Bicycle Mechanics - is it possible to remove this freehub?

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plain.jane
07-16-07, 06:37 PM
is it possible to remove the free hub from a 6 speed shimano xt FH-M730 rear hub? if so, could i replace it with a 8/9 speed hyperglide?
thanks-

vpiuva
07-16-07, 07:17 PM
Don't know that model but if it's an old Uniglide then you should be able to. If you remove your axle you should be able to unscrew the freehub fixing bolt with a 10mm allen wrench. If that's the case you're good to go. Refer to:http://sheldonbrown.com/k7.html#transplant
Gonzo Bob
07-16-07, 08:27 PM
Yes and yes. If you replace it with 8/9-speed, you will have to redish the wheel (or live with it being off-center by ~2.5mm). You could also replace with 7-speed HG freehub and not have to redish. Either way, you may also need a new drive side axle cone that matches the new freehub.

plain.jane
07-17-07, 07:50 AM
thanks- i also sent an email to the seller of this hub and he replied with a no. now im just really confused. it seems to me that as you said gb, i could remove this particular freehub. i have heard that there were a few models out there that did not allow removal of the freehub. are you sure gonzo bob that this particular model will allow me to do this?
thanks
Gonzo Bob
07-17-07, 10:15 AM
Yes. If you look at the link posted by vpiuva, virtually all Shimano freehubs are interchangeable and the FH-M730 is not one of the exceptions. The only issue is if the seller has done something to the hub to make it not possible (like weld the freehub to the hub body to make his bike a fixed gear).
HillRider
07-17-07, 10:27 AM
There were very early first-generation 6-speed freehubs that held the freehub body to the hub shell with splines and just the axle and cones to retain it. They did not use the current hollow bolt. However, I don't know the model number(s).

I came across one of these on a '83 Trek I bought used. The previous owner had upgraded the original freewheel hub to one of these early freehubs and I discovered it when I went to overhaul the bike.
DMF
07-17-07, 11:09 AM
FH-M730 is from '87-88 Deore XT group. No documents available online for anything that old.

Is there a reason you're buying a 20 year old hub/wheel?
plain.jane
07-18-07, 08:02 PM
yeah, i cant afford a brand new xt hub set, and the old one are so much more attractive. i cant seem to get anyone at my lbs to buy into the fact that this is possible....think i might move my search to an older hub with 135 mm spacing. with all of the parts i would have to replace id be back to spending a bunch of bucks