Originally Posted by
elTwitcho
I don't completely understand how a splined interface wouldn't eventually develop play, nor why it's even necessary given that there isn't any deficiency with a typical threaded cog design. Anyone who knows better care to enlighten me?
I think a lockring holding the cog down prevents it from being able to make those microscopic back-and-forth movements that will lead to wear and play. It's the same on cassettes, I suppose. I've seen freehub bodies that are worn and notched so deeply, but when the cassette is on there and the lockring is keeping everything pressed together, no play.
That said I suspect that despite this, my miche cog/carrier system has a wee bit of play, but I'm not sure that it's that and not carrier slipping from regular and repeated and sometimes hurried and perhaps careless gear changes and lockring removals and re-installs.