Freehub Help

[marksbike]

Hi Guys

I am pretty new to cycling and very new to bike repair but I like to know how to do things, I am pretty good at picking things up and I figured that if I am going to be cycling a lot (I've done over 800 miles since November when I began) then I should know how to do bike repairs myself.

So I purchased an Ultegra groupset and I am now fitting all the bits and pieces only to find out that my freehub needed to be upgraded (I have already checked about the spacer from the 10 speed). I purchased the correct freehub but I am having issues in getting the old one off the wheel.

I have looked over many videos and they all show either hex keys (doesnt work on mine as its a circular hole throughout), allen keys (same issue), freehub removal tools (I purcashed one and it didnt fit but after inspection of how it does work it will not help my situation even if it did fit.

Then there are videos which show the type I have and there is a guy removing it in a crude way using a grip tool and a rag?! I am sure there must be either a tool to do this job (havent found one yet) or its stuck and maybe someone can guide me in the direction of the correct tools to remove it.

I have attached a video which shows better than I can explain, any help would really be appreciated.

https://www.veed.io/view/555a9bb8-d46f- ... anel=share

Kind regards

[mattsccm]

First, why are you replacing the free hub?
If it is because you wish to swap from its original 10 speeds to 11 fair enough, although there are way around that, but otherwise it may not be needed.
Now, I don't know that hub but every Shimano one I have seen or got has cup and cone bearings identifed by flats on the nuts on the axle. These come off, the left side ideally, to then allow acess to the freehub from that side. Big allen key for every Shimano hub I have touched.
The key needs to go in using the long shaft.
I guess there may be exceptions but that,s my experience

[marksbike]

Sorry but some of what you are saying is a bit alien to me but I'll try my best.

I am replacing the freehub because I need to upgrade to 11speed ultegra cassette. From what I understand 11 speed is 36mm and 10 and lower is 34mm, mine is 34 and there is no room for the last cog, believe me I have tried.

What you are suggesting may work but I cannot see how an Allen key gets in there, there is just one small circular hole from one side to the other with no breaks.

I think that there is either a tool or it pulls off and it's very stiff. However I really want confirmation from someone who has encountered the same issue before I start messing about with things.

Thank you for your reply it really is appreciated.

[SimonCelsa]

I'm no expert on modern groupsets but would say you've got to remove the axle first to allow access to the freehub. The little round hole you are looking at in your video link is that axle; that has to come out to allow access to remove the freehub.

RJ the bike guy has a video which may help, it's for a MTB hub but basically the same principle:

https://www.bing.com/videos/riverview/r ... ORM=VRDGAR

apologies if this is a bum steer!

[rjb]

You need to post the manufacturer of the hub for help. Each manufacturer has different arrangements for how the freehub is attached. Some use allen keys from either the left or right side but you need to remove the axle first. Some have loose ball bearings (Generally shimano versions) others have sealed bearing units. Some freehubs just pull off without removing the axle and usually have a collar that may need removing from the drive side first. Post again with a bit more information. and some photos.
If you have a shimano hub you will need to remove the axle. The flats on the nuts allow you to get a thin spanner on and you then need to remove the locknut to release the cones and allow the axle to be removed. Remove the cone and locknut from the non drive side and catch the ball bearings as you withdraw the axle from the drive side. When the axle is out look inside the hub from the freehub side and you may see an internal bolt which needs a big allen key to remove. Cant remember the size. If you fit a longer freehub you may need to shift spacers around to give you clearance from your sprockets being too close to the frame. This means you may also need to recentre the rim using a spoke key. if this is too much then stick to 10 speed.

[rareposter]

I think that there is either a tool or it pulls off and it's very stiff. However I really want confirmation from someone who has encountered the same issue before I start messing about with things.

That's the axle!
You need to remove the nut on one side (usually the non-drive side) which you do using a thin spanner called a cone spanner on the inner one and a regular spanner on the outer nut.
Undo those, slide the axle out from the other side and that then exposes the inner workings of the hub.

https://youtu.be/YnfmHyQ1s9I?si=df_nniF6YrbwEWxb

[rareposter]

Post again with a bit more information. and some photos.

Check the OPs video link in the first post.
Shimano hub.

[rjb]

I've amended my post as its probably a shimano hub although its not clear from the video

[marksbike]

Thanks and that video is certainly helpful but I assure you an Allen key will not work, I can't say this enough lol as I've tried but it's sticking an Allen key in a round hole, it does nothing except spin!

However the thin spanner could help but I'd need one for each side. I'm getting closer to the solution, in the video you sent me the guy eventually was able to unscrew the bolt, that might be where I am at now but it's simply stuck.

There must be someone who has dealt with this exact scenario, it's a relatively common wheel.

[rjb]

heres an ultegra hub which shows how its put together which may help you. May not be the exact same version as yours so caveat emptor.
After removing the axle you can then remove the freehub attachment bolt item 11 with an allen key 10 or 12 mm allen keys are common sizes for this bolt.

[Eyebrox]

I've an 11sp Shimano XT hub and it takes a 14mm Allen key. So you might have to borrow a bigger key.

[slowster]

Presumably you have bought a groupset with an 11-32 or smaller cassette. If you fitted an 11-34 cassette instead, you would not need to change the freehub, because that cassette and the larger MTB cassettes, e.g. 11-40, fit onto 10 speed freehubs. If your rear derailleur is a GS model (so called 'medium' cage), it is likely to have the capacity for the larger 11-34 cassette.

[gregoryoftours]

Your video doesn't show what brand of hub you have or any marking to give a clue, so it's not possible to guess exactly what parts you have and how they'll come apart. Please give us more information about your hub, and exactly what freehub you've bought. You say you have a Shimano groupset but that doesn't usually include the hubs. Most bike manufacturers use their own or re-badged hubs that are put together differently to Shimano branded ones.

If it's Shimano compatible (i.e. Designed to be compatible with Shimano cassettes) but not an actual Shimano branded hub then you can't just buy a Shimano branded freehub to fit to it.

In any case you need to remove the locknuts/spacers etc on the non drive side of the axle in order to remove the whole axle assembly from the drive side. Looking at your video that will require probably a 15mm and a 17mm cone spanner. Then an Allen key to fit the tubular nut that secures the freehub to the hub. Depending on the model it can be a 10, 11, 12 or14mm required, accessed either from the drive side or the non drive side, if indeed the freehub is removable.

The tool you've bought is useful if you need to completely disassemble a certain type of freehub, but will not remove it from the hub. It does a different job.

[pwa]

Yes, the axle and bearings need to come out first. That will then leave a void within which there will be a hexagonal section for a very large allen key. Assuming the hub is branded "Shimano". The freehub will them come off quite easily.

[marksbike]

heres an ultegra hub which shows how its put together which may help you. May not be the exact same version as yours so caveat emptor.
After removing the axle you can then remove the freehub attachment bolt item 11 with an allen key 10 or 12 mm allen keys are common sizes for this bolt.

This helps massively, does it show how the axel is removed as that is what is stuck. Does is unscrew or pull off?