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I thought I had read somewhere that my frame would take 135 or 142 a wheel so I bought a 142, the wheel does go in the frame but I'm pretty sure now its designed for 135mm.
I have compared the spec sheets for the Zee FH-M640 and the SLX FH-M678 and I'm sure apart from the length the axle is the same so a swap would be easy if i can get a Zee axle ( I'll stick a wanted Ad on)
My other option is to pop into the local engineering place and take 3.5mm off each end of the 142.
Has anyone got a 12mm Zee 135mm axle that they can maybe measure for me and even better if anyone has a knackered hub or axle for sale that would be great.
Has anyone done the other option of taking 3.5mm of the 142...
thanks
What frame? Does it have pockets in the frame for the wheel axle to fit in? The spacing for 142x12 and 135x12 is the same. The difference is that 142 has 3.5mm pockets in the frame that the axle drops into. 135x12 does not and you have to line up the axle and hub when you fit. If the frame supported both this would be done by swapping dropouts that did or didn't have the pocket.
Are you sure you didn't read that the frame will take 142x12 or 135 QR? Again this would be a dropout change but is a more normal combination.
What wheel did you have before?
Thanks , Its a 2010 Kona King Kahuna but theres not much info out there but im sure i read something about being both, thinking about it 2010 might be a bit early for 142 ?.
Previous wheels were Easton Ea70 Xc and were only replaced due to needing a discontinued freehub, nowt simple is there 🙂
The new wheels are 12mm and the old were QR but i have an adapter to take the 12mm to QR.
That model and year was qr from quick googling, which if correct would mean you need a new rear hub as shimano are not really adjustable that way due to threaded axles instead of swappable end caps and hollow axles.
yeah knew it was quick release but thought in my head I'd read about 142 being ok and i knew i could get an adapter to bring the 12mm down to qr so went ahead, looking at the spec sheets and the pictures on SJS Cycles the axles on the Zee and SLX look the same and have the same flange angles etc but I'm not paying 40 quid to try, think i'll just try the engineers on Monday and take 3.5mm off endcaps
That's not going to work if the frame is qr imo.
The wheel goes in now and seems to work ok its just pushing frame out a tad so take the metal bits off the endcaps which just so happen to be 3.5mm and hopefully will slot in a tad easier, what makes you doubtful ?
I could be wrong (been a long since having shimano hubs) but I don't think the shimano 12x142 is adjustable down to 135qr. The problem will be the internal diameter of your axle unless you know of any axles or push fit end caps that will reduce your hub down to the diameter of a qr axle
Have you got any pics of the end caps on your hub?
Thats with the 12mm to Qr adapter in which fits lovely , as you can see the end caps have a touch of silver metal on them and this is 3.5mm and after reading somewhere this was the difference between the two axle lengths
Ah.. Didnt even know you could get those end cap adapters for shimano... I would presume(maybe wrongly) that it'd be better to cut the 3.5mm from the inside edge of the adapter which would leave the end bit to sit properly into the dropout. Is that something that could be done?
Woukd this be easier to do
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07KYGDR23/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_EMJKTKBPD42Q91T6XBMW?psc=1
the adaptor i bought ( its a full axle insert ) was for the 142mm they have one for the 135 so i'll just buy that if the cut down works ( was only 8 quid for adapter).
I cant see why it won't work tbh.. As long as you leave the "nipple" bit on the end to locate into the dropouts to keep the wheel square.
Good luck
Thanks , yeah I'll give it a go before i order the 135mm one, was hoping someone had a knackered zee hub so i could try the axle thing first but looks like I'm going for the lathe option 🙂
Just an update, 20 quid later and a trip to the engineers and I have a 135mm axle instead of 142mm, they also trimmed down the adapter and it sits in the frame perfectly...So if you get offered a 142mm wheel and your frame is 135mm all is not lost...
Good to hear, nice one👍