Stock H15 rear hub is destroyed after 4 weeks

[Bob Orbea Rise]

With over-tightened threaded fittings an impact wrench is better than a long lever (less chance of breaking something). I often use a battery powered impact wrench for undoing parts on the bike just because it's easy, even if they're not too tight (eg. cassette lockring). If you don't have a socket or tool to fit the part you could use a spanner and hit it repeatedly with a small/medium hammer to imitate the action of an impact wrench (with someone holding the other side).

There is no way to use an impact and I don’t agree with your second point in this application tbh. The axle with the slots in the end is aluminium and brittle. Wacking it as suggested is far more likely to bust the shoulders off the slots on the axle or worse.

But better to be aware for others reading so they can make their own mind up, as the correct axle for this bike should be chromoly steel same as the free hub. It’s likely people will not have that part if just repairing the freehub and brake the axle is the process.

Apart from anything else one person doesn’t have enough hands to hold the bar in the slot and hold the spanner on the come end AND wack with an educator.

From experience try and make sure a square bar fits as snuggly and deeply as possible in the slotted axle and turn the spacer end with the spanner. Mine was WAAAAY tighter that that video shows. Ridiculously tight.

 

[Bob Orbea Rise]

Here is the axle part number if anyone needs it.

 

[Tony4wd]

There is no way to use an impact and I don’t agree with your second point in this application tbh

Rapidly tapping the spanner with a small hammer and someone holding the other end was my suggestion, not beat it to death with a sledge hammer, but I deleted my post anyway to avoid any problems.

 

[BiGJZ74]

The Cheap off brand Chosen hub will def break, but with Emtb, they all will eventually. Just broke my second i9 Hydra axle. one in january of last year, and tonight I just pulled off the wheel to my rise and the Cassette fell off with axle #2 broken. I9 will have a new one out to me in a week. Great Customer service. The year before I shredded a DT240 hub 54T ratchet. Two of the best brands out there but still break. Just replaced quick and easy both times

 

[LeeS69]

Yep it's going - and even using a metal plate in the vice it still deformed the crap out of the axle

LBS is putting in a warranty claim, reckon 3 weeks - but I think I'll be looking at some new wheels anyway....

Riding up in the Yorkshire dales this weekend too ffs
Will I get a bit of notice on it going or is it just bang dead stuffed?? Cable tie the cassette to the wheel and struggle back??

 

[Tony4wd]

Will I get a bit of notice on it going or is it just bang dead stuffed??

Since you've done 500 miles chances are you'll get another ride out of the hub (assuming it fits back together). I've been carrying a tow rope just in case
If you switch to a 6 bolt wheel remember you'll need a magnet - apparently the Bosch 6 hole magnet works if you can't get the Orbea part: Bosch 6 Hole Magnet
I'm just waiting on a DT microspline freehub to arrive so I can retire the Chosen hub.

 

[LeeS69]

Since you've done 500 miles chances are you'll get another ride out of the hub (assuming it fits back together). I've been carrying a tow rope just in case
If you switch to a 6 bolt wheel remember you'll need a magnet - apparently the Bosch 6 hole magnet works if you can't get the Orbea part: Bosch 6 Hole Magnet
I'm just waiting on a DT microspline freehub to arrive so I can retire the Chosen hub.

Just done a 31 mile 3700ft ride with some severe climbs, thought I'd teach it a lesson.....
Think I've found a DT Microspline Centerlock in stock near me, going to call them tomorrow and see if I can get it rebuilt by the weekend...!! I think I'll stay on Centerlock, I have another 29er on it so makes sense... Sadly it's 11 speed so a pain to swap out.
I'll argue with the shop to chuck them the duff hub and keep the warranty wheel when it turns up!! Not like Orbea are going to want them back really is it!

 

[Tony4wd]

I prefer centerlock but I've ended up with a mix because the 6 bolt specials were too good to pass up.

How much to get the wheel rebuilt?

 

[biker9]

It cost me 80usd.

 

[LeeS69]

I prefer centerlock but I've ended up with a mix because the 6 bolt specials were too good to pass up.

How much to get the wheel rebuilt?

My mate who used to run the LBS said he'd rebuild it for me, but if I can get it done faster and reasonably I'll just pay for it.... Or play the spin the freehub lottery and hope it lands on "working" till the warranty one arrives or the Hunt's come back into stock. Must say though I like the look of the DT 350!!

 

[LeeS69]

Hunts r' us... Ready for the Dales with no freehub anxiety....

Thanks for all the info in here, probably saved me an aneurysm at some point!!!

 

[Tony4wd]

Looks like a new one Lee They are a nice looking bike, although I notice you've lost half of your rear mudguard

 

[LeeS69]

Looks like a new one Lee They are a nice looking bike, although I notice you've lost half of your rear mudguard

It's identifying as a short mudguard at the moment while it's dry round here, when it gets muddier again it will identify as a full mudguard....

It's a muckynutz and you can take part of it off when you don't need it....

 

[Tony4wd]

It's a muckynutz and you can take part of it off when you don't need it....

I haven't seen that type of guard before - I assumed you were one of the young'uns who prefer to be covered in mud rather than deface the bike

 

[Tony4wd]

What size is the cone spanner needed to disassemble the Chosen hub?
I went looking for my 40 year old cone spanners but I may have thrown them out thinking I'd never need them again.

 

[LeeS69]

What size is the cone spanner needed to disassemble the Chosen hub?
I went looking for my 40 year old cone spanners but I may have thrown them out thinking I'd never need them again.

I went with mole grips, not buying antique spanners to undo a piece of sh1t - and why make the slots smaller than a normal spanner these days?? Stupid. I think it's a 17mm though?? But I'm not sure...

 

[Tony4wd]

not buying antique spanners to undo a piece of sh1t

Yeah it's barely worth disassembling but I'm curious to see what mine looks like. I had to order some other bits and pieces anyway so I've thrown away $22 for cone spanners.

 

[LeeS69]

I had to put a piece of laser cut steel in the vice and put the axle on that to undo it, no way I could have done it by hand, far too tight. The cap wouldn't go back on after as the axle is so soft it had deformed!

 

[Tony4wd]

Here's my hub after 119km, just starting to deform, now retired so it can't cause any problems. To unscrew the axle I put the 'spanner' side in a vice with two hex keys in the slots, then used two large screwdrivers on the slotted axle.

 

[LeeS69]

Here's my hub after 119km, just starting to deform, now retired so it can't cause any problems. To unscrew the axle I put the 'spanner' side in a vice with two hex keys in the slots, then used two large screwdrivers on the slotted axle.

View attachment 116494

It's just a pile of crap isn't it... Made the axle out of cheese too....

 

[BiGJZ74]

FWIW just had another I9 Hydra axle break, replaced easily under warranty. lucky thing with the broken axle is the hub still works with axle cracked. Showing some wear at the pawls but i9 replaces quickly.

 

[Tony4wd]

It's just a pile of crap isn't it... Made the axle out of cheese too....

It would probably be ok on a cheap supermarket bike that's not ridden much. It's more surprising to me that Orbea chose to use such a fragile looking hub on their bikes, even with the Shimano shortages. They should have issued a recall to have all of these hubs replaced.

 

[Tony4wd]

FWIW just had another I9 Hydra axle break, replaced easily under warranty. lucky thing with the broken axle is the hub still works with axle cracked. Showing some wear at the pawls but i9 replaces quickly.

Does I9 source their axles from Chosen or are you jumping all over the place like a juiced up billy goat?

 

[BiGJZ74]

Does I9 source their axles from Chosen or are you jumping all over the place like a juiced up billy goat?

Not a jumper, but a big clyde. I do 3ft drops at most, on really rocky terrain. I can put out a ton of power, 1500w bursts on punchy climbs. I9 axles have been lasting about a year at most for me.

 

[ojankanu]

Just wanted to give you a quick update after getting my wheel replaced under warranty about 6 months ago because of those pesky hub issues. They hooked me up with a brand spanking new wheel with the MT510 hub, which seemed solid at first. But then I started noticing some problems with the cassette, and I blamed it on the chain wearing out. So, I replaced the chain, but it still didn't work smoothly, though it did the job.

Then, last week, I was doing some maintenance and when I took off the rear wheel, it slipped right out of my hands. Man, I was so confused! It wasn't until I checked the hub maintenance handbook that I realized what had happened. The freakin' axle had snapped! I've probably been riding around with a snapped axle for who knows how long. Seriously, these Shimano axles are crap!

 

[ilostmypassword]

Just wanted to give you a quick update after getting my wheel replaced under warranty about 6 months ago because of those pesky hub issues. They hooked me up with a brand spanking new wheel with the MT510 hub, which seemed solid at first. But then I started noticing some problems with the cassette, and I blamed it on the chain wearing out. So, I replaced the chain, but it still didn't work smoothly, though it did the job.

Then, last week, I was doing some maintenance and when I took off the rear wheel, it slipped right out of my hands. Man, I was so confused! It wasn't until I checked the hub maintenance handbook that I realized what had happened. The freakin' axle had snapped! I've probably been riding around with a snapped axle for who knows how long. Seriously, these Shimano axles are crap!

View attachment 119355


View attachment 119354

Grab some Hope hubs. YOLO

 

[LeeS69]

Hi, bit of a worrying update on the factory wheels, finally got word from the dealer and orbea have sent a replacement freehub - supposedly upgraded. No new wheel and no replacement hub. I've contacted them and told them it's pointless as the rubbish axle is already scrap just from trying to get it off. So for anyone hoping to get a replacement wheel you might not have the option.

Not affecting me as I bought the hunts, but I was intending putting the original wheels on there as a lightweight/easy rolling option for the summer - if we ever have one in the UK...

 

[Tony4wd]

orbea have sent a replacement freehub - supposedly upgraded

That would suit me as I managed to keep the shaft in fairly good shape. I put in a warranty claim several weeks back and haven't got a result yet - mainly claimed to test the quality of Orbea after sales service.

Like you I wouldn't mind having the original wheel as a spare as I've got a DT wheel on the bike now. It's a great bike otherwise

 

[LeeS69]

That would suit me as I managed to keep the shaft in fairly good shape. I put in a warranty claim several weeks back and haven't got a result yet - mainly claimed to test the quality of Orbea after sales service.

Like you I wouldn't mind having the original wheel as a spare as I've got a DT wheel on the bike now. It's a great bike otherwise

I wouldn't trust that soft Aluminium axle, it's fitted again, but I had to file it and it didn't just fit easily on the non drive side, frankly had to force it on due to deforming - I wouldn't trust it on the bike for any longevity!!

The steel Orbea alternative is about 50 quid I think, if you can find it!!

 

[Bob Orbea Rise]

You don’t want that alloy shaft, it should be chromoly steel as the replacement free hub is. There’s numerous people have had the shaft snap or wear through

Here’s the steel shaft part number (edit, again, posted so many times I’ve forgotten where) they supplied under warranty next to the warranty replacement free hub. As you can see the material is black, steel. V the whiter alloy of original we get originally