Recently got a new (to me) bike and slowly been going over it and getting things how I want them.
Its got a Hope Pro 2 hub which Ive not owned before... and the bike has a 135x 12 Maxle setup.... with the tapered Maxle skewer. Not a good combination it seems after some Googling.
Took the wheel off initially to check for damage to the alloy freehub, not too bad there Im glad to say but looking down the bore of the axle there is a definite radial line around half way down. Cant help but think if it isnt a crack in the axle yet.... it will be a crack/ breakage in the future... Im not a light rider at between 15/ 16 stone depending on pie intake!
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So, a few options appear possible.
1) Replace Hope axle, with its inherent weakness still there, for a new one and get a non tapered Maxle (stupidly expensive, the 135 x12 maxle!). Near £50 for that option... and new axle could still go in near future.
2) Convert hubs internals to Evo spec to do away with inherent axle weekness when using a 12mm axle. So, £60 for freehub, axle (not sure, £20ish??), bearings (from ebay, stainless ones...say £20??), various spacers etc... no idea of cost. Plus will probably still want a non tapered Maxle at £32?? Phew...
3) New/ secondhand rear wheel Hope or otherwise that takes 135mm x 12mm.
If not for cost I would like to convert the hub to EVO but really not sure if its economic to do so. Mainly due to needing a new Freehub (Im right on that detail I believe?)
Have I missed any options or anything that could change the best course of action?
EDIT: Does the EVO rear hub have just a single type of axle by the way, or are there 2 types?
Apparently the bits cost about £100 for the Evo conversion; however, once it's done it's just a case of swapping end caps to change between standards.
IIRC they used to do a steel axle for non-Evo hubs that should be likely to break.
I'm sure I read that the 40t ratchet of the evo was bonded in and couldn't be swapped over ?
I have a pie-proof older 12mm Maxle (12x135) with a solid lever like one on the right here:
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Yours for £15 posted. Was relevant on my last 2 frames, but not for my Bandit.
HOLD THE PHONE.
I may have the axle and caps to go with it... I'll be back with an answer, but I definitely have a Maxle.
Now then, I do still have an axle and end caps to go with the Maxle. Just had a look down mine and it doesn't have the score/shear at the same place.
£25 posted or collect from Sheffield for less.
My email's shameer AT gmx DOT co.uk
Hope this helps 😀
Now then, I do still have an axle and end caps to go with the Maxle. Just had a look down mine and it doesn't have the score/shear at the same place.£25 posted or collect from Sheffield for less.
My email's shameer AT gmx DOT co.uk
Hope this helps
Hiya, thanks for the post mate.
Can I just ask, you mean you have a hope 2 axle with end caps and a 135mm x12mm maxle?
Sorry, bit tired here!
Thats tempting mate, only thing is Im fairly sure that people have had the Hope axles snapping even with the uniform diameter maxle? In which case I might be back to square one a few months down the line?
Can I get back to you pending upon what this thread throws up as my best option?
Gah!! Dont know which way to head with this hub.
(Oh, Kimbers, werent the earlier Evo's still 24T, if your right then the evo upgrade is out anyway. Anyone able to clarify?)
Ride it until it breaks, send it back to Hope, within 3 days you'll have a brand new one for free. It's that simple
Hmmm... just been googling and found this kit for sale from JRA... but works out around £102inc freehub.
[url= http://www.justridingalong.com/pro-ii-evo-upgrade-kit.html ]Here[/url]
Most cost effective solution seems to be what was mentioned earlier, a steel axle for the Pro 2... but my limited searching tonight hasnt thrown up anywhere still selling them? Anyone got a link, or are they like rocking horse manure?
Speak to Hope, they will sort you out
Thought I had struck gold, found a steel axle, but it only fits their trials hubs apparently. Will contact Hope but another guy I found through Googling seemed to say Hope were a bit reluctant to supply the steel axle. Admittedly the thread is about a year old.
Will contact them and go from there I think.
pbooker1995, I see what you mean, but I really dont want this part failing on me at just the wrong moment to be honest. Planning some long trips with my lad in the coming year and sure, you just dont know what can fail on you whilst out. However I know this problem will be niggling away in the back of my head until Im confident with the solution.
FWIW the solid skewers don't fix the problem- both the axles I snapped were on a solid skewer, on 2 different bikes.
I do have 2 used and un-cracked axles if you want to go for the cheap and easy "have some spares in the car" approach... The bike was still limp-home-able when I snapped mine. Hope will sell you the bits to upgrade to Evo spec but they wouldn't even offer me a discount on RRP which to be honest I thought was shit- they had to send me a replacement part anyway on warranty but wouldn't even knock the value of that off 🙁
When mine snapped, I didn't even realise till I took the back wheel out & my cassette rolled across the floor!
Hope fixed it and as Northwind says, I have a spare in the van, although it's not something you can fix trail side.
Cheers guys, for extra info and spares which I might need too.
Will get onto Hope and inquire about steel axle availability then go from there.
Will still get a non tapered Maxle I think, either way.... so will be in contact Herman. 🙂
Hi, Herman shake if the items offered are still
For sale I would like them as I'm trying to rebuild
my maxle swing arm bolt through.
Please contact me on nele20 at Sky dot com
Sorry my email is nele20 at iCloud.com