Unicornz0

Hello everyone. Is it possible to tell if a bike has cartridge type hub bearings by looking at the wheel without removing it from the bike? What should I look for?
Thanks,
Uni

DaveSSS 

I can't think of anything except x-ray vision that would help with that. All hubs have some sort of covers over the bearing area. Most brands are well known for using cartridge bearings, or not. Genuine Shimano hubs are use loose of caged balls, for the most part. Campy's higher level hubs all use caged balls, but the lower level hubs were switched to cartridge a few years ago. Mavic's should all be cartridge.

What's the point of the question? If you intend to service a hub, you have to take it apart.

thenomad

My shimano 105 loose ball looks the same as my Specialized cartridge hubs of the same vintage.

operator

Formula high flange track hubs for example, don't have any covers on them, you can directly see the catridge bearing inside the hub.

What the OP really needs to do is ask a specific question about a specific hub. Or we can play 20 questions.

Unicornz0

[QUOTE=
What's the point of the question? If you intend to service a hub, you have to take it apart.[/QUOTE]


When I'm out at a flea market or garage sale preparing to buy a bike, it could be very helpful to know if the bike has cartridge bearings or not, without actually having to remove the wheel from the fork.

Thanks for your help,
Uni

Garthr

In that case ..... you'd need to study every hub ever made and memorize it's construction. It's do-able, but are you up for it?