Freehub swap-Grease Seal/Cone Question
11-17-11, 11:43 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Freehub swap-Grease Seal/Cone Question
I have an old set of wheels with RSX hubs. Converting to an 8 speed freehub body from a Tiagra hub. The RSX has the metal press in bearing cover on the non drive side. The Tiagra has the seal plus a cover attached to the cone.
Can I pull the metal seal and replace it with the Tiagra cone/seal? I can find Tiagra diagrams, but not RSX.
Can I pull the metal seal and replace it with the Tiagra cone/seal? I can find Tiagra diagrams, but not RSX.
11-17-11, 03:45 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 33,656
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2026 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,096 Times
in
742 Posts
You can if the RSX hub will accept the seal from the Tiagra hub. The only way to find out is to try it.
11-17-11, 06:35 PM
#3
Senior Member
Thread Starter
11-17-11, 08:40 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 33,656
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2026 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,096 Times
in
742 Posts
You can pry the RSX dust cap off if you work around the inside of the axle hole carefully with a wide blade screwdriver. I've been able to remove them with minimal to no damage that way. If you do bend them a bit, a few taps with a hammer against a flat hard surface will reshape them.
11-17-11, 09:25 PM
#5
Constant tinkerer
I've never successfully removed a dustcap from a Shimano Freehub body without totally destroying it, especially the plastic ones. Now I just leave them alone. Maybe you'll have better luck than clumsy and impatient me.
11-18-11, 08:41 AM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 33,656
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
Mentioned: 39 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2026 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,096 Times
in
742 Posts
Hmmm, I'm surprised. I've been able to remove and reinstall both the plastic and thin metal ones with no real problems. The trick is to work around the inside edges a little at a time to pry them out intact. It's sort of like removing headset cups using a punch and hammer rather than the proper rocket tool.
11-18-11, 09:24 AM
#7
Banned.
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 937
Bikes: CCM Torino 76
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Hmmm, I'm surprised. I've been able to remove and reinstall both the plastic and thin metal ones with no real problems. The trick is to work around the inside edges a little at a time to pry them out intact. It's sort of like removing headset cups using a punch and hammer rather than the proper rocket tool.
11-18-11, 11:35 AM
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Well, the Tiagra don't fit, so its back to the original seals and change the cones out on the RSX to the longer Tiagra axle.
11-19-11, 05:33 AM
#9
Senior Member
Somewhere Sheldon Brown said it's usually easier to take everything from the donor hub and transplant it. Your dilemma sounds like the reverse case. Good luck
11-20-11, 05:53 PM
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 3,670
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 836 Post(s)
Liked 1,061 Times
in
745 Posts
You can also get these nicely made alu re-usable dustcaps from here. https://morningstartools.com/freehub_buddy_dust.html The pictures don't do the machining quality justice.
11-20-11, 05:59 PM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 6,956
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 6 Times
in
5 Posts
As for removal, yeah, the metal shield on the freehub body is quite maleable. Sometimes they can be spun out... gently grab the inner flange with the tip of a needle-nose plier and attempt to rotate it counter-clockwise. It may begin following the lockring threads.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Doctor Morbius
Bicycle Mechanics
6
10-18-18 06:43 PM
Barchettaman
Bicycle Mechanics
3
03-14-11 03:12 PM
