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Bit of a longshot this, but there are loads of novatecs knocking about so maybe someone can help - I have a 772 novatec rear hub on my CX bike that has a drive problem - seems like it's really sensitive to how tight the axle is, like it was a cup and cone setup. So if I have the bike in the stand the back wheel will spin forward by hand no problem [pawls are fine]. But turning the pedals forward (or back) to drive the hub and it's really stiff and difficult, and that's just with the axle finger-tight.
Seems like it could be a seal which is not on right and dragging horrendously, but taking it apart everything seems in order. Has anyone encountered this behaviour before? I have a couple of other novatecs and just bang the axles on no problem, so baffled as to what it could be.
Defo the wheel and not the BB??
Yeah the BB is tip top.
In a nutshell the problem is the freehub binding to the axle.
Is the axle straight?
is the freehub fubard?
you can spin the wheel by hand no problem, but its binding when you pedal it, regardless of direction, correct? Freehub. Could be crap in the freehub, bent axle, relocated seal inside the freehub that you cannot see.
So, It must be something that when under load is being pulled off centre. Bent axle is a good shout.
Maybe another strip and rebuild to check freehub and seals
EDIT - You've not missed the cassette spacer out when rebuilding have you??
Thks, you're prob right. Axle looks OK but I guess it wouldn't take much to have it out of alignment - I'll get a new one to see if that sorts it.
Not quite understanding the symptoms. Are you saying it freewheels fine, even if you do the axle up tight? But the cassette won't turn easily either way, and gets worse the tighter it is?
My first guess would be spacers missing or in the wrong place. If the spacer between the freehub bearings were missing/too short, tightening the axle would side load the bearing, probably causing it to bind.
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See Mark at Spokesman Wheels he imports and services Novatec hubs.