Mark Fear

1) I have a 9-speed Ultegra rear hub, on which I recently mounted a brand new 9-speed 12-25T cassette. Behind the lock ring there is a foil ring which could be just to protect the lock ring in transit, as it looks like the 'teeth' on the back of the lock ring are supposed to lock with the teeth on the 12T sprocket. Am I supposed to remove this foil disc prior to installation?

2) The freehub was seized when I bought the wheels (2nd hand) but a good soak in citrus degreaser sorted it out. However, now it doesn't seem to be very smooth - I can't hear the characteristic 'ticking' sound as it freewheels, just a loud scraping sound coming from within. Is this because I have removed all the grease from the internals? If so, what sort of grease should I put in to replace it, how much of it should I use, and what's the best way of getting it in?!

3) There is a little 'play' in the freehub when it is mounted on the wheel, the 10mm allen bolt is really tight and the centre of the freehub doesn't move in relation to the wheel hub when it is installed, it is the outer 'shell' of the freehub that is moving. It's only moving slightly, but I can see the cassette moving a little when I pedal. Does something need tightening, and if so what?

Thanks in advance

Mark

HillRider

1. Leave the "foil" in place. It will still allow the lockring and small cog's teeth to interlock.

2. It sounds like you completely stripped all of the lube from the freehub body and/or drove some grit inside. Remove the freehub body from the hub. On the back side of the body you will see a rubber seal ring. Remove this ring and drip a lot of Tri-Flow, Phil Tenaceous Oil or similar light oil into the now-exposed bearings. Rotate the freehub while you add the oil to get it well distributed and replace the rubber seal. If the body is now quiet and smooth, you should be good. If it's still rough and grinding, replace it.

3. It also sounds like the freehub bearings are badly worn. The previous owner must have really abused it and it may be unsalvagable. If the above lubing doesn't correct the noise and play, buy a replacement freehub body. They aren't that expensive.

Mark Fear

Hey thanks. I just gave the freehub another soak in degreaser and white spirit for good measure, and then pumped loads of 3-in-1 oil inside. It's still sounding pretty rough and I've also noticed a 'knocking' sound coming from the rear wheel, which I guess would suggest shot bearings.

Thanks for the help, I think I'll just cut my losses and get a new freehub - as you say I think the previous owner really abused it and never cleaned it!

Al1943

1) Leave the foil washer on the lockring, but it's not essential.

Don't have a good answer for 2 or 3 and don't like the sound of either. There should be no play between the cassette and the freehub and I don't think there should be any significant play in the freehub. I suggest that you compare yours with other similar hubs. Be sure you have enough torque on the lockring. Have you lubricated the hub?

Edit, HillRider must have been posting while I was still typing. I don't think 3-in-1 is the right lube.

Al

simplify

Al is correct, 3-in-1 is bad bad bad in bicycle applications. It is a vegetable oil, meaning that it dries by oxidation and forms a gooey, tar-like mess which is nearly impossible to remove, and really gums up the works that you're trying to lubricate. I would advise flushing that out of there pronto, and using a good bicycle lube like Phil's Tenacious (use sparingly, it can be thick) or just good old Tri-Flow. You don't need heavy oil in there, since the moving parts of a freehub are never moving under load, only when unweighted. So you just want light lubrication that won't interfere with the engagement or movement of the pawls. 3-in-1 is a death sentence. Flush it out.

Mark Fear

Thanks for all the advice guys, but I decided to cut my losses and tonight ordered a new freehub - no point compromising a top-notch pair of wheels with a screwed freehub. The sound it was making was really bad, and worn bearings would seem to explain the 'play' I was talking about, as it is definitely the freehub outer moving on the inner (I must have been imagining the cassette moving on the freehub!). I guessed 3-in-1 wasn't a good idea, but it was worth a shot to see if it worked I suppose.

The guy I bought the wheels from did say the rear hub 'could do with a service'. Looks like he meant 'the rear freehub is mashed and wants replacing'.

simplify

That sounds about right!