Help with wheel bearing question

NEguy said:

I have a Specialized RockHopper Ultra I bought in about 1996. The rear wheel hub bearings are
(apparently) shot and as far as I know, my only option is to replace either the hub alone (and
lace it up with my rear rim) OR to buy a hub and wheel complete (which are usually sold in pairs,
front and rear)and just install it complete.

If the hub is shot, that is, if the bearing cups are gone, then yeah, your only real option is to
replace the hub.

Quoted message said:

HOWEVER, my rear gear set has "only" a 7 sprocket set. How did I become so outdated?! :-)

Tempis fugit.. But there are 7-speed hubs available if you look. Check out Sheldon Brown's website.

Quoted message said:

So, my question: where do I go from here? If I buy one of these wheels, won't I have to update my
shifters and/or derailler?

Shifters, yes (unless you have friction and want to stay that way), but probably not derailleurs.

Quoted message said:

Should I look on e-Bay for older parts?

IMO, no.

Either sheldonbrown.comsheldonbrown.comOpen ↗ or branfordbikes.combranfordbikes.comOpen ↗ or lictoncycles.comlictoncycles.comOpen ↗ I
just guessed on these sites, but I think they are right.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | I don't believe you, you've got the whole damn thing all wrong. _`\(,_ | He's not the kind
you have to wind-up on Sundays. --Ian (_)/ (_) | Anderson

"NEguy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I have a Specialized RockHopper Ultra I bought in about 1996. The rear wheel hub bearings are
(apparently) shot and as far as I know, my only option is to replace either the hub alone (and
lace it up with my rear rim) OR to buy a hub and wheel complete (which are usually sold in pairs,
front and rear)and just install it complete.

Reading a tech page on one site selling either of the above options, it said that the standard
today is rear gear sets with 9 sprockets, but that you can probably use your old 8 sprocket set if
you put in a spacer. All well and good....

HOWEVER, my rear gear set has "only" a 7 sprocket set. How did I become so outdated?! :-)

So, my question: where do I go from here? If I buy one of these wheels, won't I have to update my
shifters and/or derailler? Should I look on e-Bay for older parts? I don't really want to buy on
e-Bay since that, too, is new to me. Should I just call one of the places selling bike parts and
ask them to send me the correct stuff?

All advice appreciated.

Try a complete hub overhaul. Clean out the hub and carefully check the cups and cones. If they are
OK, just replace the bearings, pack with new grease and adjust for no play when under load of the
QR. If the cones are shot, you *may* be able to find replacements. However, if the cups are shot,
you need a new hub. It may be the most frugal to replace the entire wheel. You can use a 8/9 speed
hub and add a 4.5 mm spacer to use your 7 speed cassette. There are wheel builders who have saved
some nice 7 speed hubs that can build you a nice wheel. 7 speed hubs can build a more durable wheel
because of the spoke support angles involved. If I can be more help you can contact me directly.
[email hidden] David Ornee, Western Springs, IL

"NEguy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I have a Specialized RockHopper Ultra I bought in about 1996. The rear wheel hub bearings are
(apparently) shot and as far as I know, my only option is to replace either the hub alone (and
lace it up with my rear rim) OR to buy a hub and wheel complete (which are usually sold in pairs,
front and rear)and just install it complete.

There are still 7-speed wheelsets available:

sheldonbrown.comwheels.htmlOpen ↗

You could also buy a 8-9 speed set (or just rear) and use a 7 speed cassette with a spacer, the hub
is slightly wider, but you can spread the dropouts a little to get the wheel in.

"Outdated"? it was only twenty years ago that _5_ speed was as high as you could go. Many people out
there (yous truly included) still prefer seven speed cogsets. They are perfectly able to provide a
good selection of gears, and with less wheel dish (read; stronger wheel) to boot!.

But I digress...

You can get just a rear wheel, if you look. Maybe not by MO or online, they can't make money
this way, BUT if you check out some of your friendly neighborhood bike shops, I'll bet they can
set you up.

If you still wish to build (a good idea, if only for the aquisition of knowledge on how), Mr
Brandt's book is a good one, I hear...

May you have the wind at your back. And a really low gear for the hills! Chris

Chris'Z Corner "The Website for the Common Bicyclist": geocities.comczcornerOpen ↗

"David Ornee" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

"NEguy" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I have a Specialized RockHopper Ultra I bought in about 1996. The rear wheel hub bearings are
(apparently) shot and as far as I know, my only option is to replace either the hub alone (and
lace it up with my rear rim) OR to buy a hub and wheel complete (which are usually sold in
pairs, front and rear)and just install it complete.

Reading a tech page on one site selling either of the above options, it said that the standard
today is rear gear sets with 9 sprockets, but that you can probably use your old 8 sprocket set
if you put in a spacer. All well and good....

HOWEVER, my rear gear set has "only" a 7 sprocket set. How did I become so outdated?! :-)

So, my question: where do I go from here? If I buy one of these wheels, won't I have to update
my shifters and/or derailler? Should I look on e-Bay for older parts? I don't really want to buy
on e-Bay since that, too, is new to me. Should I just call one of the places selling bike parts
and ask them to send me the correct stuff?

All advice appreciated.

Try a complete hub overhaul. Clean out the hub and carefully check the cups and cones. If they are
OK, just replace the bearings, pack with new grease and adjust for no play when under load of the
QR. If the cones are shot, you *may* be able to find replacements. However, if the cups are shot,
you need a new hub. It may be the most frugal to replace the entire wheel. You can use a 8/9 speed
hub and add a 4.5 mm spacer to use your 7 speed cassette. There are wheel builders who have saved
some nice 7 speed hubs that can build you a nice wheel. 7 speed hubs can build a more durable
wheel because of the spoke support angles involved. If I can be more help you can contact me
directly. [email hidden] David Ornee, Western Springs, IL

Thank-you to everyone who responded.

David Ornee, I'll try e-mailing you the following follow up questions: What does QR stand for? By
"just replace the bearings," do you mean just the balls? The cones and cups would be the races? How
would I determine the correct size balls and where are they available?

Thanks

NEguy said:

HOWEVER, my rear gear set has "only" a 7 sprocket set. How did I become so outdated?! :-) So, my
question: where do I go from here? If I buy one of these wheels, won't I have to update my shifters
and/or derailler?

A spare 7s spacer under a 7s cassette (I'm assuming you don't have a freewheel) makes it fit nicely
on a 9s hub. It would be best to have a 7s hub and avoid the excessive wheel dish, but this
arrangement _does_ work.
--
David Damerell <[email hidden]> Distortion Field!