Freehub Maintenance
#1
Thread Starter
Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,030
Likes: 2
From: Canada
Bikes: Maxim, Rocky Mountain, Argon 18, Cervelo S2 Team
Freehub Maintenance
Not trying to repeat myself.
recently had a hub explode on me
for prevention maintenance
what is best to do and how often?
should i take free wheel off/ cassette. once a year and lube everything inside?
seems quite a tedious and time consuming?
but would this prevent from system breaking and prolonged the life of it forever?
recently had a hub explode on me
for prevention maintenance
what is best to do and how often?
should i take free wheel off/ cassette. once a year and lube everything inside?
seems quite a tedious and time consuming?
but would this prevent from system breaking and prolonged the life of it forever?
#2
Full Member


Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 281
Likes: 57
From: SW Ohio
Bikes: Allegro Model 77, Gitane Team Pro SLX, Waterford R2200
Wow, what do you mean by explode? Hubs, if traditional cup and cone should be serviced periodically depending on mileage/riding conditions, etc. Many how to do its on the internet and in bicycle books. I like Lennard Zinns book myself.
#3
n00b
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,397
Likes: 467
From: Austin, TX
Bikes: Surly Karate Monkey, Twin Six Standard Rando
some freehubs are not made to be serviced and some are virtually impossible to find replacements once they go. some are really not very durable at all and that sucks.
#4
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 33,657
Likes: 1,119
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
Not trying to repeat myself.
recently had a hub explode on me
for prevention maintenance
what is best to do and how often?
should i take free wheel off/ cassette. once a year and lube everything inside?
seems quite a tedious and time consuming?
but would this prevent from system breaking and prolonged the life of it forever?
recently had a hub explode on me
for prevention maintenance
what is best to do and how often?
should i take free wheel off/ cassette. once a year and lube everything inside?
seems quite a tedious and time consuming?
but would this prevent from system breaking and prolonged the life of it forever?
Anyway, yes, periodic overhauls and relubing should be done for cup-and-cone hubs and periodic relubing of the freehub body is also recommended. Will they last forever if you do it? Of course not but they will last a lot longer than if you don't. Tedious and time consuming I suppose if you aren't willing to put a couple of hours a year into maintaining your bike.
#6
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 33,657
Likes: 1,119
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Bikes: '96 Litespeed Catalyst, '05 Litespeed Firenze, '06 Litespeed Tuscany, '20 Surly Midnight Special, All are 3x10. It is hilly around here!
I don't do it nearly as often but I overhaul (clean, new balls, grease, adjust the bearing clearances and oil the freehub body) my Shimano and Campy hubs at 7500 - 8500 mile intervals or about every two years on the two bikes I ride the most. Thus far I have 50,000+ miles on a Campy Chorus front hub, 40,000+ miles on a set of Shimano WH-R560 wheels and over 72,000 miles on a FH-7700 Dura Ace freehub. All of these hubs still have the original cones and races and the original freehub bodies still work perfectly.
#7
n00b
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,397
Likes: 467
From: Austin, TX
Bikes: Surly Karate Monkey, Twin Six Standard Rando
You used to be able to disassemble Shimano freehubs with a special tool, but that tool is very hard to find now. probably better to remove it, flush it out, and dribble some new oil in there. https://www.parktool.com/blog/repair...icle-section-2
#8
Banned
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 43,586
Likes: 1,380
From: NW,Oregon Coast
Bikes: 8
#9
Facts just confuse people




Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 19,423
Likes: 7,116
From: Mississippi
Bikes: Tarmac Disc Comp Di2 - 2020
I've never overhauled a free hub. I've never had issues with one. I have had issues with freewheels on my kids bikes that were left out in the rain.
Do you wash your bike? Maybe just wiping it down would be a better choice to keep from getting water up in the freehub that won't dry out till well after the rust starts..
I find it hard to believe that someone rebuilds their free hub every two or three months. My oldest free hub is five years old and quite a few miles on it. It's never been opened. When It goes bad, I'll be happy to put a new one on it and rejoice that I didn't spend time fiddling with it instead of riding... or posting here at BF when I should be riding. <grin>
Do you wash your bike? Maybe just wiping it down would be a better choice to keep from getting water up in the freehub that won't dry out till well after the rust starts..
I find it hard to believe that someone rebuilds their free hub every two or three months. My oldest free hub is five years old and quite a few miles on it. It's never been opened. When It goes bad, I'll be happy to put a new one on it and rejoice that I didn't spend time fiddling with it instead of riding... or posting here at BF when I should be riding. <grin>




