RickB.

Got a new wheelset this week and the outer portion of the front hub rubs on the fork just above the dropouts. So I put a very thin washer as a spacer between the fork and hub endcap on each side. Now they spin freely.

Just wondering is this unusual or something that happens occasionally with wider front hubs and certain forks. Seems safe to me, just haven't run across this before and searches don't turn up anything (for me).

Thanks y'all,



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LarDasse74

Quite unusual. What models of hub and fork do you have?

Kimmo

Yeah, never come across that one before.

RickB.

Fork is Easton EC70, wheels are Boyd Vitesse... Camera is dead right now...

Kimmo

I don't get it.

RickB.

This is with the washer, without it the hub touches the fork above the dropout...

FBinNY 

We'd see that, or the comparable chain touching the seat stay once in a while back in the bronze age when the tube was fairly large OD near the tip, or ended too close to the axle position. The washer is a fine fix for now. A better repair can be made using a file to establish clearance by by removing the offending metal from either the hub or fork.

Looking at the photo, there doesn't seem to be any room in the fork unless the tube ends over a solid plug. But you might be able to take the turning rim of the hub back a hair. I you opt to file the hub, the easiest way is to file it lightly while the wheel is spinning and checking often so you take off only what's necessary. Finish the job by painting the filed area to prevent corrosion.

Probably the best option would be to put the washer under the axle face, if it's possible on that hub.

Kimmo

Hm, that one's got a wider flange spacing than the Boyd Vitesse I dug up...

Those are odd hubs. They deserve the file, not the fork.

Otherwise, I guess another 2mm OLD isn't going to hurt the fork. The dropouts being 0.3 degrees out of parallel prolly isn't going to cause much carnage either.

RickB.

"Probably the best option would be to put the washer under the axle face, if it's possible on that hub."

-Trying to visualize "under the axle face" ... hmm

"Otherwise, I guess another 2mm OLD isn't going to hurt the fork. The dropouts being 0.3 degrees out of parallel prolly isn't going to cause much carnage either. "

-Carnage is all I'm trying to avoid. I would rather not take a file to the hub out of respect to the warranty. In fact I'd rather not take a file to anything as long as the washer solution works and will not cause a catastrophic failure.


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Kimmo

Pretty sure FB meant between the locknut and cone, or whatever that hub has if it's cartridge bearing; permanently installed kinda thing.

No catastrophic failure in the offing, just perhaps some very slightly accelerated bearing wear.

RickB.

Oh so on the inside of the endcap/locknut, between it and the cartridge bearing instead of being between the endcap and fork.... I think I get it...

Thanks for the input guys!





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FBinNY 

Warning, not all hub designs are amenable to this modification. Some endcaps are located by the end of the axle and the depth of the end cap bore. Adding a washer under the end of these will overly compress the bearing, unless you add an identical cap at the bottom of the bore (end of the axle). This design isn't all that common, but I'd hate to have you ruin a hub by blindly following my advice.

RickB.

No worries, I'm gonna run with the washers where they are. I can't imagine why this wouldn't work just fine...

coachboyd

The spacer will work very well, and this is the second time I have seen where a fork slightly rubs the hub shell. It is going to be on a fork with an alloy drop out and kind of a bulb shape right above that. The alloy drop out is very thin and it transitions to a much larger carbon section just above the drop out.

In an effort to move the flanges out as far as possible and make a stiff wheel the tolerances can be kind of tight. Most forks can accommodate this no problem (I actually ran into this problem a long time ago with an Alpha Q fork and an I9 wheel).

If you want, I have a couple of the older hubs laying around that have a bit more clearance. I will swap that out for you if you would like. It will be a little less stiff but shouldn't be noticeable. I am also going to work on getting end caps produced for the hubs that will bring the drop outs another .5mm out on each end. Not sure how quick I can get those done though.

Kimmo

Hey, it's Boyd himself.

How about putting a chamfer there in future? How are those hubs made, I suppose they're machined billet?

RickB.

Thanks Coach, I don't think swapping out the hub is necessary, I'm fine running with the washers. Might be interested in the endcaps though when you get them... Gotta get out and ride, gonna get too hot too fast today !