Mavic Paris Dakar: longer axles to fit a 135mm dropout?

Boron · May 18, 2016

I have a pair of Mavic Paris Dakar wheels that I was hoping to start using again after a long layoff; they really are a bombproof set of wheels. Front sits fine in the forks; took me a while to realise the rear is too narrow.

Research shows that it has a 126mm axle: viewtopic.php?f=2&t=282838 (picture taken from this thread).

My rear dropout is 135mm (actually measured, it is more like 136mm). So obviously too wide for a 126mm axle.

Is there any way of extending the axle on the rear hub in a way that won't require spending a lot of time and/or money sourcing old parts? Or is this too much of a bodge job? If there's no solution, I'll reluctantly be putting these up for sale.

Thanks for any replies!

Thias · May 19, 2016

Maybe this article is of help: http://sheldonbrown.com/frame-spacing.html
Especially the part about axle spacing adjustment and the (not needed) axle access.

If you bend your frame a few mm and spacer up your axle, you might get away with no extra parts.

John J · May 19, 2016

Re:

Mavic 530 Gao Dakar Hubs. These were available in 126, 130 and 135mm axle lengths as below:

I'm sure it's possible to interchange the axle length if you can find the correct axle and spacers.

shauno · May 19, 2016

Re:

I am trying to do the exact same thing with my 571 hubs.
I'll keep you posted if I figure something out.
I might try to get a new axle machined to the correct length also.

Boron · May 20, 2016

Thanks for all the responses. Cold setting the frame is out (it's aluminium) - even if it were steel I'd consider that a step too far for me. I mean they're a nice wheelset but not worth bending the frame for IMO!

The technical guide is interesting - couldn't find any tech guides for products earlier than 1997 on the Mavic site so good to know longer axles do actually exist. The problem will be tracking them down. Had a look at eBay.fr and a few places online but haven't come up with anything so far.

@shauno: that's some serious dedication but if you're likely to tackle that, I'd be interested in your results.

Otherwise a bit more scrabbling around but I suspect I might have to accept defeat on this one :-(

Boron · May 21, 2016

Just posting for future reference:

"Mavic uses the same front hub for four of their present and previous pair of hubs, the 501 & 571 road hubsets also the previous 531 mountain hubs, and the discontinued 577, mountain cassette hubset."
http://www.bikepro.com/products/hubs/hubs_mavic.html

• Part 50019
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mavic-Rear-hub- ... 3d183d0e22

• Part 9500030
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mavic-501-Rea ... Swo3pWcp19
(Listing states "The axle can either be spaced at 126 mm, by leaving out the spacer, or 130 mm with the spacer included")

• Part 530033
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MAVIC-WHEEL-H ... Sw1x1UNRd8
(Listing states "WE have been advised that this axle is to convert a 125 6/7 speed 500 series hub into a 130 6/7 speed hub by extending the left hand side by one of our customers")

At least 125mm -> 130mm is halfway there....!

greencat · May 22, 2016

You might find this helpful or not - but I had one of these rear hubs back in the day and the axles had a habit of snapping in my experience. I went through two in the space of six months and I wasn't anymore than 10 st or a particularly hard rider at the time.

Seca Blue · May 22, 2016

Re:

Really surprised to hear that. Mine have been on for over 20yrs and still work flawlessly now. I don't think they've even been serviced and have covered thousands of miles in all conditions.
Mostly why I've never bothered trying anything else.

On and I love seeing that yellow label in the centre spinning round when I'm riding.

Boron · Jul 1, 2016

Got to say mine also were practically indestructible. Never gave me any hub problems or even went out of true as far as I can recall. Would be a shame to sell them.

Any axle hoarders out there...?

Huelse · Jul 8, 2016

I have lot's of 135mm NIB Mavic axles for VTT/501/531/571 (tread-on) rear hubs. I sell them for 10 euros plus shipping.
The cleanest solution.

Mavic Paris Dakar: longer axles to fit a 135mm dropout?

Boron

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