Mondraker Crafty RR thru axle

[Gareth]

Possible dumb question here,

So decided I’d pop out to the garage and fit the Mudhugger mudguards this afternoon.

I’ve only been out on the bike twice since I got it.

All I’ve done is get it out the box, fit the front wheel, pedals, set the saddle hight, check the tyre pressures, and yes go for a couple of rides.

So, before I pop the mudguards on, I thought I better check the rear axle has plenty of grease on the thread. Seized axles are not uncommon round here, probably due to loads of rain and folks putting their axles in dry. I just wanted to check mine is nicely greased up so it won’t seize in.

But yeah, I’m a bit confused. The axle should come out from the left side,ie the disc brake side, and is indeed marked 10Nm. I tried a 5mm allen T key – but it was too small, so I tried a 6mm allen T key but that was too big. I don’t seem to have a 5.5mm allen T key, but have a 5.5mm plain allen key which goes in but has loads of play. It just doesn’t feel right so I don’t want to put any pressure on it.

I looked at the other side. I presume that is an insert that the thru axle threads into – is that correct? It looks like it might be threaded in but the 8mm Allen head is very shallow (I’m thinking if that is threaded in maybe I need to grease it just in case it ever needs to be removed.

So then I dug out my Sealey Torx set. To my surprise a T40H fits snugly into the thru axle. So is a T40H torx required to remove the thru-axle.

Photos and video to follow........

 

[Gareth]

5mm allen nice and snug into my Cube thru axle - as I would expect



5.5mm goes into my Mondraker thu axle but with lots of play.

Is this an insert, into which the thru-axle threads?

 

[Gareth]

 

[Mikerb]

cannot help re the sizing of your thru axle but 5.5 seems a weird one!!
Just a tip re maintenance of the thru axle. I remove the back wheel every time I clean the bike and apply some grease to both the shaft and thread of the thru axle before it is re inserted. Never had any problems with it coming loose or seizing on any bike I have had. ( same applies to the front wheel thru axle).

 

[Gareth]

cannot help re the sizing of your thru axle but 5.5 seems a weird one!!

Just a tip re maintenance of the thru axle. I remove the back wheel every time I clean the bike and apply some grease to both the shaft and thread of the thru axle before it is re inserted. Never had any problems with it coming loose or seizing on any bike I have had. ( same applies to the front wheel thru axle).

Cheers Miker,

It doesn’t seem to be 5.5mm, too slack a fit. 6.0mm won’t go in.

It looks like T40H. It is hard to see as the outer is circular, so hard to identify by eye. T40H just seems weird. And I don’t like putting pressure on stuff unless I am certain I have the right fitting.

Hoping another Mondraker owner will be able to clear this up.

 

[Darren66]

I've got a Crafty R, it's definitely 6mm

 

[Gareth]

I've got a Crafty R, it's definitely 6mm

Thank-you Darren!

Went back out to the garage. Tried the 6mm again and thought, naw that’s never going in. But I persevered as surely they’d all be the same. Then it just popped in. Its really tight, but it does go in.

Never had that before.

So yeah dumb question and I feel pretty silly now. But I guess I’d have felt worse if I’d have mashed it with a torx bit.

So popped the axle out, and yeah it had the tiniest smear of grease. Greased up, back in and torqued to 10nM.

Thanks again.

 

[Darren66]

Thank-you Darren!

Went back out to the garage. Tried the 6mm again and thought, naw that’s never going in. But I persevered as surely they’d all be the same. Then it just popped in. Its really tight, but it does go in.

Never had that before.

So yeah dumb question and I feel pretty silly now. But I guess I’d have felt worse if I’d have mashed it with a torx bit.

So popped the axle out, and yeah it had the tiniest smear of grease. Greased up, back in and torqued to 10nM.

Thanks again.

Yes, I found it quite difficult it's almost like there's a detent ball within the axle?

 

[Gareth]

Yes it does feel a bit odd.

 

[Jamescoughlan]

I think there might be an internal o-ring in the axle. On my Crafty it always felt tight going in (fnar fnar)

 

[johnnystorm]

I've been some bikes come with QR lever style 6mm hex keys that "clip" into the axle. Is the o-ring for holding them tight when riding perhaps?