Mavic cassette hub spacer hack
#1
Mavic cassette hub spacer hack
Thought I’d share this in case someone recognizes this as a blunder. I bought a used set of Mavic Aksium Elite wheels and tried to install a Shimano 9 speed cassette. I was missing a spacer. I read that the appropriate spacer is a 1.75 mm Mavic supplied spacer.
I have a spare 10 speed cassette with 15 tooth sprocket plate that measures approximately 1.6 mm. I used that sprocket plate as my spacer. The cassette tightened like it should on the hub. I think the hack worked. Any thoughts?
My initial thoughts were to use the temporary spacer to keep my build going and ASAP get the correct spacer but now I’m thinking what’s the hurry. Someday someone will wonder what happened to the missing sprocket plate.
Thanks.
I have a spare 10 speed cassette with 15 tooth sprocket plate that measures approximately 1.6 mm. I used that sprocket plate as my spacer. The cassette tightened like it should on the hub. I think the hack worked. Any thoughts?
My initial thoughts were to use the temporary spacer to keep my build going and ASAP get the correct spacer but now I’m thinking what’s the hurry. Someday someone will wonder what happened to the missing sprocket plate.
Thanks.
#2
Senior Member
It's actually supposed to be 1.85 mm but a couple of .1's don't make much of a difference as you've seen.
#3
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I have used a loose cassette cog modified to the correct spacer width installed behind the cassette before - worked just fine. I see no issues if everything tightened down properly and you have good thread engagement on the cassette lockring.
#4
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Notches
The Mavic supplied spacer has a three notches in it. The notches stop the rivets on the back of the cassette from being crushed when mounting the cassette and provide for a stable mount to the hub.
Does it matter.... no idea.
Barry
Does it matter.... no idea.
Barry
#5
The cassette runs true on the hub and tightened up fine so I think the hack is good. I bought those Mavic wheels used and had to repair a few dents along the braking surfaces. I was able to true the wobble from both rims but there is a tiny bit of hop in both rims that I didn’t remove. I doubt I’ll feel any of it when I ride. As for the durability of the rims now I’m not sure but I put 32c tires on them and may go to 35c. The extra cushion will hopefully avoid further rim damage.
#6
Senior Member
The ‘old’ Mavic cassette spacer was a flat washer, 2mm thick, adjusting their freehubs down from 37mm to 35mm to accept Shimano cassettes. Shimano spacers meant to adapt 11 speed hubs to accept 8/9/10 speed cassettes are 1.85mm and have the notches to properly clear the rivets on some cassettes. I recall ages ago buying a riveted Performance Forte cassette and not being able to use on it on my Mavic Cosmos wheels due to the interference issue with the rivets.
I still have those wheels, now mounted on my 1984 Trek 660 with a Shimano 5800 11 speed cassette. Old, older, and new working nicely together.
Perhaps Mavic did make some notched spacers but I’ve never seen one.