Evening. I’ve got a set of Specialized Roval wheels from around 2008 / 2009. The front is 15mm bolt-thru and the rear is QR. I need to replace the bearings but I can’t find any info on the web, and the hubs don’t have any model number.

They look the same as these

http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Roval-Traverse-EL-Wheelset-preview-2009.html

Anyone know the ref numbers for the bearings ?

It looks like they might be rebranded DT Swiss 240s – can anyone confirm that for me ?

The rear has DT 240 internals, yes. Don’t think the front does. Can’t guarantee which bearings though. Lovely wheels. I miss mine.

The hub bearings must say on them? The Contrôlé SLs had a unique size in the front, just pop the end cap off and check.

I had the bearings changed in one of my sets of Rovals. Spesh said you need a custom press for them so I just sent them to Spesh’s HQ in Chessington.

Couple days turnaround and about £30 IIRC

That’s rubbish, I got very adept at changing mine, they needed doing about once a month until they fixed the design!

Upgrade the engagements at the rear while your at it as makes a world of difference doubling your engagements. Also you can convert it to a 12×142 rear axle if you ever want to with the DT Swiss conversion kit. I’ve done all the mods to mine. I also got a local machinist to make a few bearing drives from nylon to remove and replace bearings which cost £20. Also needed the ring drive removal tool which I got of eBay for about £30. Worth it in the long run, as now just buy cheap Chinese bearings which I replace just as much as the originals, so in time the cost will even out.

Aye, as above the EL is basically 2 DT240 hubs with 2 Stans ripoff rims on it 😉 Good wheels. The innermost bearing needs the funky DT tool but on the plus side, lasts for an uncannilly long time, one of mine is just reaching replacement now. Everything else is just hammers and sockets, and very easy to work on.

Just as a wee side note, the sealing between the freehub and hub isn’t brilliant so it’s worth giving it a wee clean out from time to time to keep things sweet. Very quick and easy.

Northwind/njee/ruscle, tried to get the bearings out of my rear hub the other night (in admittedly a short space of time) but couldn’t budge them! Thankfully they still roll ok if a little gritty, but once I’ve pulled the freehub off, which side do I attack the axle from to get it out, and is there a preferred method of doing so?

To the OP, if its the front hub bearings you need to replace, you need 1x 6804RS and 1x 6805RS. Any good bearing suppliers should have them, and they won’t be much more than a couple of quid each. As others have said, just buy the cheap ones, on an MTB expensive bearings just aren’t worth it.

Ruscle, have you possibly got drawings for the nylon tools you have had made?

Sorry don’t have drawings made. I just handed him the wheels!

I can’t remember which bearings you attack first as its been a few years since I did it as they are now on my wife’s bike so don’t get much use.

I’m running Roval Controles on my Anthem. I’ve been happy withtthem so far, but was wondering about sourcing some spare spokes to keep in the spares box.

Where can I source a few straight pull spokes?

I’m assuming they are DT Swiss?

I contacted the specialised HQ and spoke with the bloke who services the Roval wheels and bought direct from them. They are expensive and proved very hard to get hold of in the lengths needed, hence why I went straight to the source.

Sorry to go slightly OT, I am getting a set of the 2009 wheels and wondering if they have the same issues as Stans in recent years with Tubeless ready tyres (Schewalbe and Geax TNT for example) being very tight to fit. I have my eye on thos cheap Geax tyres on On-One.

Mboy, the axle has to go out of the brake side (the drive ring thing stops it from going out the driveside unless you remove it first). There’s a wee sleeve on the axle on the driveside that can get quite stuck on, a little penetrating oil (obviously being careful not to get much to the central bearing) can help, but it’ll come loose when the axle moves.

And then, unleash the rubber mallet.

Spokes- any specialized dealer should be able to get them but delivery was slow (and my specialized dealer is EBC so service was dismal). Give Freeborn a call, they sorted me out perfectly for the Traversees. Not cheap mind.

Chillidave- never had any probs personally (on Traversees and Controls) but then I’ve never had any probs with Stans either 😉

Thanks for all the advice. Bearings have been replaced !!