Rear Hub Loosening

[DTZ]

Hi All,

I have both a 2019 Base model Levo FST and a 2019 Womens HT Levo - Both bikes have been owned for only a few weeks and I've noticed that both have started to suffer from a little bit of side to side play in the rear wheels.

On my FSR I first noticed it after around 120 miles I took my wheel out and tightened the lock nuts on the wheel spindle a little and the play went away (After realising these seemed to be threaded backwards - the normal tighten direction actually loosened them), but <50 miles later I have noticed that I again have a little play in the back wheel. I can understand a little bedding in which may explain them loosening after a short time, but now they're doing it again.

The other halfs HT has only done around 100 miles, but it also has some play in the wheel. Its going back to the supplying dealer on Sunday for a healthcheck and I'll mention it to them and ask their advice.

Is this an issue anyone else has experienced? Is it a known issue? Does anyone have any advice on the correct way to adjust the wheel spindle / preloading?

 

[Troutwrestler]

Yes. This seems to happen a lot. I just keep an eye on it, readjust as necessary, and keep the rear thru axle tight.

 

[outerlimits]

Yeah it happens, and if not checked constantly can junk the bearings. Imo the bearings aren’t that great to start with. A drop of the weakest strength lock tight should hold them in place for a while.
My original bearings lasted 1200km even tho I kept an eye on them. Got some from the bearing shop and they have now done 4800km and are fine, as I have just snapped the rear hub axle, so I checked them while apart. My front wheel bearings have now got play too at 6000km. Will be replacing them next week for sure now.
6903 LBLU in the rear and 6902 2RS in the front.

 

[Indigo]

The problem could be an incomplete cover of grease on the thread. So when you do it up tight it's actually not gone all the way in. Try removing the bolt and smear the grease thinly and evenly over the entire thread. You will then find the bolt screws in really easily and goes tight suddenly at the end. That's how it should feel.

 

[DTZ]

I think I've actually sorted this now!

What I did was use a big allen key in the axle, then tightened the first nut on the non cassette side using a thin 19mm spanner so that it was pretty tight, but not too tight on the bearings (still span nicely). I then used a 17mm spanner on the second nut and by holding the allen key and 19mm nut really tightly I was able to lock the outer nut against the inner nut so that the have effectively locked together. Pretty much like you had to do with cones and loose bearings on older bikes.

The wheel now seems to be be more stable, and in 50+ miles it hasn't loosened again!

 

[Tim69]

Had same problem on the rear wheel, not long ago... Thrue axle kept coming loose during my rides..
Tightened the opposing nuts, like you did... Since then it's been fine.
Tim

 

[Mikerb]

Mine was coming loose...or maybe fitted loose to start with. Took it out and greased it then tightened kt to the correct torque...which is quite high and more than yku are likely to do with a multi tool.....been fine ever since.

 

[Tim69]

Had same problem on the rear wheel, not long ago... Thrue axle kept coming loose during my rides..
Tightened the opposing nuts, like you did... Since then it's been fine.
Tim

Update....!
Well.. I had to open my big mouth!?
In the middle of yesterdays ride... It came loose again!!!???
After checking it at home, and wondering why I can't get the gears to shift consistently, even after a new chain, and multiple adjustments.... I realized the whole cassette! Slides back and forth, from side to side.. about 5-6 mm play! So how could the gears work properly... When the cassette's never in the same position!
HELP!!!! What do I do!?
There are no loose nuts.. tried to loosen the cassette but, it's tight as can be! What's happened?
See attached video...
Well.. can't upload video, but look at the gap on the right side of the cassette, in the two screenshots..btjetes a big! Difference.

Tim

 

[Mikerb]

If the sprocket is tight on the freehub then the freehub is loose.

 

[outerlimits]

Update....!
Well.. I had to open my big mouth!?
In the middle of yesterdays ride... It came loose again!!!???
After checking it at home, and wondering why I can't get the gears to shift consistently, even after a new chain, and multiple adjustments.... I realized the whole cassette! Slides back and forth, from side to side.. about 5-6 mm play! So how could the gears work properly... When the cassette's never in the same position!
HELP!!!! What do I do!?
There are no loose nuts.. tried to loosen the cassette but, it's tight as can be! What's happened?
See attached video...
Well.. can't upload video, but look at the gap on the right side of the cassette, in the two screenshots..btjetes a big! Difference. View attachment 15961 View attachment 15961 View attachment 15962
Tim

You may of done the bearing in the freehub.
Best way to check is to pull it apart.

 

[Mikerb]

Beginning to think there has been some confusion here between the 12mm through axle coming loose and the main axle on its bearings. If indeed it was merely the through axle that originally came loose but the axle cone was actually tightened in an attempt to remove lateral play of the wheel, that may then have destroyed one or both bearings. I dont see how the main axle can come loose unless there is bearing wear so lateral movement of the wheel in most cases will be a loose through axle.

 

[DTZ]

MIne wasn't the through axle that kept coming loose, this remained tight but I kept getting a bit of play in the wheel hub, It was the main axle in the hub (on the bearings) that was loosening. Tightening the lock nuts against each other has stopped this occurring (so far) for me.

 

[Jaygam]

Consider perhaps that instead of the hub axle coming loose maybe the bearings were shifting or deteriorating causing the play??

 

[Mikerb]

That is what I was referring because the cone adjustment is locked.

 

[Jaygam]

Are you sure it's cones and bb's, not cartdrige bearings?
I've only ever seen cones and Bb's that are adjustable.
My bike had cones on the freewheel from the factory and the bearings broke up within 300miles, it got loose and rough, it was adjustable as freewheel tightned up to the hub axle and the two pulled out togther.
Had it replaced with a cartdrige bearing freewheel and push through axle. No problems since!
(New setup did make the cassette sit a little more in-board and had to shave a few mm's of the hanger to get the gears to align correctly)
Maybe traditional cone ball bearing are just not tough enough for the Torque the motor helps provide.

 

[Jaygam]

For refrence here was the replacment, that axle pushes stright out of the cartdrige bearings...

 

[Mikerb]

Its Specialized sealed cartridge bearings on my Levo comp. Still think lateral play in the wheel is more likely to be due to insufficient torque on the through axle. Dont know about this particular hub but on some the bearing pre load is left with a little free play and that is taken up when the through axle is torqued up.

 

[Mikerb]

Anyone got access to the service manual for the Specialised rear hub free hub and cassette? It would be useful for maintenance purposes.

 

[Tim69]

O.k., to be clear here:
I've had both problems on my kenevo -
first time, the thrue axle kept coming loose until I realized the two opposing nuts( on the disc side) were loose. Tightened them. And the thrue axle was fine for a couple of weeks.
Second time(now) the thrue axle started coming loose again+ shifting irregularity..
Found the cassette to have side to side play.
Took it to the LBS today, they tightened up the opposing locknut's on the cassette side! And supposedly, it's fine now.
We shall see...
Tim

 

[Martin DH]

O.k., to be clear here:
I've had both problems on my kenevo -
first time, the thrue axle kept coming loose until I realized the two opposing nuts( on the disc side) were loose. Tightened them. And the thrue axle was fine for a couple of weeks.
Second time(now) the thrue axle started coming loose again+ shifting irregularity..
Found the cassette to have side to side play.
Took it to the LBS today, they tightened up the opposing locknut's on the cassette side! And supposedly, it's fine now.
We shall see...
Tim

Had this happening to me yesterday... Figured out that it was the locknut of the axle that holds the freehub in place on the cassette side that became loose. The cassette was moving from side to side as well (the whole freehub was actually moving with the cassette).
What I see is that the locknut locks directly into the bearing, and it doesn't have another locknut to keep it from loosening again. I don't know how much I should tighten it against the bearings, any clue here? I wonder why it doesn't have another locknut like the traditional "cone and locknut system" where the cone tightens against the locknut. I feel that if I tighten too much I might ruin the bearings, but if I don't then it may become loose again and ruins the whole shifting...
Any comments here?

 

[Mikerb]

I tighten the non drive side until I start to feel a little drag then loosen it a quarter turn and tighten the locknut against it. On the drive side I tighten finger tight plus a quarter turn. In both cases you are only adjusting against a cartridge bearings so the objective is merely to remove any play. Slightly overtightening then releasing off ensures the axle bearing faces are fully engaged against the bearings without apllying too much pressure on the inner race. Threads should be clean and lightly greased.

 

[Mikerb]

.....the non drive side needs to be done first.

 

[Martin DH]

I tighten the non drive side until I start to feel a little drag then loosen it a quarter turn and tighten the locknut against it. On the drive side I tighten finger tight plus a quarter turn. In both cases you are only adjusting against a cartridge bearings so the objective is merely to remove any play. Slightly overtightening then releasing off ensures the axle bearing faces are fully engaged against the bearings without apllying too much pressure on the inner race. Threads should be clean and lightly greased.

Thanks for the reply. I will follow your advice!