Bicycle Mechanics - internal geared hub mechanics

Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.



PDA

View Full Version : internal geared hub mechanics

DanO220
05-07-04, 06:23 PM
Anyone know of a mechanic in southern California who is willing and able to overhaul an internally geared hub? I've been riding a Sram Spectro S7 for a year now and it seems like the bearings are getting a bit loose. I tightened it up a bit by tightening the locknuts on the outside, but it loosens up again. I downloaded instructions for disassembly and rebuilding form the Sram web site, but it calls for a few special tools and I'm getting cold feet. I think I'd better seek professional help but most shops would rather see you walk in wearing a postal uniform and waving a gun. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Thanks. DanO.

Retro Grouch
05-08-04, 07:10 AM
Anyone know of a mechanic in southern California who is willing and able to overhaul an internally geared hub? I've been riding a Sram Spectro S7 for a year now and it seems like the bearings are getting a bit loose. I tightened it up a bit by tightening the locknuts on the outside, but it loosens up again. I downloaded instructions for disassembly and rebuilding form the Sram web site, but it calls for a few special tools and I'm getting cold feet. I think I'd better seek professional help but most shops would rather see you walk in wearing a postal uniform and waving a gun. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

Thanks. DanO.

I don't have very much internal hub experience and I have none at all on the hub you are talking about, but I do have this experience:

Whenever I've had any hub whose bearings wouldn't stay in adjustment, it has been because the axle threads right at the "sweet spot" were worn. A new axle is the cure. That's major surgery. As I see it, you have two choices: Continue to struggle with it the way that it is or tear into it with the understanding that, in the worst case, you may have to buy yourself a whole new rear hub/wheel. If it was my bike, I'd do the second. If I fubared it I'd just consider the cost of a new wheel as part of my tuition in the school of bicycle mechanics. You'll never get any smarter just by looking at that hub from the outside.