fauxto nick

Since I got my new bike with the Ksyrium ES wheels I've had a little trouble with them. I first felt that they were incredibly flexible and was disappointed. I'm not running any cottage of wattage here but could easily rub the back wheels to the brakes when I sprinted. I then noticed I was able to move the wheel laterally by hand, like there was play in the hub.

I got the wheels off and started tinkering and noticed both wheels have a little tightening plate you need a spanner wrench for. I tightened them up with my spanner wrench and noticed a bit too tight, the wheels don't spin freely, too loose and they have this play. I seemed to get a good sweet spot, and the wheels felt far more stable, especially descending.

I took my bike in to get the complementary free tune up and asked them to check the hubs for proper tension, when I got the bike back the play had returned, I rode them and felt that floating feeling, a lack of stability descending, I went home and tightened them up again. So my question is, how tight are you supposed to run these things? Do you want that play or do you want them snug, I've never dealt with a system like this. Any insight into this type of hub would be helpful.

AngryScientist 

are we talking about bearing adjustment here?

i would go back to the shop and talk through this with them, i've never had wheels where you could laterally move the wheel when mounted. sounds like something is off.

Jed19

You are gonna ruin your bearings if you keep tightening the "plates" too tight. What you wanna do is tighten the bearings with the plastic bearing tool that came with your wheels until snug (not tight), then back the bearings off about an eight or so of a complete revolution. That would leave a little play that the quick release clamp will take off when tightened.

Jed19

[QUOTE=AngryScientist;9286096]are we talking about bearing adjustment here?

/QUOTE]


Yes, bearing adjustment is what I think he's talking about.

fauxto nick

My Ksyrium's didn't come with a tool, must have missed some stuff when I picked up the bike, bummer. So this is to load the bearings... I don't have too much pressure on it, just enough so there is no play, they still spin freely. I guess the best bet would be to take them to the shop and see if I can get a quick tutorial on how to adjust them. Out of curiosity... what should have come with those wheels...

Jed19

A bearing-adjusting plastic tool and a plastic spoke wrench should have come with those wheels. I am guessing that since you bought your bike with those wheels, the shop did not include them in your delivery package. Ask them for both of those tools.

fauxto nick

I gave em' a call and they told me to come in and ask the manager, so maybe I can kill two birds with one stone.

fauxto nick

So let me get this straight you guys are saying there should an ever so slight amount of lateral play in the wheel or no? I can see why having it over tightened would damage the bearings.

e2py

Read this - it should help: Mavic technical data on hub freeplay

fauxto nick

You're awesome.

sm-rider

I had the same question too. Thanks!

fauxto nick

I should say that there was a bit of a side wind on the day maybe it's the huge bladed spokes that are catching side wind when my direction changes as I get into the turn, I'm used to regular (logical :/) spokes.