Originally Posted by Retro Grouch
That ain't it. I just think that some guys have wasted too much time reading books and going to school that would have been better spent riding their bikes.
With all due respect, you are wrong my friend. The loose balls "fall over the top" when the axle is turned thus leading to the click noise. This noise is fairly faint but is clearly audible if you tune your hearing for it.
I've spent quite a bit of time working on a particularly noisy Dura Ace 7700 rear hub. Fresh marine grease quiets that bad boy right down...for a while. I also have a brand new in the box 7700 rear hub that will make the same noise when turning the axle by hand.
No hemp smoking going on here. Maybe you are the one...