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OK, so i found the source of my mysteriously "gone quiet" rear hope hub mystery....the free hub body has cracked completely and split lengthwise in two places.....guess that would do it. So the next mission is getting the conversion caps for 10mm bolt thru off with no vice to hand (so I can send the freehub to the nice people at Hope). Pliers and a lot of careful straight pull tugging/swearing post WD40 ain't working. Is the vice method any more likely to produce results? Any other magic tips out there from fellow conversion/normal cap users ?? Any advice would be very much appreciated...
Have you got a set of Molgrips?
They'll do it with some brute force and swearing. A vice is the best solution though.
vice helps because you can get more leverage on it.. any kind of mole grip (preferably something right angled) plus a wrap to prevent damage plus a wiggling action should get it off. i can't do it pulling straight out either, must wiggle. pliers are probably a bit small.
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like this, but smaller.
obviously, you've removed the cassette already..
Thanks guys...yes cassette removed :D. Looks like some thin nosed molegrips to be sourced tomorrow (pretty tight space between freehub body inner and cap).
Put cassette back on, use it as a handle to pull the freehub off with the endcap still attached. (easier with an XT-type cassette that comes to bits)
If you've got a tyre on, you can rest it flat with the tyre on blocks of wood, then stand on the tyre, then grab the cassette and lift with your legs- can put a ridiculous amount of force on that way.
Northwind.....legend....that worked a treat. Cheers!
Yep, also pulled cassette off at the same time with no I'll effects. Just rember to seat that hub rubber ring thingy back in correctly.
good call Northwind.. guess which of us has chewed end caps? 😐
I also have chewed endcaps 😉
A little bit of rubber grease on the orings of the end caps makes a massive difference, otherwise they get very attached.