I just bought an Ultegra hub. The bearings run smooth except in a spot or two which feel lumpy like a low end hub. Is this normal? Any advice would be appreciated. Did I get a lemon?
How much bearing roughness is acceptable on new Ultegra hub?
- Thread starter garage sale GT
- Start date
It should be completely smooth. If these are new hubs, I would return them and ask for replacements. If you bought them used, you now know why they were for sale. LBS for new bearings unless you know how to replace them yourself. BTW- if you return them to a LBS, be prepared for the salesman to try to tell you that this is perfectly normal, it's not. Ask him to bring out another new hub and compare the running of the bearngs between the two hubs.
If the hub is NOT laced up, yet, then put one hand on each axle end and roll the hub on a table top or kitchen counter or the floor AND see if you can lose the "lumpy" feeling when the bearings are "loaded" ...garage sale GT said:
Sometimes, the cup-and-cone adjustment is just a little too tight & backing it off 1/16th to an 1/8th of a turn will make things feel right ...
REGARDLESS, the axle on a NEW Ultegra hub should definitely turn smoothly through the entire 360º ... so, you could be dealing with worn bearings (if used) which are due for replacement at some point in the near future.
garage sale GT said:
On a new hub, it is not unusual as when you build the wheel, the adjustment of the cones does lessen, it does get smoother. After building, a check to see if the hub is adjusted is essential. AND if you adjust it, another check of the dish. BUT, open it, clean it, add new grease and balls if not a new hub. Look at the cones and cups to see if they are smooth.
I think one ball may have a slight flat spot because if you turn it for a while you can't feel it. Then you turn it some more and you do feel it. I believe bearing balls don't generally rotate in the same track.
No, I just took them out of the box I got from Nashbar. They were not from the returns outlet either.dhk2 said:
I mean to say, of course they rotate on the same track in the cup and the cone, but the balls themselves don't just get one equator-like wear land around them but wear all over their surface.
garage sale GT said:
Open them up, add grease, reassemble, build wheel, adjust, finish wheel, go ride.
Thanks for the help guys, I have sent the hub back and will no longer be checking the thread.
The adjustment did not feel too tight. The axle rolled very smoothly and with nearly no resistance and only the slightest hint of "bearing lumpiness". However, there was one spot that had a great big lump in it. I think there was a flaw in one of the balls.
I don't want to tear apart the hub and risk not being able to return it, and I don't want to buy 3/16 ABEC-5 balls just to check and find out the problem is elsewhere. Mostly, I don't want to buy Ultegra just so I'd have to monkey with it straight out of the box.
Thanks for the help.
(I did not ask if Nashbar would let me tear the hub apart to check if it was one bad ball before sending it back.)
The adjustment did not feel too tight. The axle rolled very smoothly and with nearly no resistance and only the slightest hint of "bearing lumpiness". However, there was one spot that had a great big lump in it. I think there was a flaw in one of the balls.
I don't want to tear apart the hub and risk not being able to return it, and I don't want to buy 3/16 ABEC-5 balls just to check and find out the problem is elsewhere. Mostly, I don't want to buy Ultegra just so I'd have to monkey with it straight out of the box.
Thanks for the help.
(I did not ask if Nashbar would let me tear the hub apart to check if it was one bad ball before sending it back.)
roughness? I always use campy materials and I *never* found a record-class hub that runs smoothly, in new and also old wheels (tried: Nucleon 2002, Neutron 2004, Fulcrum R1 2006, Eurus 2005, Eurus 2008). Simply, it's not important that it runs smoothly when the wheel is free of weight; it doesn't mean anything.
Sikhandar said:
Are you sure they weren't Roadmaster hubs with the "Roadmaster" sanded off and "Campagnolo" painted on?The hub was smooth, though, and so was the rear hub. It's just that in one spot it felt like there was a flat filed on to one of the bearing balls. I am not saying that was the case, but it's what it felt like. A flaw like that would soon lead to a pit.
Nashbar is great about taking stuff back, so why should I risk buying a lemon? It's an intermittent problem because the bad spot moves out of contact with the cups and cones, so maybe it missed inspection.
I've never had Campagnolo but I just don't buy that it's not that smooth. Perhaps you have never experienced a cheap or a damaged bearing. This felt pretty bad.
Well ok, but keep in mind that one thing is a "crrrr-crrrr" hub, one thing is a damaged one (and I experienced it)! Campy feel perfect when on the road... and remember that all models I cited are with "balls", not with bearings, so it could be an important difference.garage sale GT said:
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