I have an Ultegra 9-speed rear hub that makes a periodic clicking noise (not the freewheel noise, or at least in addition to the regular freewheel noise). The bearings seem perfectly smooth when turned by hand and I feel no drag. There is no appreciable side to side play. Actually, this noise seems to coincinde with replacing and repacking the bearings (which I did myself). My guess is that there is some contamination, so I plan to repack the hub with new bearings, but I was wondering if anyone might have another suggestion.
"Andrew Karre" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
I have an Ultegra 9-speed rear hub that makes a periodic clicking noise (not the freewheel noise, or at least in addition to the regular freewheel noise). The bearings seem perfectly smooth when turned by hand and I feel no drag. There is no appreciable side to side play. Actually, this noise seems to coincinde with replacing and repacking the bearings (which I did myself). My guess is that there is some contamination, so I plan to repack the hub with new bearings, but I was wondering if anyone might have another suggestion.
Are you sure it's the hub? Sometimes it's the spoke nipples. I had a similar thing with my Ulterga/Mavic Open Pros and was chasing "hub click" for quite awhile before I learned through the NG that Open Pros are know for a click in the spoke nipple area.
A VERY tiny drop of Tri-Flow in each nipple solves the problem for ~ 500 - 600 miles.
andrew-<< I have an Ultegra 9-speed rear hub that makes a periodic clicking noise >><BR><BR>
Could be 'bearing flop', the noise of the bearings hitting each other as the hub rotates. Open up and regrease. Could also be the rim, eyelets, etc, particularly if it's a mavic Open Pro.
Peter Chisholm Vecchio's Bicicletteria 1833 Pearl St. Boulder, CO, 80302 (303)440-3535 http://www.vecchios.com "Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"
I had / have the exact problem on a Ultegra/CXP-33 combo (< 300 miles). I repacked the bearings and ensured perfect play in the cups. Still the noise. I noticed this after breaking a derailleur hanger and bending the quick release, so thought maybe the axle had been damaged. I did the roll it on the flat surface test, no problems, but still replaced the axle. No change. It seems to be what someone else suggested with the grease/bearings hitting each other. Still extremely smooth ride and only annoying for not knowing why it occurs.
Maybe it was there before the accident, too. Good reading your corroboration!
<< Still extremely smooth ride and only annoying for not knowing why it occurs. >>
If you look close at the cones you would probably see the surface is pitted. Replace the cones, and the ball bearings with grade 25, and the noise will go away unless the hub itself is pitted. Do this of course only if you are completely unable to ignore.
Visual examination lead to nothing, either on my part or that of another bike mechanic. The noise I was hearing was only something I could slightly hear while the wheel was in the truing stand. It was probably nothing more than the balls hitting each other or grease slapping each other.
BTW, do you know what bicycle ball bearings need to be made of? Is chromed steel acceptable? I didn't know if there was a hardness spec that needs to be followed.
There are some other sources for grade 25 1/4" ball bearings outside of the bicycle industry, where they charge about 1/3 the cost. Are the ones bicycle companies sell just repackaged from those sources?
Thanks for your post,
R15757 said:
jasong wrote in part:
If you look close at the cones you would probably see the surface is pitted. Replace the cones, and the ball bearings with grade 25, and the noise will go away unless the hub itself is pitted. Do this of course only if you are completely unable to ignore.
"jasong" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:[email hidden]...
Quoted message said:
Visual examination lead to nothing, either on my part or that of another bike mechanic. The noise I was hearing was only something I could slightly hear while the wheel was in the truing stand. It was probably nothing more than the balls hitting each other or grease slapping each other.
BTW, do you know what bicycle ball bearings need to be made of? Is chromed steel acceptable? I didn't know if there was a hardness spec that needs to be followed.
There are some other sources for grade 25 1/4" ball bearings outside of the bicycle industry, where they charge about 1/3 the cost. Are the ones bicycle companies sell just repackaged from those sources?
Grade 25 ball bearings is all you need. My LBS charges something like a $0.05 each. I don't know, doesn't seem too expensive to me. Of course, you could always go to third hand or bicycletoolsetc.com and buy by the 100s, it would be cheaper by a couple of pennies I guess.....
