Touring - Fuji Touring / Windsor Tourist Technical Advisory

I was looking for some informaiton about my new Fuji Touring bike and happened upon this on the Fuji Website:
http://www.fujibikes.com/News-Reviews/News/2009/May/Technical-Advisory--Fuji-Touring-Bike.aspx

'News & Reviews
Technical Advisory: Fuji Touring Bike

During a routine quality control check, Advanced Sports Inc.'s Product Services Department found that the original equipment (O.E.) wheels on 2008 & 2009 Fuji Touring bikes have aluminum dust covers that can loosen during riding. The dust cover could potentially become wedged between the hub and fork, causing undue resistance to the rotation of the wheel.

Models Affected:
2008 Fuji Touring
2009 Fuji Touring

Remedy:
If you have a 2008 or 2009 Fuji Touring, please contact your local authorized Fuji dealer for appropriate remedy.

Posted: 5/4/2009 3:57:27 PM by Fuji Administrator'


I wish they said what the remedy would be, but I will be calling Performance Bike later today and will post what they say the fix is. Replace the dust covers? Replace the wheels?

Don't know if Bikes Direct/Windsor has also issued an advisory, but seeing as how they are the same bike, one would hope that they would.

Thanks for the heads up

This probably applies to other bikes that use the Joy Tech hubs as well.

Thanks for the info! My gf owns a 2008 Fuji Touring. Does anybody know what those "aluminum dust covers" are or what they look like? I suppose my imagination is too limited to see where you would have a dust cover on wheels and why you would make it out of aluminum...

Thanks for the info! My gf owns a 2008 Fuji Touring. Does anybody know what those "aluminum dust covers" are or what they look like? I suppose my imagination is too limited to see where you would have a dust cover on wheels and why you would make it out of aluminum...


I believe they are on the axle inside the mount flange right up against the sealed bearing. Apologies if these are not the correct term. I have an MTB and the dust covers on mine are plastic. They serve to take the curse off the grit and road grime from getting to the outside of the bearing assembly, me thinks.

I believe they are on the axle inside the mount flange right up against the sealed bearing. Apologies if these are not the correct term. I have an MTB and the dust covers on mine are plastic. They serve to take the curse off the grit and road grime from getting to the outside of the bearing assembly, me thinks.
I see. That would make sense. I'll have a look once I get home. Thanks!

I have a call in to Performance Bike and I am waiting for a call back with information about what the solution is.

I discovered this problem on my 2008 Windsor Tourist while overhauling the hubs last winter. (At least I assume this is the same problem) I think the problem is the dust cap becoming tightened, not loosened. Hopefully, these pictures will explain what I am talking about.

Here is a picture of the dust cap on the hub:

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj64/m_yates/1242147615.jpg

here is a picture of the cap off the hub:

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj64/m_yates/1242147616.jpg

My dust cap has been modified to fix the problem. Notice the silver piece in the center of the hub in the upper image? The dust cap rotates around that silver piece while riding. As shipped, the hub dust cap has an aluminum lip that binds the end of the hub cone and causes drag on the rotating axle. The binding only happens if the dust cap is fully tightened down. My bike was shipped to me with the dust cap loose so it didn't bind. I used a round file on my dust caps to remove that metal lip. Now the inner diameter of my dust cap at the smallest point is larger than the outer diameter of the rotating axle (as it should have been in the first place!!!!). My modified dust caps can now be fully tightened down without binding the axle.

I think it is possible for the rotating axle to cause the dust cap to self-tighten if it is dragging on it. The result could be the front wheel locking up and a bad crash. Luckily that never happened to me. When I discovered this problem, I had shivers thinking of my 40 mph downhill runs on one of my commuting routes. It could have been very bad.

I encourage anyone who owns one of these bikes to take a look at the dust cap and file it down as I did, or take it back to the dealer. It could be dangerous. The design is very poor in my opinion.

so does this mean I get a new bike?>

so does this mean I get a new bike?>

That would be nice. Maybe new wheels. :rolleyes:

That would be nice. Maybe new wheels. :rolleyes:

Probably more like new dust caps. :)

I just talked to Fuji Bikes USA and they said that the fix was simple - just add plain blue loctite to the dustcaps so that they no longer unscrew themselves.

I've actually experienced the same problem they describe on the Fuji website, which deformed my front right dustcap. I've had to file off part of the dustcap to make the opening bigger so that it fits again. I'll add some blue loctite so that it doesn't unscrew itself again.

Fuji also said that some wheels actually self-destructed and had to be replaced, and that for new wheels they'll be using a different hub entirely.

I just talked to Fuji Bikes USA and they said that the fix was simple - just add plain blue loctite to the dustcaps so that they no longer unscrew themselves.

I've actually experienced the same problem they describe on the Fuji website, which deformed my front right dustcap. I've had to file off part of the dustcap to make the opening bigger so that it fits again. I'll add some blue loctite so that it doesn't unscrew itself again.

Fuji also said that some wheels actually self-destructed and had to be replaced, and that for new wheels they'll be using a different hub entirely.

Both wheels? Just unscrew the dustcups, apply locktite and screw them back? Or...
Would you have a phone no. for the Fuji USA?
Thank you