Cup'n'Cone hubs- how often to service?

lvquestpaddler
lvquestpaddler Posts: 416
edited October 2011 in Workshop
I ordered a Vittoria turbo tyre for my roadie to set up indoors over the winter, got an old mtb hack with road tyres to use&abuse over the winter.
My roadie only has the basic R500 type wheels but to my horror when I took the rear off to change the tyre the roughness felt through the axle when the wheel was spun was unreal, I've stripped and rebuilt the hub, nothing is wrecked but there was hardly any grease in the hub at all- being honest the bike has only had very light use in dry conditions unless caught out...
Has this been like this since I bought it? It's spinning smooth now I've cleaned it all and packed the hub with grease, but how often should this be done on a routine basis? I'd heard this was a common shimano hub gripe(not enough grease from new), and from now on any new C+C wheels will be getting stripped prior to use.
I've rebuilt mine with fairly standard Lithium based grease, anyone recommend anything longer lasting and better?

Comments

  • rolf_f
    rolf_f Posts: 16,015
    I put some cheap wheels on my tourer when I first restored it. They were OK. Then I took the mudguards off. Ever after I needed to strip and regrease the rear bearings after every rainy ride.

    The problem was much reduced when I put the mudguards back on. I think the front wheel tends to constantly jetwash the back end of the bike in wet weather.
    Faster than a tent.......
  • CarlosDSanchez
    CarlosDSanchez Posts: 455
    Just check how they feel each time you clean the bike. They should feel smooth and "buttery", if they don't, strip, clean, regressed and adjust.
    Dolan Preffisio
    2010 Cube Agree SL
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    I stripped my RS10s after 2 winters, only to find them still factory fresh and full of grease. I bunged a bit more in there just for good measure, but I think the seals must be pretty effective.

    I do run full mudguards though.
  • Paul E
    Paul E Posts: 2,052
    I have some cup and cone spanners but after a nightmare with a C+C hub on the back of my old bike I am scared to even touch the hub with them.

    Any quick tips for adjusting the clearance on them?
  • ooermissus
    ooermissus Posts: 811
    Paul E wrote:
    I have some cup and cone spanners but after a nightmare with a C+C hub on the back of my old bike I am scared to even touch the hub with them.

    Any quick tips for adjusting the clearance on them?

    Tighten until they start to grind and then back off a quarter.
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    Tiny bit of play with the wheel out of the bike so that it's spot on when the QR is tightened. Trial and error basically.
  • Paul E
    Paul E Posts: 2,052
    I may give it a go tomorrow on my day off

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