REVIEWS DEALS BIKESHOPS TRAILS

Hubs have more drag than when new...why?

1364 Views 6 Replies 4 Participants Last post by WHALENARD, Jul 21, 2021

mblittle

Discussion Starter · Jul 21, 2021

I've got Onyx Vespers on one bike (about 500 miles on them) and Hydras on another (about 1000 miles on them but have new bearings). Both hubs work fine but when on the bike stand don't spin nearly as long as when they were new. I've got the stock wheels from an Epic Evo that have almost no miles and they spin forever on the stand. What's the cause of this? When the Vespers were new and just installed on the Epic Evo they would spin and spin and spin on the stand, same with the Hydras. Now, not so much. Too much grease, not enough? On the Hydras I only use the recommended Dumonde Freehub Oil. I have done nothing to the Vespers yet.

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Harold

· #2 · Jul 21, 2021

could be a bearing preload question. or a bearing seal drag issue.

I'd lean more towards bearing seal drag, personally. sealed cartridge bearings have more seal drag when they're new. as they age and get worn, those seals get worn, and the bearings will spin more freely.

older high end cup-and-cone bearings, especially (stuff found especially on older road bikes), are well known for free spin. free spin isn't necessarily the best gauge of bearing condition/quality all said.

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WHALENARD

· #3 · Jul 21, 2021

I'd agree on seal drag but would guess the biggest culprit is grease. Eventually the grease will be worked out of the path of the balls and the races etc. and pushed out to the side. I'd gather "break in" is another factor. Meaning the tolerance will decrease infinitesimally after X amount of rotations. Not having a cage like a cup and cone would certainly be a factor as well, simply less friction.
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FrankS29

· #4 · Jul 21, 2021

I can only relate to the Hydra's. I replaced a set of Hydra bearings on my Ripley this spring and they spin for a good long time, nice and smooth.

How did you press in the new bearings?

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mblittle

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jul 21, 2021

Had my local bike shop do it.

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FrankS29

· #6 · Jul 21, 2021

Gotcha.

I ordered the I9 Hydra bearing press kit when I ordered the new bearings. I'm not sure if the I9 kit is important or not to make sure they go in evenly without damage.

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WHALENARD

· #7 · Jul 21, 2021

FrankS29 said:
Gotcha.

I ordered the I9 Hydra bearing press kit when I ordered the new bearings. I'm not sure if the I9 kit is important or not to make sure they go in evenly without damage.

It's good to have but any good drifts will work. If I run into a situation where I can't clear the axle with one of my drifts I'll just use one of the old bearings as well... Just an FYI.

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