Fulcrum RM question

DCR00

Afternoon all

Quick question for all Fulcrum Red Metal wheel owners (only Cool Dad I think)

When I got my wheels several months ago I just fit them and off I went. After my trip to Lee Quarry, when the wheels got a good bashing, I wash cleaning down the bike when I noticed some play in the rear wheel. Upon inspection, the hex bolt holding the drive side part of the axle had come loose. Tightened it back up again, put the wheel away, didn’t think anything of it. However, last weekend was doing some maintenance to the bike and noticed that the back wheel wouldn’t move under pedal stroke. After taking the wheel out and investigating, it would seem that having the aforementioned hex bolt done up tightly means that the wheel can’t actually move as it seems to be tightening as the wheel moves clockwise....

So after some fiddling I had the hex bolt and the pre-tensioner on the non-drive side both set slightly loose, enabling the wheel to move freely when attached to the bike. However I'm not convinced this is the best solution as there is noticeable play in the hub still. I then tightened the pre-tensioner with the wheel attached and this seems to have got around the play issue, but this seems like an odd way to set up the wheel and I'm not overly happy with having the hex nut loose.

To add to the problem, Fulcrum have little to no info in their website about hub maintenance, so I'm kind in the dark as to what to do.

DCR00

YouTube 1, BikeRadar 0

http://www.youtube.com/user/FulcrumWhee ... XtrJB7hHoY

cooldad

Thanks DCR00. I fiddled around quite a bit getting the play out. That makes more sense. Also might have a go at getting the freehub nice and quiet again.

DCR00

Dont get too excited

Have just cleaned out and followed the steps in the vid exactly, but to no avail

Tightening the hex bolt still siezes the axle....

Do you have your hex nut tightened as per the vid ?

email going to Fulcrum now

cooldad

No I just fiddled and still have a tiny bit of play, might try that later in the week, waiting for a new mech so just want to play once.
Interested in any reply you get from Fulcrum - maybe PM me reply, would appreciate it.

DCR00

yeah no probs

gonna call the UK distributer later on

thinking about it last night i think its a freehub problem. Maybe the sealed bearings in the freehub have siezed, so that when i tighten the hex nut against them, the axle cant move.

more investigation tonight if i dont get an answer today

DCR00

ok, from having a look at the spares catalogue below (page 27)

http://www.fulcrumwheels.com/repository ... -03-10.pdf

it would appear that maybe the cartridge bearings in the freehub are the issue, since the spacer in front of the hex nut sits against one of the two bearings

so will strip the freehub tonight and have a look

replacements are not cheap, hoping a clean and regrease will fix

http://www.i-ride.co.uk/fulcrum/mtb_spa ... index.html

DCR00

Reply from I-Ride.co.uk (Fulcrum UK distributors)

From your explanation, I am unable to comment as to where the exact issue within your wheel may be, however I would like to confirm a few small details.

The locknut on the drive-side of the hub (RM0-024) should certainly be tightened fully against the aluminium axle body (RM3-015), with the two spacers fitted (RM0-023 & RM0-024), as shown in the exploded diagram below (page 29 in link below)

http://www.fulcrumwheels.com/repository ... -03-10.pdf

If these spacers are all present and correct, but the free-hub is locking up, then the issue may well lie within the free-hub body bearings. These are available to purchase on our website.

(http://www.i-ride.co.uk/fulcrum/mtb_spa ... 4-pcs.html)

I would suggest that when re-assembling the hub, you start by fitting the axle, then the free-hub body, spacers and lockring and then finally adjusting the bearings with the adjusting sleeve (RM0-101) on the non drive-side of the rear wheel.

If you have tried all of the above options, but are still experiencing issues with your wheel, please feel free to take it to any Fulcrum dealer for inspection, or alternatively contact myself to arrange for us to inspect it here in our Fulcrum Service Centre.

So the plan is to strip the hub again tonight and see if I can fix. Quite surprised that the bearings have gone so quickly, and a bit annoyed given that they cost £38

Will update tomorrow

cooldad

Ouch.
And bloody hell.

DCR00

v annoying

they are marketed as XC/AM wheels, and they took a bashing at Lee Quarry, remaining true, but if the bearings are gonna go after every ride, then they need to go

cooldad

But I'll bet the bearings are a standard size, and generics from a bearing shop will be a lot cheaper.

njee20

You must be able to buy the bearings elsewhere, which will likely be cheaper, although <£10 each isn't that bad.

5mm diameter is rather thin - reminiscent of the Roval Control SL front hub bearings I had that would last literally a couple of weeks before going notchy.

Wait until you break a spoke, gotta love factory wheels...

cooldad

And they are flat bladed spokes - must add at least 1mm/hr to my top speed.

DCR00

in that case, not so bad

can you recommend a bearing shop ?

will contact LBS

njee20

Simply Bearings are very good, forget who else I've used in all honesty! eBay is a great source, although the quality may not be as good - it's all a bit hit and miss!

DCR00

havent had much luck at all

tried them and tried a few others

seems that size isnt standard

have emailed BETD to see if they have any

kenan

I just changed the bearing in the hub on my Red Metal 5's as the wheel developed play and this resolved my issue. Got them off a chap on ebay who I have used several times before 5 for £5, but Fulcrum listed them at £8 each :shock:

kenan

Just had a little search and I'm buggered if I can find a bearing the right size for the FreeHub of 28x19x5.

What about ordering the kit and then selling 2 of the 4 bearings to another Fulcrum owner?

DCR00

Bearings are def shot. Off to LBS tom to see if they can help as I can't get the little buggars out

DCR00

kenan wrote:

I just changed the bearing in the hub on my Red Metal 5's as the wheel developed play and this resolved my issue. Got them off a chap on ebay who I have used several times before 5 for £5, but Fulcrum listed them at £8 each :shock:

Got a link?

cooldad

Let me know how it goes.
Hopefully mech will arrive before the weekend and I'll have a fiddle as well.
Wonder if it's not just a bit like adjusting cup and cone - fine line between right and too loose/tight?
Been reading the exploded views etc, still a bit confused as to whether the spares kits have 4 bearings or just one.
Typical Campag confusion.

kenan

This is the guy from ebay: http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/webtradersonline0791/

DCR00

Reet

Spoke to LBS, can do the job, but not for around 2 weeks due to workload.... planning on riding Cannock Chase on Sat, so thats no use

Plus i kind of want to fix it myself

So looking like new freehub is the only quick way forward. TBH the cost between the 4 pack of bearings plus fitting and the new freehub is only £15 or so, which i dont mind paying if it means i can ride this weekend.

Will keep the old freehub for spares

Thinking back, i do remember the hex nut coming loose before, and i just did it back up to hand tightness, so if the axle has been a bit loose and ive been flying around Lee Quarry on it, then ive prob damaged the bearings that way, so prob my fault

The UK distributor (i-ride.co.uk) have been really helpful, so full credit to them, just a shame that the parts are facking pricey

DCR00

hmmm, rather frustratingly i-ride are now saying they cant do overnight postage....

looks like Cannock is off now

cooldad

Still no new mech, but I'll make sure mine's adjusted properly before the weekend anyway if I'm still using the old one.
Thanks for finding out all the useful info anyway.
Still think they were a bargain - been hammered, still perfectly true and spinning smoothly.

kenan

If the free hub is that much, might be worth ordering another set of the wheels lol

DCR00

cooldad wrote:

Still no new mech, but I'll make sure mine's adjusted properly before the weekend anyway if I'm still using the old one.
Thanks for finding out all the useful info anyway.
Still think they were a bargain - been hammered, still perfectly true and spinning smoothly.

Agreed

This relatively slight annoyance aside, im well chuffed with them.

Would be interested to know how you get on setting yours up i.e. if it is as you say, a case of finding that sweet spot of adjustment

You never know, Royal Mail may surpass themselves and get it to me in one day, but im not holding my breath LOL

DCR00

Shop has come through for me

Got an email saying the new freehub is being delivered around lunchtime

i-ride.co.uk have been pretty good i have to say. They were really helpful with my orginal query and made sure the goods were delivered next day, and i didnt even have to pay extra for that (although its prob built into the cost of the goods)

Highly recommend them

More importantly, Cannock is still on. Get in.

cooldad

Good news. Seems like the service is ok.
My new mech hasn't arrived (coming from somewhere in the East, but less than cost here so will put up with the wait) so will try adjusting tonight for ride tomorrow

DCR00

what mech are you getting ?

cooldad

Just an XT shortcage to replace an XT shadow longcage that got a bit bent.
At £38 posted though worth a bit of a wait.
Indexed well enough to get 9 gears down but only 8 up so it's not too bad - I'm used to the missed shift.