You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
I've a rear wheel on which I think the hub is failing (oe thing, I'll strip it and see at the weekend) the wheel is in otherwise good nick and the rims are satisfyingly study and wide (and true) being an oe wheel though is got a silly spoke count (28 iirc maybe 24).
As I see it, if the hub is shot I've two choices: replace the wheel in its entirety or replace the hub.
I seem to recall reading something about lacing a 24 hole rim to a 32 hub by skipping every 4th hole but not sure if that is something I want to try even if it's not nonsense.
I can get a suitable pro 4 to fit no problem but, if I do it'll be with silly drilling thus limiting my choice of rims in future, or are there decent enough aftermarket rims in 24/28 hole options these days (lightbicyle?) that is not a concern?
So do I write the whole thing off and replace outright or do I replace the hub? STW what would you do?
DT EX471 are available in 28 hole
28 hole wouldn't worry me too much 24 more of an issue. If you have to replace the hub and spokes now may be the right time to replace the wheel with something more standard. What is the rim that you are so attached to? Best result is you find the hub is repairable.
I suppose you'll need to figure out two things before making a decision..
How many spokes has it got and is the hub serviceable or trashed! 😆
Agreed best result is a repairable hub.
"so" attached is maybe a little unfair. It's a roval fattie 29er rim, mainly I just don't want to spend £70+ on a new rim if I don't need to. Not least as I know what I'm like and if I start down that road it'll end up as a pair of lb carbons on new hubs and a low cost fix will end up being £500 and more [s] dead [/s] unused stuff floating round the garage never being fixed.
The easiest thing is to put a new freehub body on it. The cances are that a good (as in one that knows) LBS will be able to source virtually any freehub body known to man, even OE ones you think are unobtainable.
EDIT.
Just seen its a Specialized wheel. That's a repairable hub. A Spesh dealer should be able to get one easily. I've done it myself.
If you have to replace the hub and spokes now may be the right time to replace the wheel with something more standard. What is the rim that you are so attached to? Best result is you find the hub is repairable.
+1, unless the rim's something really exotic then I'd probably just change that too, otherwise you're going into a never ending circle of replacing niche rims/hubs.
On the other hand, you do often see 28 spoke rims/hubs going for bargain prices for precisely the reason that no one outside of OEM uses them!
roval fattie 29er
Worth repairing, aren't the hubs based on DT Swiss 350s? I'd certainly be looking to fix and optimistic parts are going to be readily available.
Yep, just checked. Rival Fattie 29ers have DT Swiss internals. You're not going to get ANYTHING any better or more easily repairable then those! In fact I'd say the chances are it just needs a quick service rather than much replacing.
If it's DT350 internals a Hope is a downgrade!
aren't the hubs based on DT Swiss 350s?
I think this may be the case but, I've a suspicion that mine are some odd hybrid from betwixt years, "free to change specification without notification" route thing as they don't look the right shape.
Fingers crossed though, it was a distinct degradation mid ride "hmm my rotor rubs every big mashy pedal stroke" to end of ride "hmm now it rubs even when spinning and clunks loudly every rotation."
Two bearings completely collapsed, very much expected the axle to be shot to but all looks good.
By the looks of it sealing is all fine as it wasn't full of water and debris so I think possibly just pants bearings. They were second hand when I got them, I was told with new bearings, and looking at them see no reason to doubt that, certainly everything thing looks new ish, so I can't say I'm filled with optimism about their longevity given the use they haven't had from me.
Just need to find replacement bearings I think which will hopefully be significantly cheaper than a new hub, then reconsider based on the life of the replacements.
Previous owner may have just fitted cheap bearings or not fitted them particularly well.
With hub bearings i would advise going for one of the big brands.
SKF or FAG / INA
Depending on what wheel is to be used for you can use a pick or Stanley blade and carefully remove the seals and pack the bearing with marine grease before re-fitting the seal.
I feel this adds waterproofing and protects the bearings giving them a longer life. It does however add drag to the bearing which you may feel out weighs this benefit.