Hope BigUn Freehub Body Replacement.

[Wylie]

I'm looking to replace the freehub on a Mk1 BigUn. I can get the part but I'm wondering if i could do it myself or should i take it to my LBS?

My current freehub is giving out random clunks and im not sure if the issue is with the pawls or whatever they engage with inside the hub shell. Any help or advice would be be most gratefully appreciated.

 

[ishaw]

Re:

If it's like their modernkit simples: https://www.mbr.co.uk/mountain-bike-vid ... hub-276645

If it is like their older hubs, there might be circlips involved. These were generally to hold bearings in though, I think the freehub pulls off unless there is a visible circlip once the axle spacers are removed.

 

[RickTheUncivil]

Re:

Yep, last bigun I pulled apart just, well, pulled apart. Plenty of info online. I found it a little fiddly but not especially complicated

 

[dyna-ti]

I'd recommend taking off the old freehub before going to the shop, as they will charge you to remove it, and then might say the clunking is damage and its pointless replacing it, after you've bought the freehub and now here the shop bill.

Two plastic tyre levers in to the end cap on the freehub side, dont use steel, remember its just thin at that lip.
Just levering like one of those butterfly wine openers will take off the cap, and the freehub will slide off, which alittle wagle or so.
A cloth around to catch the pawl/springs but its likely to be gunky in there so maybe not spring out, but it will be mucky.

Clean it all up and post a pic, including inside the hub, as not to worry you, but if a pawl comes loose, it can gouge its way around the inside. Best look before committing money to anything.

 

[Wylie]

Thanks for the advice, I'll try getting it off at the weekend and hopefully be able to post some pics, see where I'm at

 

[Wylie]

Ok so i've got the freehub off and had a look at things. Pics attached as asked.

 

[Timoth27]

Re:

From your pics it looks in pretty good nic, as long as the axle is sound and straight I’d just replace all the bearings, pawls and springs and put it back together.

Just be careful, the spacer that’s goes between the hub bearing and the free hub will probably be a slightly different length to the one that’s between the 2 bearings in the freehub so don’t mix them up. And remember there is a circlip in between the 2 bearings in the freehub. Hope that makes sense. Oh and red is the best colour obviously.

 

[Wylie]

I'm glad its all looking good inside and the axle is fine ...so if i just got new pawls and springs would the loud "Hope Click" return? ...or would i also need to replace the ratchet ring to get that sound back?

Also, and not that i really need to, but if i wanted to replace the bearings, would i need any special hope drifts to get the old ones out?

 

[boxxer]

Re:

Wratchet ring looks fine - doesnt look like the springs are in the pawls as they should sit proud

Given its age the ring just needs a light cleaning and some light grease and it'll be good to go

 

[Timoth27]

I'm glad its all looking good inside and the axle is fine ...so if i just got new pawls and springs would the loud "Hope Click" return? ...or would i also need to replace the ratchet ring to get that sound back?

Also, and not that i really need to, but if i wanted to replace the bearings, would i need any special hope drifts to get the old ones out?

I’ve got several of the Hope drifts but that’s just because I have enough hubs I felt it was worth buying them. But if that’s your only Hope hub you should be ok to use an appropriate sized (as close as you can get) socket as a drift.

Like Boxxer said the ratchet ring just wants a wipe/degrease while the bearings are out and then a small amount (too much will stop the pawls springing back properly) of grease when you put the new pawls and springs in you should get the Hope click back.