Recently I cracked the freehub body on my 1996 Shimano Dura Ace model 7402(?) 8 speed rear hub. I was deftly and, admittedly, without much concentration, switching out a cassette. The lockring skipped a thread and took a thin, 1/8th inch rectangular chip out of the end of the freehub body. This rendered the inner lockring threads, to my knowledge, useless (unless, as one LBS mechanic suggested, I "carefully" hacksaw it and turn the hub into a 7 speed [...hmm])
Anyway, when I set out to replace the body myself I found upon removing the removing the axle that this particular hub wouldn't take a normal 10mm allen wrench. Or any allen wrench for that matter. The same LBS was stumped (...hmm). I did my own research and found the parts I needed. This was to be one of my most memorable voyages into the infinite foresight of Shimano and their ridiculously exorbatant Dura-Ace line.
I need a $20 splined tool to remove the freehub body. They only required these for a few years. From 1997 they require a normal 10mm allen wrench. Pretty hefty jump in specialization between '96 and '97 wouldn't you say?
After I employ this highly specialized tool I need a highly specialized, proprietary Dura-Ace freehub body. Please note that the freehub body for this particular model year for Dura-Ace CANNOT BE INTERCHANGED WITH ANYTHING but what it was first intended to run. This part costs no less than $70 (I've seen it as high as 120 on some sites).
Wow. $70 for a lousy freehub body?! This wheel is going to hang inert for a while until an eBay miracle happens. Two eBay miracles, I should say. A new reason for me to SLOW DOWN when working on bikes. Yet another reason Dura-Ace is a rich man's game.