Adjusting Surly Flip-Flops
 

Okay, I'm riding 120mm Surly Flip-Flops. They're cartridge hubs, as I understand, but it looks like they have some kind of cup-and-cone style system for adjusting the tightness....so...

How do you go about adjusting Surly Flip-Flop hubs?

Thanks!

edited for content

there certainly is a proper adjustment for many cartridge bearing hubs. for the surly's, and many others, when the wheel is off the bike it should be adjusted so there is a minimal amount of play. when you put the wheel on the bike and tighten down the axle nuts there should be no play. if there still is play when the wheel is on the bike take the wheel off again and tighten it just a hair, but make sure there is some play while the wheel is off the bike, otherwise you will prematurely wear your bearings.

don't be afraid to just take the thing apart and see how it works. if you get them to tight you get tons of drag.

Pay no attention to Ryan C.

I've used a Surly flip/flop for a couple of years, and it's absolutely the most finicky hub I've EVER tried to adjust. In my experience, there's no way to get all the play out of the hub without having it drag due to being over-tight. I've just gotten used to the fact that there's always a little bit of play. It doesn't seem to affect the way the wheel rides, so I don't worry about it. Just make sure that whenever you adjust the hub, you get the lock nuts very snug, or the darn thing will have a tendency to tighten itself up while you ride. On more than a couple of occasions I've started a ride with a reasonably adjusted hub and ended the ride with a hub that would barely spin.

whoah, my bad.

i got schooled!

ive had no problems of that nature at all with my surly hubs. i find once they are adjusted they stay adjusted. granted, i have access to an axle vise so it may be a tad easier to get my hubs adjusted optimally.

and ryan_c is not entirely wrong, some cartridge bearing hubs have no adjustment.

surly hubs suck, mine have been nothing but problems, first in the amount of play, and now everything about the hub is breaking (bearings... 3 times now). my wheel moves side to side even though i have ajusted the bearing to he optimal point. its almost as if my axle is 2mm too small for the hole. i hate these hubs

You know you can just switch out the bearings super easy with surly's hubs. Adjusting them didn't seem to be that bad, either.

hey pete, maybe you just don't know how to take care of a bike. i've been riding the same surley hub for two years now and it's still kickin' ass.

Yeah, I'm in the same boat here. I've put Surly hubs through 3 minneapolis winters now and they're fine. (and they cost 25% what you'd spend on a pair of phils)

If you're riding on the street in craptastic weather and you like to skip and hit potholes all day (which is pretty much what it's actually like) Surly's the best hub for the $$ period.

where can I find replacement bearings for the rear surly fix/fix hub? Mine seems to be tightening up on me I guess its time to adjust the bearings....I was looking for replacements for when the spring comes and all the salt and other crap is off of the road

lbs