I "dressed" my '06 Castro Valley in its fall/winter kit this weekend (full fenders, wider tires, and Shimano LP-R600 headlight). Since I don't usually run it like this, it hadn't occured to me that riding through a three-and-a-half-foot-deep puddle would not be a good idea.

A cold front brought some very heavy localized rain to Michigan yesterday and created a lot of standing water on my commute home. My inner child figured that, since I was already wet from the rain, that it wouldn't hurt to bomb the puddles as well. Before my inner adult could stop my inner child, I was bottle cage deep in water. It was at this time that I noticed my headlight was no longer working.

I left the bike next to my dehumidifier last night, hoping to dry it out, and had some success. I spun the front wheel and managed to get both bulbs to light up brightly but it was only for about three seconds and then it died again. It was very abrupt, not the usual fade that happens when the Dynamo hub slows down.

My plan was to clean all the connections and redo the wires tonight but I do not know if I have done any damage to the hub. Can submerging a Dynohub do irreparable damage? Will I have to perform the odius task of disassembling the hub to inspect and detail clean it? If I leave it alone to dry for a few more days, will it simply return to normal operation? Any assistance in this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,
Patrick

Try contacting Peter White at https://www.peterwhitecycles.com/, he may be able to give you information (or sympathy.)

I have a DH-3N70 hub which has been under water a few times without problem. The other shimano hubs perhaps don't have such good seals. If there is water in there it will take its time getting back out. Opening it up is probably the only way to dry it out.

I would guess that since the light was recently fitted there is a problem with the wiring or connections and the water is just a coincidence.

Can't help you, but you did help me. Note to self: Stay out of the water, unless chasing a mermaid!

If it's a mermaid that looks like Laura Prepon from "That 70's Show" I say "Damn the topedoes full speed ahead and rig for silent running!"b

Follow up post. I rode last night for an hour and a half with no problems from the light setup. After cleaning and repairing the connection, it became apparent that the force of hitting the water pulled the insulation back from the wires causing a short when they touched. The hub performed great after that.

As for the memaid, I'm preferential to Alyssa Milano's mermaid character from Charmed but YMMV.

Being that I'm half Italian, she works for me too; however, there's just something about red hair that is especially alluring.