Dynamo hubs do make make any noise?
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Dynamo hubs do make make any noise?
Do dynamo hubs such as the SON28 make any noticeable noise? I just watch a video with one in it, and I could here a bit of a humming sound.
#2
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I've never noticed any noise with mine. I also can't tell by riding whether the light is on or off in the daytime, the drag is pretty minimal and I just don't notice the difference.
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Silent.
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Yep, basically silent. I sometimes think I can feel a very faint buzz. I also cannot tell a difference when the light is on or off.
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When you first get your new dynohub, it is common to think that the bearings are adjusted wrong because by hand it is hard to turn the axle. But that is a function of the magnets, once the wheel is installed it rotates fine. So, do NOT attempt to adjust any bearings.
#9
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Schmidt uses deep groove radial contact sealed bearings they have no Adjustment ..
2 son classics , a delux, & an New XS ... no problem . (1 dead Shimano, No juice output).
2 son classics , a delux, & an New XS ... no problem . (1 dead Shimano, No juice output).
Last edited by fietsbob; 04-04-16 at 10:20 AM.
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No noticeable noise from my Shimano, Sanyo, or Shutter Precision. The Sanyo has a noticeable vibration.
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No , they are silent for all intents and purposes.
<insert tangent here>
Not taking issue with TiMSN, just using that statement to setup my experience...
If there is any appreciable resistance felt with a SON28 then something is definitely wrong. I don't have experience with any other manufacturers hubs. Turning the wheel very slowly with it off the ground you get a slight bump.bump.bump sensation, nothing even remotely "hard". That is why I take claims that folks can feel the drag with a huge amount of skepicism. If you (not even going to use the word spin) turn the wheel slowly you can in fact feel it, if you put the bike on the ground and slowly roll it fwd you can't. I ain't buying the argument that people can add their weight to the bike and pedal and feel it then.
As far as the harmonic being translated to the bike through the fork, I think its possible but not probable as the amplification would have to be massive given the small input amplitude and the fact that it would be hard to hold speed precisely at that "magic number" to keep frequency stable long enough for it to develop.
</end tangent>
<insert tangent here>
If there is any appreciable resistance felt with a SON28 then something is definitely wrong. I don't have experience with any other manufacturers hubs. Turning the wheel very slowly with it off the ground you get a slight bump.bump.bump sensation, nothing even remotely "hard". That is why I take claims that folks can feel the drag with a huge amount of skepicism. If you (not even going to use the word spin) turn the wheel slowly you can in fact feel it, if you put the bike on the ground and slowly roll it fwd you can't. I ain't buying the argument that people can add their weight to the bike and pedal and feel it then.
As far as the harmonic being translated to the bike through the fork, I think its possible but not probable as the amplification would have to be massive given the small input amplitude and the fact that it would be hard to hold speed precisely at that "magic number" to keep frequency stable long enough for it to develop.
</end tangent>
Last edited by Bicycle365; 04-03-16 at 03:49 PM.
#12
Senior Member
No , they are silent for all intents and purposes.
<insert tangent here>
Not taking issue with TiMSN, just using that statement to setup my experience...
If there is any appreciable resistance felt with a SON28 then something is definitely wrong. I don't have experience with any other manufacturers hubs. Turning the wheel very slowly with it off the ground you get a slight bump.bump.bump sensation, nothing even remotely "hard". That is why I take claims that folks can feel the drag with a huge amount of skepicism. If you (not even going to use the word spin) turn the wheel slowly you can in fact feel it, if you put the bike on the ground and slowly roll it fwd you can't. I ain't buying the argument that people can add their weight to the bike and pedal and feel it then.
As far as the harmonic being translated to the bike through the fork, I think its possible but not probable as the amplification would have to be massive given the small input amplitude and the fact that it would be hard to hold speed precisely at that "magic number" to keep frequency stable long enough for it to develop.
</end tangent>
<insert tangent here>
Not taking issue with TiMSN, just using that statement to setup my experience...
If there is any appreciable resistance felt with a SON28 then something is definitely wrong. I don't have experience with any other manufacturers hubs. Turning the wheel very slowly with it off the ground you get a slight bump.bump.bump sensation, nothing even remotely "hard". That is why I take claims that folks can feel the drag with a huge amount of skepicism. If you (not even going to use the word spin) turn the wheel slowly you can in fact feel it, if you put the bike on the ground and slowly roll it fwd you can't. I ain't buying the argument that people can add their weight to the bike and pedal and feel it then.
As far as the harmonic being translated to the bike through the fork, I think its possible but not probable as the amplification would have to be massive given the small input amplitude and the fact that it would be hard to hold speed precisely at that "magic number" to keep frequency stable long enough for it to develop.
</end tangent>
Also there is plenty of anecdotal evidence of riders feeling vibration through the handlebars with the installation of a dynamo hub so I'd suggest being open minded to its credence.
Good that its not your experience as it tends to be looked upon negatively.
My Moulton APB (now sold) offered up said vibration with the installation of a Sondelux, but only at certain road speed which I curtailed with an unconscious adjustment of cadence or gearing.
My Surly Ogre has a Son28 but I notice neither noise nor vibration through the handlebars like I did the Moulton.
Happy spinning
#13
Senior Member
If you edited your profile to say which state/city or town you lived in, forum members might be inclined to offer you the opportunity to see with your own eyes and/or ears bikes with dynohub setups to help make up your mind with a purchase decision.
#14
Senior Member
In answer to the thread question: No.
As to the vibration: Occasionally, I have felt it but haven't taken too much notice of it.
The noisiest power generator I have had was an S6 sidewall dynamo. It wasn't long before I ditched it and upgraded to a SON back in 2003, both because of the S6's noise, and its unreliability in wet riding (as in slip on the tyre sidewall, and I didn't like the idea of wearing out the sidewall with the metal brush roller).
As to the vibration: Occasionally, I have felt it but haven't taken too much notice of it.
The noisiest power generator I have had was an S6 sidewall dynamo. It wasn't long before I ditched it and upgraded to a SON back in 2003, both because of the S6's noise, and its unreliability in wet riding (as in slip on the tyre sidewall, and I didn't like the idea of wearing out the sidewall with the metal brush roller).
#16
Genetics have failed me
I have two SON 28, older and newer model and two SP PD8 hubs. They are silent as far as I can tell. The wind noise is by far louder.
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No , they are silent for all intents and purposes.
<insert tangent here>
.........As far as the harmonic being translated to the bike through the fork, I think its possible but not probable as the amplification would have to be massive given the small input amplitude and the fact that it would be hard to hold speed precisely at that "magic number" to keep frequency stable long enough for it to develop.
</end tangent>
<insert tangent here>
.........As far as the harmonic being translated to the bike through the fork, I think its possible but not probable as the amplification would have to be massive given the small input amplitude and the fact that it would be hard to hold speed precisely at that "magic number" to keep frequency stable long enough for it to develop.
</end tangent>
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I have two Shimano dynamo hubs. When the hub is charging I can feel a faint buzz when velocity picks up such as when you are going down a hill but it is negligible and quickly forgotten. I have ridden all day with the dynamo charging USB devices and have absolutely forgotten it was charging. So, in general answer to you question, there is obviously a difference between a dynamo hub and regular hub but for all practical purposes you will not detect any difference when you are riding.
#19
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I have that, too, with my Shutter Precision. At normal speeds there's nothing, but at high speeds there's a slight buzz and accompanying vibration.
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A bearing on a regular cone and cup wheel can feel notchy when too tight, I have read of people buying a new dynohub wheel and the axle felt like that by hand, so they try to loosen the bearings to fix it. But that notchy feeling is normal with a dynohub and trying to do anything can break internal wires. I was just trying to make the point, don't do anything to the axle or bearings and put it on the bike the way you receive it.
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Yeah you can feel the notchy resistance if you free spin by hand, but I never notice when riding (shimano). I also read a review of dynamo hubs that suggested greater resistance with no light (no load) than with load (primarily at speed I think). Kinda counter intuitive but I don't care.
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I have a cheap Sanyo that makes no noise. If I spin the wheel I can feel the resistance and a little vibration, but when I am riding I don;t notice it at all.
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I have two Shimano dynamo hubs. When the hub is charging I can feel a faint buzz when velocity picks up such as when you are going down a hill but it is negligible and quickly forgotten. I have ridden all day with the dynamo charging USB devices and have absolutely forgotten it was charging.
I've also run lights for hours (in daylight) and never noticed it. After I switched the lights off, I couldn't tell a difference.
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