Freehub Removal

[_Hoppers]

My rear wheel was sounding a bit ‘raw’ this weekend so I’ve stripped it down to re grease the bearings. I’ve got the cassette bearings out and cleaned and greased those but I can’t get the freehub off to service that. I’ve looked at a few videos on how to do it, one suggested some can’t be removed. Anyone know if this can be removed, It’s a freehub on a Fulcrum Racing Sport?

[bigdom]

Last time I took one off, I believe it was a 10mm allen key, and turn it anticlockwise, you might need a bit more leverage, if you you can add a wrench etc.

[yellowjack]

Depends on the Freehub, obviously, but a lot of hub manufacturers use the same, or very similar systems.


https://bicyclechain.co.uk/product/44317/bontrager...

The ones I've mostly come up against (and replaced a few times) have been this type.

The fixing is accessed from the non-drive side of the hub, using the Allen Wrench adaptor to unscrew the freehub body. You usually have to remove the bearings on that side too to get the adaptor in.

I've had limited success in washing out the freehub body (using light oil) though. And at £20 to £25 for a new one it's not much to pay for the peace of mind of a new one. Although saying that I've only ever had one complete failure of a freehub body which led to complete loss of drive. The internal ratchet pawls can get gummed up with muck, or the grease can harden.

It's definitely worth looking into which model you have and buying a new one, even if it's just for the spares box. I used to buy mine from 'Pedal On' in Tadley, Berkshire. When I needed one for a Giant MTB the Giant branded freehub was out of stock, but when I phoned them they knew another two items were in stock and were identical in all except packaging and price. It's a really easy job to do once you've worked out how the freehub body is fitted, and have navigated the Allen wrench adaptor into the screw fixing.

[BobsPigeon]

I had to buy 10mm and 11mm allen keys to get mine of, can't remember which fitted in the end but one got it off and one cracked it open.

Oh and a top tip, put the allen key in a vice and turn the wheel for leverage.

[yellowjack]

Looking quickly on Google Search I found this link... https://www.bikester.co.uk/fulcrum-freewheel-body-... ...which is for a Fulcrum freehub body (2022 model, though). It seems to fit a different way than ones I'm used to, and is nearly twice the price.

You could dig into some forums for advice, though, and it's quite possible that there'll be a compatible freehub out there for less than £40, one that will work just as well too.

[_Hoppers]

Thanks all for the help.

The freehub looks like the one you posted in your first reply Yellowjack, it has similar, if not the same, 'spline' arrangement to remove it. I was assuming once I've removed it I can dismantle to clean, is this the case?

If it's a sealed unit I'm not too concerned as I'm planning to get a new pair of Prime RR-50s when Wiggle/CRC have them back on offer. The bike has only done about 2.5k miles so I'm assuming it should be ok for the time being, at least for another few thousand too?!