I have Shimano XT M785 front hubs on our touring bikes. I am in need of new cones. Does anyone know of a source?
Thanks!

Those don't look like the cones we've grown to love......

https://www.paul-lange.de/support/sh...-M785-3177.pdf

You might want to try Googling the part#'s

You mean other than what a bike shop can order for you if you Ask?

Another question for you guys. In the exploded drawing of the hub it shows the ball bearing in a retainer. I did a search using the part # and they only seem to be available from European sources. My question is can they be installed loose without the retainer.
Fietsbob, I did check QBP and they do not carry the parts.

I don't use retainers.
Grease will hold the balls in place for assembly.

Please let us know if you find a source for shimano cones. I was looking cones recently and was not able to find them after checking with several bike shops and and what I felt was an exhaustive web search.

I will post the results of my search.

It's easier to order a whole axle assembly with cones and stop nuts. Below is cheap enough to give it a shot.

Summit Front QR Axle Set M9/100X108mm

Those look like an oversized axle.
Generics won't work.

Wheels Mfg makes several cones, but I think only for 9, 9.5, and 10mm axles.
Hub Cones & Kits - Products

It looks like looking up the Part Number: Y26j98020 brings up a number of sources, mostly overseas.

Are the right and left cones identical? The axle is also available, Y2UB98020, also overseas.

I'd send the part numbers to your LBS, and see what they can do.

Try this shop:

Hub Spares products from SJS Cycles

Thanks Oren! I had only looked at them briefly but this time I did a I looked closely and found the complete assembly.

Now I wonder why I cannot find this assembly in the US?

OK scratch QBP what other distributors does your favorite LBS have accounts with, for spare parts ??


'Wheels ' replacements , mentioned below . is sold thru many distributors (including QBP)

Hub Cones & Kits - Products

Wheelsmith does not carry it either. I decided to check online for a new hub and I can get it for less than the repair parts. Plus I end up with extra dust covers and a skewer and an extra hub body. I think that is the way I will go.

I reached the same conclusion when I was in the market for replacement cones and ended up using that as an excuse for myself to get a new set of wheels. Kind of a bummer since all I really needed was cones.

And this is the sad result so often of not servicing/adjusting hub bearings well right from the start. Manufactures know this and go to the bank every day because of early cone damage.

Want to test this out? go into your LBS or to your local club ride start and ask to feel the front hub/axle adjustment on a bunch of bikes. Remove the wheel and turn the axle by your fingers and see what you feel. Then remember with QR skewers tightened the bearing preload increases. I see so many bikes coming through the shop with front wheel bearings too tight. Or in other words, grinding and work hardening their cones and cups much faster and greater then needed.

Why do I say front wheels? Because when the usual new bike is shipped to the retailer/dealer the front wheel and QR skewer are not assembled onto the bike yet. So the ability to access the axle for adjustment is at it's easiest and quickest. Yet this step (maybe about 45 seconds to adjust the bearings with a cup and cone front hub) is not done the vast majority of new bike assemblies. Again remove a front wheel on a cup and coned bike on the floor of your lLBS and find out if the axle spins smoothly or not.

Next think about the more heavily loaded rear bearings and their being harder to access...

If I were into conspiracy theories... Andy.

A. Donor hub from Ebay
B. Wheels manufacturing replacements