I have a DT Swiss RWS rear axle and recently it's getting harder and harder to undo.
It used to come out easy but now takes some force, it clicks in the frame a few times before finally letting go.
Axle has always been greased and tightens up as normal. Any ideas?
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/dt-swiss-rws-x-12-alloy/rp-prod81163
I got rid of mine for a Maxle as it kept coming undone. Not a good design.
Like the DT Swiss hubs.
But the DT RWS system is a very bad design in my opinion.
The problem you mention is new to me - but the RWS likes to "loosen" by it's own...very nasty.
Have now a Syntace X12 on my all mountain bike. No problems so far. Maxle maybe even better.
Mine has remained nice and tight but has been stiff and occasionally a little squeaky and dry sounding. OP, if it aint coming undone, its doing its job, is my view.
I've seen a few people mention about them coming undone, not had that issue in ~3 years of running it.
I'm more worried that I'm not going to be able to get it out at some point.
May have to go for the maxle option, but £40 seems painful for what it is...
Its hard to withdraw it from the frame, or hard to undo rotationally?
Hard to withdraw is possibly down to alignment.
Undo rotationally. Once loosened it slides out easily but it sounds dry and cracks like mad while I'm red in the face trying to get it undone!
It feels totally normal and is quiet while I'm tightening it back up.
Odd. I much prefer the RWS to a Maxle. The Maxle Ultimate has a habit of needing the lever readjusting to avoid it pointing dangerously forward but also getting stuck such that you can't compress down and rotate the lever. And the older Maxles have other issues, such as getting seized solid and some people break the tabs.
The RWS is simple screw in tight and job done, and can adjust lever angle pulling the lever out and adjust, but I never have to adjust it after a few rides, unlike Maxle Ultimate.
Never once had an RWS unscrew. That's both the Thru-bolt and Thru-axle types.
Anyway, by greased, is that the threads? I'd use copperslip grease on the threads.