Bicycle Mechanics - posible bad hub. need help

I have a trailo ride planned over the holiday that I really don't want to miss. I think I may have a bad hub. When under heavy load, it seems like its slipping. kind of like it did when I have a worn chain and cassett. I have replaced my chain, cassett and rear derailuer in the last two weeks. its still doing it. is there any way i can rebuild the hub? or even patch it so it work better and not strand me on the trail?I can't afford a rear wheel right now and I don't konw if I can get a new hub by wednessday. I need help this is a ride we have been looking forward to for weeks. b

I have a trailo ride planned over the holiday that I really don't want to miss. I think I may have a bad hub. When under heavy load, it seems like its slipping. kind of like it did when I have a worn chain and cassett. I have replaced my chain, cassett and rear derailuer in the last two weeks. its still doing it. is there any way i can rebuild the hub? or even patch it so it work better and not strand me on the trail?I can't afford a rear wheel right now and I don't konw if I can get a new hub by wednessday. I need help this is a ride we have been looking forward to for weeks. b


Assuming you have a freehub, you can buy a new freehub. Usually, freehubs are not serviceable, and are repaired by replacement. The freehub contains the ratchet-pawl system that transfers power from the chain to the wheel.

Do you know the brand/model of the hub? Certain brands maybe easier to get than others. I have Bontrager hubs and Bontrager freehubs are only available through Trek/Bontrager LBS, not through mailorder.

MudPie, you're talking about the freehub body, right?

If you're reasonably handy and have tools, I understand that it's a pretty simple matter to replace the freehub body (the part of the hub with splines that you slide the cassette on to). Your LBS may not have one in stock, but they might be able to order one for you. If not, Harris Cyclery has Shimano freehub bodies, I think.

If you have a freewheel, you can replace the freewheel. New ones are generally pretty cheap - I paid about 20 bucks for a new 13-34 seven-speed freewheel. If you don't already have one, you'll need a freewheel remover that matches the freewheel, and a big enough wrench to fit it. The Park Tool chainwhip has a hole in the end of the handle that fits their freewheel removers/lockring tools, so you may be able to convince your LBS mechanics to let you borrow their Park chainwhip for two minutes if you don't have one of your own or a big enough wrench.

MudPie, you're talking about the freehub body, right?

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Correct, freehub body.

Yep. If you have a freehub body that you can get a replacement for. Do it quick, before the holiday. The work is not much harder than a bearing service but you may need a to get a bigger allen wrench than you have already, to remove the freehub depending on the body maker.

... you may need a to get a bigger allen wrench than you have already, to remove the freehub depending on the body maker.

For my Bontrager, the manual said an 11mm hex key (Allen key) is required to remove the freehub body. I looked at all the common places, Sears, automotive stores, industrial hardware suppliers, hardware shops, home improvement, McMaster-Carr....

I found 10mm and 12mm, but no 11mm. Then, recalling 1 inch = 25.4 mm, I discovered that 11mm = .4331 inch. And 7/16 inch = 0.4375.

The 7/16 works fine, and is commonly available.