Removing freehub

buckmulligan

Hi, I thought I'd post this in here, since you guys are much more responsive than the Road forum!

I'm trying to remove the freehub from a road wheel (Specialized hubs, no model name/number). I'm following the Park Tools guide to Freehub servicing and the first step is to remove the axle. Strangely on this hub, there are no locknuts or cones visible, just what look like metal seals on both the drive and non-drive side of the axle. I've tried removed the little grub screws from each one, but they won't budge, and there are no spanner flats visible anywhere, so I'm lost for what to try next!





Any help would be greatly appreciated.

supersonic

Looks like the grub screws are the way forward here. The end caps probably pull off when removed.

buckmulligan

I've removed the grub screws (after these pics were taken) and the black metal dust seals still won't budge. Even tried gripping it with mole grips (with an inner tube to stop it chewing up the metal) and tugging on it, but definitely won't move. The grub screws are fairly corroded, so should I try soak it in some penetrant?

cooldad

Hammer.

anjs

or grip with a vice and pull off

buckmulligan

cooldad wrote:

Hammer.

This was my next thought, since this thread seems to suggest it's the way to go once you've got the black metal dust seals off.

If that's the case, surely they can't be cup and cone bearings, because you'd never be able to get the right tension again when you reassemble the axle? I'm thinking they might be a similar design to the 'A DT-Hugi® Freehubs' that are on the Park Tools Freehub servicing page, in which case it would seem that force would be the way to go.

anjs

Possibly have cartridge bearings like the HoPe Pro 2 hubs

buckmulligan

Success! Well partially...

The dust seals do come off once the grub screws are removed, allbeit by gripping each one with a mole grip, twisting a lot to loosen them up and then slowly inching it off. I now have the axle out, but it would appear the freehub is screwed into the hub body with a massive allen bolt (looks about 12mm, biggest allen key I have is 10mm) that is only accessible from the non-drive side.

Once I find a big enough allen key, which way should I be turning it to get it out. Presumably the same way as the ratchet mechanism, so counter-clockwise when viewed from the drive side? I don't imagine this will be an easy task either :roll:

morleyman200

sounds very similar to my specialized mountain bike hubs, it took alot of force to get the end caps off, and mine had cartridge bearings, then i had to smack the axel with a hammer to get it it to come out, (hit it drive side) and it comes out the non drive side.
by the way i used wood in between the hammer and the axel

Tom

buckmulligan

Yeah that's exactly what I did. Did you get the freehub off? If so, what size allen key did it take?

supersonic

Should be anti clockwise as looking from the drive side.

Spesh hubs are odd balls. Some take 9mm, others the standard 10mm, some 12mm!

buckmulligan

Ok, thanks.

Yeah a 10mm key is definitely too small, but I'm on the case. I'll let you know how it goes!

nicklouse

put two allen keys in to find outy the size.

a 5 and a 6mm gives an 11mm allen key size. *(7/16" allen keys cost less).

buckmulligan

nicklouse wrote:

put two allen keys in to find outy the size.

a 5 and a 6mm gives an 11mm allen key size. *(7/16" allen keys cost less).

Ahhh, that's a very good tip! It's a 12mm as I suspected, but alas I've had to order one so my poor bike is going to have to stay in pieces for a few days.

If only I had seven 4mm allen keys, I could build myself a 12mm one! :?

buckmulligan

BuckMulligan wrote:

If only I had seven 4mm allen keys, I could build myself a 12mm one! :?

Actually, that's completely wrong. :oops: