Changes in Shimano hubs, over time?

[Neil]

Probably like most of us, here, I've got several hubs in my spares, but something piqued my interest, recently.

I've got some Deore hubs (all front, NOS) that are there for building up, rebuilding some of the slightly more modern rims I've got (that are as yet unbuilt or need rebuilding), a 510, a 530, a 570, and recently a 590 (needed a slightly more modern front hub in 36h for a pair of (unmatched, although I think they'll be reasonably OK together) Mavic rims (X517 and D521 - the 517 completely NOS, the 521 looks to be practically new, but is built in a retarded fashion - laced radially to a Deore DX 36h front hub) both 36h.

Anyways, the point I was posting for - well 3 of those front hubs all have the rubber covers over the locknuts on the axle, but the latest hub I bought (the 590) doesn't - is there any rhyme or reason, there?

And for context about my comments about the retarded 521 wheel I've got (radially laced to a Deore DX 36h front hub), I found this on a Shimano leaflet that must have dropped out of one of the hub boxes "Hubs manufactured by Shimano are not suitable for radial lacing." Not sure which particular hub that leaflet came with, but is dated 1997 at the bottom.

 

[silverclaws]

Cost cutting measures ?

As let's face it the covers aren't really needed, yet they keep the locknuts from going rusty, getting covered in crap and stop long grass hanging on in there and make the hub look clean, but aside from that, they really aren't needed, so a viable cost cutting measure perhaps, or yours came without.

 

[Neil]

Cost cutting measures ?

As let's face it the covers aren't really needed, yet they keep the locknuts from going rusty, getting covered in crap and stop long grass hanging on in there and make the hub look clean, but aside from that, they really aren't needed, so a viable cost cutting measure perhaps, or yours came without.

Maybe - maybe it's as simple as that.

Thing is, I've got a box with several DX hubs in - they're all from that pre-parallax era, and don't have the rubber covers.

Then several wheelsets with parallax LX hubs with the covers one, and a various unused parallax hubs with the covers, then suddenly some seem to not have them. I'm fairly sure I've seen the odd photo of hubs on eBS websites that show more modern hubs without them - just wondered why start using them, then apparently stop.

 

[FluffyChicken]

The design changed to the double overlap cover thing and sometimes a seal on the higher models with the metal bits One section is over the bearings and the other is integrated into the axle race section. The ugly covers hide this as it didn't look neat. Before that is was black or plastic covers push in covers in touch with the rubber seal.

A plastic one is still used on the XT hubs, at least the rear, not seen the front.

It does add some protection as it's an extra layer to get through.

A quick look shows the HB-M780 still uses them and the Deore latest does not as you say.
Got to differentiate your products somehow.

what does the seal area look like now ?
found it, so just a neater final cover

 

[silverclaws]

I must admit I did used to like the old late eighties/early nineties XT hubs with the grease injection ports in the side, what better way to keep crud out than a grease seal and re-grease to force out anything that got past that. Sometimes some things are so simple, we just have to change it.

 

[FluffyChicken]

I have a load of the XT 'greaseport seals' NOS, The Deore (also have them spare) do not have them and the Ultegra are better and have a metal reinforcement (have these as spares NOS).
Got tones of the metal push in bits that you can rip out when you change the bearings.

Fronts

Rear none drive

 

[Neil]

I have a load of the XT 'greaseport seals' NOS

I bought a pair of Campag rims (can't remember whether they were Atek or Stheno) with XT hubs with the grease ports in - oddly enough, I think it was only a few months prior to this, I'd redone all the grease and bearing in the wheels I was running then (Avenir (Sun) Duro 17 rims on DX hubs). This would be 95, don't remember them (XT hubs) as being parallax hubs, though - the older style, slimmer hubs.

This was after somebody had tried to nick my (then) 91 Apex, and only succeeded in bending the rear wheel. After buying these new wheels and a load of other new parts, I'd just about got everything working well again, when it finally lost it's fight against crime by not resisting theft a final second time.

I'd hardly put any miles on those Campag / XT wheels, too...