You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Hi,
My son has just bought a pair of DT Swiss M1700 wheels, fitted with a SRAM XD freehub.
He'll be using them on his Hardtail, swapping between gears and SS.
He's got a SS kit already, and a Shimano XT 10sp set, both of which are HG freehub fitting.
So, are there any 10sp cassettes that fit an XD driver? And are there any SS kits that fit an XD driver?
Or, are we better swapping the XD freehub for a HG freehub?
Thanks.
Probably better and cheaper to switch the freehub. XD SS kits exist, but are spendy. Not sure about 10spd XD cassette availability, but they’d be third tier brand stuff if available.
Wheels Manufacturing do a XD Singlespeed kit https://wheelsmfg.com/single-speed/solo-xd/xd-hub-single-speed-conversion-kit-solo-xd.html
Personally I'd swap the freehub given the kit you already have.
You'll probably find someone selling an HG freehub having swapped it to a XD or microspline.
10 Spd XD cassettes don't exist as 11spd was already in use and they'd be more expensive to make than HG cassettes. DT swiss freehubs are easy enough to change and aren't that expensive.
DT HG free hub can be had for around £30 second hand in good condition. They are pull off push on. An XD SS kit was double that when I looked and I'm fairly sure the posters above are correct about there being no 10sp XD cassettes.
Gusset do a XD singlespeed kit for £35 if you want a cheaper one.
Gusset do a XD singlespeed kit for £35 if you want a cheaper one.
Don't buy the Gusset one.
The sprocket carrier threads onto the threads on the freehub (a bit like an SS freehub or fixed sprocket threaded onto a threaded hub), so is tightened by pedaling. But you will never get it off again. For a couple of years I got it on and off every so often to run gears, then one day it just stuck and I bent 2 chain whips, bent one back into shape and fully ripped the chain apart on one trying to free it with the freehub held in a vice.
Yes I used copper grease.
The more expensive Problem Solvers one (I think) locates on the XD driver like a freehub and the lockring threads on as normal.
Those wheels are now effectively SS only forevermore, thankfully the 6-bolt sprockets make them easy to replace.
I just bought a HG freehub for my DT wheels. As others have pointed out, there's lots of HG hubs being sold.
“The sprocket carrier threads onto the threads on the freehub (a bit like an SS freehub or fixed sprocket threaded onto a threaded hub), so is tightened by pedaling. But you will never get it off again.”
We managed to get it off my old wheels with a vice and some other big leverage thing, in one of my LBS. It was a proper fight! It’s been on my DT Swiss wheels for quite a while now, hopefully not forever…
TINAS - thanks for that info. I was going to buy that kit myself to do a short period singlespeed conversion. Maybe that would be fine for a bit with loads of copper slip? Or too risky? Its a good set of wheels that I want to be mostly for geared riding.
Don't know, it came off easily enough the first coupe of times I did it, then the next time it was just stuck on. I suspect it had probably been fine just riding around locally at my usually chilled pace, then climbing at Afan tightened it the last bit.
It's not something I'd recommend unless it's a permeant conversion.
We managed to get it off my old wheels with a vice and some other big leverage thing, in one of my LBS. It was a proper fight! It’s been on my DT Swiss wheels for quite a while now, hopefully not forever…
My next plan was going to be to take something like an old BB spanner, drill 6-bolt holes into it, and smack it with a hammer. I even tried the pneumatic hammer against the sprocket teeth but it wasn't enough.
Alternatively, the nuclear option is to angle grind it until it loosens, cutting a slot and the heat from doing it might be enough to free it!
Best short term/long term solution is an HG freehub body. I got one for 20 in my lbs inc an end cap. If you get the end cap as well, you can have a SS freehub and a cassette freehub that you can change over in seconds (once you've got the wheel out).
The other thing to note is that the chainline isn’t automatically correct with the Gusset adaptor on a boost hub with a boost chainset. It’s taken me three years and two chain loss and one chain snap moment to realise this because I am a total singlespeed noob. One side of the sprocket is completely worn away, the other side is fine!
I’ve bodged it out with some washers and longer bolts and ordered some disc spacers to do it more neatly once I’ve got a fresh sprocket and chain on.
Just make sure you know what freehub type they have. Theres ratchet, ratchet Ln and ratchet EXP which all have differences and aren't interchangeable, so if you get a replacement freehub you need to get the same type.
As above, DT Swiss freehubs are a bit of a minefield. Not only are there a variety of types but a given hub model may have different freehubs depending on when it was manufactured (the 370 hubs on my G1800s are 3 pawl but current models are RatchetLN).
If you can work out what you need, have a look on Merlin are they have some ridiculously good bargains at the moment.
https://www.merlincycles.com/search?w=dt+swiss+freehub
I've got a pair of M1900s from the CRC bikepocalypse sale that are Ratchet LN ones, and can confirm swapping the freehub is a few seconds' worth of work. The HG hubs are easy to find (esp. on that Merlin link above - nice one!) and will take standard 10s cassettes and sprockets, both of which are cheap and plentiful. Another benefit is that (and this may be down to DT putting a reasonable amount of grease in them) the freewheel sound is nice and quiet, which is lovely on a singlespeed.
The other thing to note is that the chainline isn’t automatically correct with the Gusset adaptor on a boost hub with a boost chainset. It’s taken me three years and two chain loss and one chain snap moment to realise this because I am a total singlespeed noob. One side of the sprocket is completely worn away, the other side is fine!
I’ve bodged it out with some washers and longer bolts and ordered some disc spacers to do it more neatly once I’ve got a fresh sprocket and chain on.
Hmmm, mine seems fine, are you running the incorrect offset of chainring? From memory mine has the sprocket in the inboard position with the spacer on the outside (boost frame and crank).
Not that it really matters, correcting it with a disc spacer is probably cheaper than a new chainring.
"Hmmm, mine seems fine, are you running the incorrect offset of chainring? From memory mine has the sprocket in the inboard position with the spacer on the outside (boost frame and crank)."
I got the cranks before I decided to singlespeed it and they're 55mm chainline which Shimano say is boost, but they also say 52mm is boost. It's very confusing! I had the spacer on the Gusset thing in the wrong place before but even with it in the right place it's too far inboard. I don't even know if I can change the offset with a different chainring!
I wanted 165mm cranks with a 24mm axle because Hope BBs last so long like that and my bad ankle/knee can't deal with longer cranks - there wasn't much choice as a reasonable price (and I can't get my head around paying a lot for cranks because basic Shimano ones work so well!)
As above, DT Swiss freehubs are a bit of a minefield. Not only are there a variety of types but a given hub model may have different freehubs depending on when it was manufactured (the 370 hubs on my G1800s are 3 pawl but current models are RatchetLN).
If you can work out what you need, have a look on Merlin are they have some ridiculously good bargains at the moment.
Cheers. Looks like most of the ones on Merlin are out of stock.
So, the wheels have arrived - have included photo of the hub and code numbers printed behind the disc mount. Any idea what freehub I need (HG)
It doesn't mean anything to me but Madison are a DT Swiss Service Centre & have always got back to me when I've had questions. I'm pretty sure that they'd be able to help.
DTSwissService@Madison.co.uk
Does it say anything on the freehub body? usually says Ratchet , Ratchet EXP or Ratchet LN on it.
Shimano MTB version of this https://www.freewheel.co.uk/dt-swiss-ratchet-freehub-conversion-kit-with-steel-bearings-varconkitratch