DT Swiss Hub

[DJ84]

Hi All,

 

I bought a used wheelset with DT Swiss 240s hubs.

The front is perfect but the rear has some issues.

 

Off the bike it spins decently, nothing like the front.

when I clamp it with the QR onto the bike it seizes up,

I have to run it loose but fixed on the frame to have it spin well.

 

Then when I freewheel the chain gets sucked back.

 

I can return the wheels for a refund but I don't want to as I got them as such a good price.

 

Any ideas on what this is?

if its an easy fix or if I should take it to someone.

[DJ84]

Forgot to add,

when freewheeling downhill they roll well,

as soon as there is load on the wheels they are heavy.

Felt like I had cement in them on some climbs.

[DJ84]

No one experience these issues before?

[V12man]

I don't really understand your description of the symptoms, but sounds like it is just dirty/under maintained or incorrectly assembled or some combination of all 3.

 

Just service the hub, and if needed, replace bearings - you should be good - those are good hubs.

[Helpmytrap]

It might be the FWB bearings that are shot, one show sign is if the cassette would have play on it as if it wasn't tightened properly. In that case the bearings would be totally shot.

 

But I'd go with what V12man said, service/replace all the bearings in the hub and free wheel body. It is quite cheap if you buy the bearings yourself and have a little know how on pulling things apart and reassembling them.

 

I had a funny situation a few months back, the rear wheel would spin forward freely but you could not turn the crank nor rotate the wheel backwards.

[DJ84]

I don't really understand your description of the symptoms, but sounds like it is just dirty/under maintained or incorrectly assembled or some combination of all 3.

 

Just service the hub, and if needed, replace bearings - you should be good - those are good hubs.

 

Hi V12man,

the wheels spins freely when not on the bike,

does everything it should.

 

When I put it on the bike,

it seizes (does not turn if I tighten the Quick release as I do on my other hubs).

I have to loosen it as much as possible without the wheel being loose on the frame.

It then spins fine,

but when I coast or back pedal the chain goes slack (the cassette does not spin backwards).

 

They also feel pretty heavy when climbing and they are 800grams lighter than my other wheelset.

[V12man]

Hi V12man,

the wheels spins freely when not on the bike,

does everything it should.

 

When I put it on the bike,

it seizes (does not turn if I tighten the Quick release as I do on my other hubs).

I have to loosen it as much as possible without the wheel being loose on the frame.

It then spins fine,

but when I coast or back pedal the chain goes slack (the cassette does not spin backwards).

 

They also feel pretty heavy when climbing and they are 800grams lighter than my other wheelset.

 

Sounds like it is assembled incorrectly with a bearing not seated properly - or maybe put together with the wrong bearing somewhere so that it binds when you tighten it fully.... maybe a seal not seated properly.

 

Freewheel hub not going backwards DEFINATELY means something is incorrectly assembled or broken inside it.

 

Download the manual for the hub, watch youtube a bit for an instructional video and strip it to see. They are dead simple to work on - just don't lose the small pieces.

[DJ84]

Thanks very much for the info,

will try sort it out tonight.

[Goodbadugly]

Pull the hub apart.

Are you SURE all the spares are present in your hub?

http://www.dtswiss.com/Technology/Hub-technology

There is a tubular spacer (not numbered but visible on the above link) on the axle. Is it there?

[DJ84]

Ok, been busy and finally had a chance to check the wheels out.

Stripped and everything seems perfect, when i put it back together it has the same issue.

 

Will take it to the lbs to check.

[ssiegel95@gmail.com]

I'm having the exact same issue. The friction in the freehub is such that the pedals will spin forward when the rear wheel is spun (with bike on a stand) and if you attempt to pedal backward the chain will go slack and slap against the chainstay. My working theory is that the bushing has worn down after about 5000 miles so that when the quick release is tightened the face of the three-pawl freehub rubs against the inner wall of the spinning hub body driving the freehub forward when the wheel is spinning. The wheel bearings are pretty new (less than 2000 miles) and the freehub bearings really don't take that much load so I doubt it's either of those. The fact that the issue only happens when the QR is tightened points to some spacing issue in the axial direction (perpendicular to the motion of the bike). I've ordered a new bushing. I'll post back if that fixes it.

[EddieV]

I'm having the exact same issue. The friction in the freehub is such that the pedals will spin forward when the rear wheel is spun (with bike on a stand) and if you attempt to pedal backward the chain will go slack and slap against the chainstay. My working theory is that the bushing has worn down after about 5000 miles so that when the quick release is tightened the face of the three-pawl freehub rubs against the inner wall of the spinning hub body driving the freehub forward when the wheel is spinning. The wheel bearings are pretty new (less than 2000 miles) and the freehub bearings really don't take that much load so I doubt it's either of those. The fact that the issue only happens when the QR is tightened points to some spacing issue in the axial direction (perpendicular to the motion of the bike). I've ordered a new bushing. I'll post back if that fixes it.

 

There is some more info here too: https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/130511-dt-swiss-splined-hub-binding/

[David Marshall]

The new spacer between the hub bearing and the first freehub bearing should fix it.  You can also clean up the old spacer and shim it.  Same applies for the spacer between the the freehub bearings.  On a sealed bearing freehub the bearings go as fast or even faster than the hub bearings

[MarcHD]

Hi All,

 

I bought a used wheelset with DT Swiss 240s hubs.

The front is perfect but the rear has some issues.

 

Off the bike it spins decently, nothing like the front.

when I clamp it with the QR onto the bike it seizes up,

I have to run it loose but fixed on the frame to have it spin well.

 

Then when I freewheel the chain gets sucked back.

 

I can return the wheels for a refund but I don't want to as I got them as such a good price.

 

Any ideas on what this is?

if its an easy fix or if I should take it to someone.

 

Hi there,

 

Here was my response to a similar thread formed some time ago regarding a similar issue:

 

 

 

 

Hi Everyone... 

 

I see this thread is still getting more and more views so I thought as the distributor of DT SWISS I would take the opportunity to help clarify and offer insights for the other users if possible...

 

With regards to the initial problem experienced by the user Melch, it is very likely this was an issue with the 15.4mm alu spacer that slides onto the axle being damaged (likely crushed) which then would cause the freehub to bind. 

 

I must also point out that DT SWISS aftermarket (i.e not part of a wheelset), standard spacing (142x12mm) straightpull hubs are NOT compatible with the new Shimano 12speed Microspline freehub.

 

Apart from these two possibilities - the latter not being the case in the user's instance - there are not a lot of ways in which a DT hub can bind as the tolerances are second to none. 

 

As examples*: Losing a ratchet spring, fitting the springs the wrong way around, "wear" on the end cap, bearings being damaged.... these are scenarios known to have had little adverse effect on the performance of the hub. They are the WWII Tiger tank of hubs! 

 

If you would like to know more about any DT products or have had an issue you would like further info/feedback on then please do not hesitate to get in touch with me directly and I will answer your questions as best I can!

 

You can reach me on: marc@getstoked.co.za

 

Thanks for your attention!

 

 

 

Further to the above: There is also a chance of incorrect assembly which is unlikely if the wheels are quite new as you said. Either way the best is to have your LBS take a look and to make it theirs (and my) problem to solve as soon as possible for you

Edited June 18, 2020 by MarcHD

[MarcHD]

My apologies, but I miss read the original post and failed to see the "used" part of the statement.

 

If the hubs are not new it is entirely possible that the hub was taken apart and not put back together properly. 

 

Things to check are:

- cassette fitment (tightened correctly) 

- ratchet springs facing correct way

- bearing shim in place

- lockring tightened correctly

- rubber seal fitted correctly and not pinched 

 

These are all likely to be the issue long before the axle spacer! 

 

If in doubt refer to the official DT tech documents or this video for correct tools/fitment techniques/orientation of parts: 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Wde2goI3Cs&t=486s