has worked for you?
Try googling shaft clamp in whatever diameter your axle is (probably 17mm), there are plenty of split clamps that can be filed to fit in a vice for sensible money, rather than having bike-tax added on.
@bigyan – sorry, could you share a picture of the kind of shaft clamp that has worked for you?
I do suspension service so have lots of shaft clamps and old clamps. If it was a one off at home I would consider drilling or using a hole cutter in a bit of wood and cutting it in half (it will depend how tight it is, you dont want to deform the axle)
Bike clamps tend to be expensive.
Coming back to this: mission succeeded! I used the tools at my disposal, wrapped the axle in rubber from an old inner tube, wrapped it with jubilee clips and chucked it in my vice. This gave me plenty of rotational grip and leverage and the cap came off with a bit of elbow grease.
Fwiw, the cap was not reverse thread.
good bodge!
And now reassembly order is killing me... I took notes and laid things out in order, but the reassembly order doesn't result in an axle that spins nicely, seems that shoulder on the axle is sitting on hub internals rather than the bearings. Great learning experience going on 😬