View Single Post
Old 01-26-10 | 08:37 AM
  #18  
velo-orange
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
the Shimano RM30 hub is their entry level alloy front QR hub. It's basic, but the bearings, cones and races are actually rather high quality. Not Campag Record level or ceramic cartridge bearing level but remarkably good for the price it hits.

The hubs are adjusted a little too tight at the Shimano factory in SIngapore, where they are made by the gazillion.

Most shops in the US just pull the bike out of the box, do a final assembly and minor adjustment, maybe change the seat or grips as per customer preference. Adjusting and repacking bearings from a new in box Trek or Specialized are not on any mechanic or shop owners radar. Except for the truly nutty ones like us. It takes longer than 60 seconds to adjust cones, and hwen you are building 1000 or more bikes annually, that time adds up.
The few shops that still do a 'proper' build- tearing down the bike to the frame, confirming and sometimes correcting wheel tension, cutting down cables to optimum length, checking torque values on every fastener, adjusting and re-greasing bearings- are very rare. They value their service,and most likely don't give it away for free, so their cheapo entry level bikes will be a little more than the shop across town.

So, OP- your hub cones are not adjusted perfectly. Most likely, the cones, bearings and races are not pitted or scored- it's a new bike with not too many miles on it. You can ride for years on them they way they are. Bring it to the shop and ask the sevice dept if they can adjust the front hub bearings- it might be covered under their service 'warranty'. Or you can buy a 13, 14, 15, and 17mm cone wrench and adjust them yourself. Buy a tube of grease and change out the factory grease too. Sheldon Brown, Park tool, and many other sites and books can provide you with instructions, but this type of thing is best learned by doing, trial and error, etc.
 
Reply