HED Ardennes axle problem
StorckSpeed
Posts: 291
I'm having problems with my HED Ardennes front wheel and I was wondering if anyone else had similar experiences and could help?
It started off with a creaking noise which I thought was spoke problems, checked the spokes and they were all ok. It then progressed to a grinding noise.
Taking the hub apart I found that if I tightened the axle cups to even hand tight the wheels were almost seizing. Loosen the bolts slightly and the wheels run free but there's then a lot of movement on the hub which could cause brake rub.
A friend of mine kindly let me look at his identical wheels and I found that swapping the Front Axle and cups cleared the problem altogher. Looking at the duff axle I can't see any issues with it at all, the only thing I can think of is that it must be slightly shorter, when I tighten the cups, they press against the wheel causing it to seize.
I can order a new Front Axle from HED for £30 but it looks completely different to one I have. But I was wondering if there's anything else I can do?
If anyone has any experience of this and could give me any advice it would be most appreciated.
It started off with a creaking noise which I thought was spoke problems, checked the spokes and they were all ok. It then progressed to a grinding noise.
Taking the hub apart I found that if I tightened the axle cups to even hand tight the wheels were almost seizing. Loosen the bolts slightly and the wheels run free but there's then a lot of movement on the hub which could cause brake rub.
A friend of mine kindly let me look at his identical wheels and I found that swapping the Front Axle and cups cleared the problem altogher. Looking at the duff axle I can't see any issues with it at all, the only thing I can think of is that it must be slightly shorter, when I tighten the cups, they press against the wheel causing it to seize.
I can order a new Front Axle from HED for £30 but it looks completely different to one I have. But I was wondering if there's anything else I can do?
If anyone has any experience of this and could give me any advice it would be most appreciated.
There's warp speed - then there's Storck Speed
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Comments
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Have you tried contacting HED? If there was a batch of dodgy axles then I'm sure they would know about it and help out.
Re the binding are the bearings binding when you put the wheel back on the bike or even off the bike? If it's just when they're on the bike it could be binding because of compression from the QR skewer. If that's the case you'll need to back it off a little more to allow for the compression.0 -
This is a photo of the axle/cups on the Ardennes wheels.
The seizing only really happens when on the bike and can definitely be aggravated by the QR skewer. If I back off (unscrew) the cups even an eigth of a turn this solves the seizing problem but then the wheels have excess movement. Even off the bike though, with the cups just handtight, I can feel that the wheel isn't running freely.
Like I say, if I install my friends identical axle, this tightens up properly but doesn't bind against the wheel/bearing and I have perfectly running wheels.
Might just have to nick my mate's axle, he won't notice until summer as he's a fair weather cyclist.
There's warp speed - then there's Storck Speed0 -
Sounds like axle (too long) or even the hub shell (too short) is out of tolerance. Worth contacting HED to ask them for the specification and perhaps obtaining a suitable replacement.Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..0
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Fixed this, or should I say fudged it, (in the best tradition of MacIver, remember that TV show)
Fitted a standard 10mm washer, (17mm O/D) had to increase the inside diameter by drilling a 12mm hole. With the cups tightened, the washer presses against the inner bearing shell keeping it secure. This gives the right hand cup 1mm of clearance from the wheel and the wheel runs freely again.
I think the cup has taken a bash at some time, so it's not perfectly flat, as the wheel turned on the axle it rubbed on the cup facing and caused the wheel to seize.There's warp speed - then there's Storck Speed0 -
Good bodge, you've got better skills than me.
Sounds like they're cup and cone rather than cartridge bearings? If so I'd run your repair as a temporary measure and replace the axle as you'll probably find your bearings suffer if the cup is damaged (a straight cone but twisted cup can't be good in the long run).
Good luck with the fix.0
