Bicycle Mechanics - Deore LX Rear Hub Overhaul Question

Howdy Folks,

Tightening my loose hub (deore lx paralax)today, I decided to go nuts and repack it with new grease and bearings. When I took the axle out, to my dismay, I found it to be stripped. Or is it? All of the stripped area is nowhere near anywhere the cones would be or have been. Does the axle come pre-stripped in the middle to save weight? Seems ridiculous, but I cant think of how else this would have happened.

Also, there's this little lip covering the bearings on the freehub side. Is this removable? I took a flathead to it, but it didn't come off easily, and I don't want to screw it up. Can I get this thing off?

Thanks for any advice
-Drew

i think im crazy

thereS TWO!!!!

The 'stripped' portion is in your case I believe a trimmed part since threading there would serve little if any purpose.
The 'lip' is indeed a removeable part. You can do a fine job at repacking without taking it out, though it is better if you can. With one little catch. It is easy to warp the part if it isnt removed propperly. Usually the method that works is to find a screwdriver or a dowel than matches the hole diameter then inserting it and rocking back and forth lightly. It should pop out. Make note of which way it goes(its remarkable how one can forget). Repacking is much easier that way. Put it back on with a soft block(wood or the like) and a light hammer.
Hope that helps.

The unthreaded area in the middle of the axle is normal.

I'd leave the little lip on the freehub body alone. It's real easy to bent up stuff like that and then you can turn a simple 10 minute job into something else. I use a rag and a pencil or something to carefully clean out all of the old grease, dry it off, then repack the bearings with new grease.

I bent one of those lips trying to remove it; leave it be. Use a bit of cotton wool on a stick and solvent to clean around the inside.

When you leave it in, the nice way is to use a junky tire lever to move the rag.