Converting a Deore LX hub to 8/9 speed.

[Rampage]

Thanks.
I've not decided what to do yet.
It's still a while off as I'm still respraying the frame.

What does OLN mean?

 

[one-eyed_jim]

What does OLN mean?

Sorry - Over Lock Nuts - the distance between the outside faces of the hub locknuts,
which should be the same as the distance between the inner faces of your hub's [edit -
correction: frame's] dropouts.

Sometimes it's written OLD, for Over Locknut Dimension (or Distance)

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_n-o.html#old

 

[utahdog2003]

One thing to remember though is that the flanges are spaced further apart on a 7s hub. You will end up with really horrible wheel dish, which certainly isn't the best idea for wheel strength.

Not always true. Many 7 speed hubs are very well suited to conversion. I have 9 speed converts for Deore DX, 750 Deore XT, Paralax LX and a few others. None have dish problems, all built up dead straigh and true. I've ridden thousands of miles on 6 and 7 speed Uniglide and Hyperglids hubs fitted with 8/9 speed hub body conversions with no problems. Even for stock trials wheels.

 

[utahdog2003]

What does OLN mean?

Sorry - Over Lock Nuts - the distance between the outside faces of the hub locknuts, which should be the same as the distance between the inner faces of your hub's dropouts.

Sometimes it's written OLD, for Over Locknut Dimension (or Distance)

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/gloss_n-o.html#old

I think that makes more complication of the issue than is needed, guys. The underlying measurement here is the dropout spacing of your frame. If your hub is 135mm, then pull the axle, pull the free-hub body, re-space the axle so that there is more space on the drive side (usually by moving a small spacer, but not all Shimano hubs are the same here), install 8/9 free-hub body, install the axle, adjust, rub gently with butter every 15 minutes and bake until golden brown! If you started with a 135mm axle assembly, and you didn't remove any spacers or add any spacers, but rather just moved a spacer, then you'll end up with a 135mm hub every time. I've never experienced a situation where the drive side bearing is in a different place inside the free-hub body, which would be the only variable in this methodology.

 

[one-eyed_jim]

If you started with a 135mm axle assembly, and you didn't remove any spacers or add any spacers, but rather just moved a spacer, then you'll end up with a 135mm hub every time. I've never experienced a situation where the drive side bearing is in a different place inside the free-hub body, which would be the only variable in this methodology.

I don't think that's generally true. The bearing surface in Shimano freehub bodies seems to be roughly the same distance from the dropout in all cases, which means that changing a 7-speed freehub body for an 8 usually means losing a spacer from the axle to maintain the same OLN. That's been my experience.

Compare the sets of spacers left and right on these two, for example:

http://bernd.sluka.de/Fahrrad/Shimano/T ... 3_1994.gif

http://bernd.sluka.de/Fahrrad/Shimano/T ... 5_1995.gif

Another complication is that not all freehub bodies use the same sealing arrangements, so you sometimes need to change the drive-side cone for one that matches the body. There are also quite a lot of subtle differences in the dimensions of the bodies and hub shells (how deep the body sits in the shell, for example) which can throw up problems, usually minor.

 

[cchris2lou]

yesterday i fitted an 8 sp freewhell form an XT hub on an old Deore hub .

worked fine , but had to re adjust the axle .

 

[Wold Ranger]

Changing

Cant be done, 8/9 freehub wont fit over the axle flange they're a different profile and you would need a new axle definitely. Free hub bodies are pricey new too. Cheaper to buy another wheel s/h. Dish can be a problem too. Sometimes 7 speed freehub bodies are loctited on very well too and won't come off. U'll sheer the shallow indents out from the lock stud. Sorry to disappoint but its not straightforward.

 

[Rampage]

Ok, thanks.
The distance between the spokes is 56mm.
I got the cassette off today and the freehub came off easily.
I'm going to go round the shops and see if any have a freehub thats fits.

Does anyone know if a 8/9 speed chain will work with 5 bolt chainrings originally designed for a 7 speed chain?

Thanks

 

[Xesh]

I used a 9spd chain on my Middleburn chainset that was 8spd and it worked fine. I won't guarantee that it'll work on a 7spd though.