Help please - servicing shimano 600 hubs

Ross 1964 · Jun 27, 2011

My late 1980s Shimano 600/Mavic MA40 wheels are as true as the day I had them built but the bearings sound a bit dry.

They did plenty of miles back in the day but have done none for almost 20 years so I reckon there's plenty of life left in them.

Can I lubricate the bearings, does anyone know? Any special tools needed?

Thanks for any advice.

retro-rich · Jun 27, 2011

Have a look here:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/tooltips/hubs.html

I've done it once or twice, wasn't too difficult, just a bit fiddly. I imagine you have cup and cone bearings, sure someone will tell you if i am wrong. You'll need a couple of cone spanners.

Brendan · Jun 27, 2011

Its fine and relatively easy to do, if you have the cassette version of the Shimano hubs then that dry gravelly sound might actually be the freehub, in which case unless you have the specific tool to take them apart there is little you can do apart from drip some gloopy wet lube into them.

The sheldon brown page is a great place to start.

dbmtb · Jun 27, 2011

Likely as not the original grease has turned to yellow gunk over time.

Would be a good idea to strip and regrease. Probably needs little else.

Ross 1964 · Jun 28, 2011

Thanks, guys. The cassette is brand new.

Both wheels have that dry bearing sound - I span the rear one without chain so the freewheel was static.

Pleased to hear a regrease is straightforward.

Agency_Scum · Jun 28, 2011

Treat the hubs to some nice new ball bearings from the ironmongers....don't pay more than a quid for them. I'd favour bog-standard car axle grease; about £3 a tub or a packet of choccy Hobnobs for a mug-full from your local car mechanic.
Should see you right for a few more years.

Help please - servicing shimano 600 hubs

Ross 1964

Devout Dirtbag

retro-rich

Retro Guru

Brendan

Old School Hero

dbmtb

Ross 1964

Devout Dirtbag

Agency_Scum

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