How difficult is it to rebuild \ service a shimano front hub (20mm maxle, SLX). Its 14mths old, never been touched and is starting to get a bit noisey. Are an special tools required and do I need to buy any consumeables?
Thanks!!!
yeah, you will need 28 and 32 mm spanners, as for dificulty similar to normal cup and cone. I have just come home after a bike ride, feeling shattered, I'll write up a tutorial on how to service one tomorrow morning 🙂
That would be much appreciated if you could..... Thanks in advance.
I have opened mine up and serviced it. It's quite easy but the cone spanners are difficult to get hold of. Although I only bought the 28mm as you can just use a big 32mm spanner or adjustable for the outer locknut.
Assuming you are able to service normal shimano cup & cone bearing hub then I'd say the 20mm SLX is a bit easier as one of the cones is fixed on the axle and you only need to adjust one side. Have a look at this for all the internals and bearings you need:
[url= http://techdocs.shimano.com/media/techdocs/content/cycle/EV/bikecomponents/HB/EV-HB-M667-2821B_v1_m56577569830677323.pdf ]Shimano Tech Doc[/url]
[url= http://techdocs.shimano.com/media/techdocs/content/cycle/SI/SLX/SI_2TL0A_001/SI-2TL0A-002-ENG_v1_m56577569830677468.pdf ]Service Instructions[/url]
The tools are shown in the document. I haven't used the "hub setting tool" but you'll need some way of holding the axle.
The tools are shown in the document. I haven't used the "hub setting tool" but you'll need some way of holding the axle.
Indeed, it's a real guessing game if you dont have a way of holding the axle rock solid when you do the cone and locknut up. The shimano hub setting tool is nifty, but hard to get hold of and waaaaaaay expensive. To clamp the axle in a vice (axle is all alloy apart from the disc side cone bit) risks crushing/ovalising it unless you have a nice snug and very solid 20mm bung to put in the end you are clamping. In the end I resorted to cutting a small slot in end of the disc side axle so it could be mounted on the edge of a cone spanner held horizontally in a vice: this didn't exactly hold it rock solid but stopped it rotating as I did the cone/locknut up. As long as its a small slot and not too deep it leaves plenty of material in the axle to clamp nicely in your fork again afterwards, but obviously invalidates your warranty!
FWIW I love cup and cone bearings, especially shimano ones, but I still found the 20mm slx and xt hubs rather infuriating to keep running nicely.
That's an interesting idea about cutting a small slot in the axle. I just used a vice but I was very careful to apply the minimum force to avoid damage.
I've just had another idea, what about a piece of broom handle or similar? If you tapered it slightly to fit, tap it in and clamp in the vice then tap it out from other side when done.
Not really the morning any more but, better late then never: [url= http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/guide-servicing-shimano-20mm-maxle-hubs ]Click[/url]
I could never find a guide for when I first serviced mine, ended up coming undone in some woods 🙁 lessons learnt