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I've got ZTTO cassette that has a smaller/thinner spline notch on the big ring. I've also got a SRAM XG cassette where all spline notches are the same. Hubs... I've got an e*13 hub that will take both cassettes i.e. it has a thin spline, also just got a set of superstar wheels that doesn't have a thin spline and therefore can't accommodate the ZTTO cassette - what's the standard, who's at fault? Not that I expect any kind of resolution just hacked off and curious!
There was a recent thread on this, some manufacturers went with a shimano style inner splines om their cassettes, including the narrow spline which isn't XD spec. IIRC, Neil from Superstar said on tbe previous thread that they had made a change to their freehubs to accommodate the out of spec cassettes (recently, so your freehub is an older one). I think blame is with Zitto here.
Got the superstar wheels delivered yesterday!
Ahh - need a friend with a dremmel now! Good to know there's a solution.
It was my thread. The current SRAM XD standard is available online and is very clear. https://www.xddriverbody.com/apply
I got refunds for the casette which was very easy. I eventually got a refund from SSC as well.
Interesting so the SRAM spec uses the HG style splines. So really it's superstar that are wrong?
Not really, read the linked thread for an explanation.
If I was to buy something that claimed to conform to a standard I would expect it to match that standard.
The sram standard didn’t have a small spline - they were all the same. Some manufacturers used the Shimano blank as I understand it as a base - which does have the small spline. Some other manufacturers are amending their freehub bodies to take both options now.
Is there actually any evidence for this? I couldn't find any historical drawings, just the one I linked to above which shows the smaller spline. The revision notes don't appear to make any mention of changing spline width.
The SRAM schematic does have the small spline and although their cassettes have all the same size notches their freehubs do have the thin spline. So... I'm not sure. Either way been at it for half an hour with a file, another half hour and it should be done. It would be much easier with a dremmel but is possible with a rounded file.
Are there many other freehubs out there that don't have the small spline?
Now go and look for a Centrelock hub standard specification...
One standard at a time please 😉
I don't know who has what designs. My concern was compatibility, particularly in the current climate of material shortages. I didn't want to be filing new, expensive components. There is a list of licence holders and you could check if it mattered. I probably would make sure if I was buying wheels now.
My curiosity is largely academic now. A desire to get to the bottom and find the correct answer.
XD is patented, I think I found the original patent in German which makes it even more of a challenge to understand than a normal patent.
Image 16 shows splines and it would seem that one of them is smaller (labelled 17). This would suggest that it has always been this way. However, I will concede that it is a sketch, not an engineering drawing as because of the perspective isn't absolutely clear.
I'm guessing SRAM had the foresight to engineer it that way so that HG alloy spiders could be used, makes sense if they did but when it came to creating their own cassettes didn't want/need to so made them all the same size. Total speculation though. Not sure I care enough to get in touch with SRAM, once it fits I'll be happy and move on but still curious and very fed up of filing... The last 5% is taking as long as the first 95% !
Seriously get a dremel! I borrowed one and it took 5 minutes. Kudos to you for doing it with a file though - I didn't think there was enough room to clear the thread behind.
Done!
Link to pic
Should have invested in a dremmel but I had a file handy and once I'd started... Anyways, can crack on with the build now and put this one to bed. Still be interested to know if it's SRAM spec or not tho, if anyone lands on anything definitive.
Well, it's not exactly definitive but these vids from sram don't even mention the need to align a specific bit. I'm without doubt that there was an original specification which was different from where they've ended up. Why? Because sram do that sort of stuff.
baileyswalk
I’m guessing SRAM had the foresight to engineer it that way so that HG alloy spiders could be used, makes sense if they did but when it came to creating their own cassettes didn’t want/need to so made them all the same size.
Might have been there to start, but when their cassettes all ended up as one-piece designs, having a timing spline was pointless and would have made installation a bit fiddly, so they ditched it
That video clearly shows a narrow spline on the hub.
From my point of view the cassette isn't what I was considering. As far as I'm aware the standard only covers hub design as the expectation [by SRAM] would be that you would use a SRAM cassette. I think the problem arises because aftermarket cassette makers like ZTTO have made a fitting that compliments the technical specification of the freehub, not copied the sram cassette design.
Any hub should match the standard though, both in terms of design (both splines and logos) if they are to meet the terms of the licence.
That video clearly shows a narrow spline on the hub.
Yes, sorry, the delight of viewing on a mobile. But the cassette doesn't (seem to have a) have a timing spline if you pause it.
My point was, if there was meant to be one way that the thing fitted, it would mention it in the video ("you need to align this bit to this bit") - but it doesn't.
I've given up caring now :o)