Servicing Silent Clutch Freehub Bodies.

[Konaglider]

I've stripped down my FH-RO50 Silent Clutch hub for clean up. i've removed rubber seal from back of freehub now wondering how best to flush out and re-grease and with what degreasant and then what grease or oil? Thanks

 

[clockworkgazz]

lx silent clutch

Would really love to know if anyone has any knowledge on this hub as I have a lx silent clutch on the beast that feels like it could do with a service........anyone?

 

[hamster]

Are you trying just to rebuild the bearings of the axle, or to fettle the freehub body itself?

Generally freehub bodies are a sealed part - I'm told that they are rebuildable with care and a lot of patience and tiny ball bearings. I heard that cooking them in a can of oil can bring them back to life from stuck pawls.

However if there is a lot of play in the freehub body it's probably junk, new bodies are cheap and still available.

 

[clockworkgazz]

Speaking for myself- I have regreased the axle no problems it seems to be the internals of the freehub that are dry and are not as sillent as the name suggests they should be

Have tryed to pump oil into the freehub thru the gaps (without taking it apart) and though this helped a bit the hub still sounds as if the bearings are too dry and the wheel does not spin for very long suggesting alot of internal friction. I

s it that hard to dismantle a freehub?

 

[Xesh]

Speaking for myself- I have regreased the axle no problems it seems to be the internals of the freehub that are dry and are not as sillent as the name suggests they should be

Have tryed to pump oil into the freehub thru the gaps (without taking it apart) and though this helped a bit the hub still sounds as if the bearings are too dry and the wheel does not spin for very long suggesting alot of internal friction. I

s it that hard to dismantle a freehub?

Speaking from personal experience DO NOT try to dismantle the freehub body. If you need to lubricate it there are two ways to do it.

The hard way: Remove the seal on the rear of the body. Flush it through with something like WD40 to remove the old grease and muck. Let it drain for an hour or so and then soak it in a bath of gear box oil (Castrol Hypoy EP-90 is good) overnight. Take it out and let it drain for an hour or two then re-assemble.

The easy way: Use one of the most useful tools in the universe. A freehub buddy. You can find it here. http://www.morningstartools.com/freehub_buddy1.html

If that still doesn't work then I have a spare silent clutch freehub body at work. It's an 8 speed version from and R080 hub I believe.

 

[ozpete]

I rebuilt a 7-speed freehub last week, simply because so many have suggested don't. It was old and rather slack, so nothing to lose. I found the the exercise quite easy, albeit fiddly. Don't know it silent hubs are any harder than a standard hub though.
If you do have a crack at rebuilding one, keep the grease away from the pawls, or they stick down, creating the opposite of a fixed hub. ie, no drive in either direction! Use a drop of EP gear oil, like Xesh suggests.

 

[REKIBorter]

This is how I clean & re-lube Shimano freehub bodies, may work for other types ...

Take the freehub off the hub with a 10mm allen key, put you finger in the hole left where the axle was in the inboard side of the freehub. Fill the other side with a light lube (GT85 or WD40). Put your mouth over the end of the freehub body and sharply blow the lube through the freehub*. All sort of muck should fly out so be careful where you are pointing it, the taste will remind yourself of the days you used to siphon petrol out of motorbikes. Repeat until you are satisfied most of the muck has been flushed out. Repeat again a couple of times using a heavier lube such as Finish Line Cross Country not the waxy teflon types it won't work so well. Jobs a goodun'

*Sheldon Brown recommended dripping lube through but this is more effective at shifting the grime.

 

[clockworkgazz]

Thanks REKIBorter, I now have my weekend sorted, sounds like great fun and sure it can only improve the freehub.

Thanks lads for the sage like advice, will let you know how I get on

 

[clockworkgazz]

Any tips on how to get the freehub body off using the 10mm allen key? Mine sems stuck and I don't want to force the issue?

 

[Xesh]

If it's hard to get off then you could try putting a tube of some sort over the allen key to increase the leverage. An old seatpost usually works well.