Mavic CrossMax SL freehub mystery problem

toolguy wrote:
The wheel seemed OK but then on the descents at higher speed (about
+50 km/hr) the hub made this high pitched death scream that made me
think the wheel was going to explode. -snip-

A Muzi wrote:
Death wale? Perhaps a corduroy would be less loud.

S o r n i wrote:
Believe me, this noise sucks big knobbies! Sort of a mid-pitched vibratory
squeal that makes you think your rear end is about to disintegrate. Shakes
the frame a bit, even.


Well- wale, wail, whale, whatever.

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

Hi Neil,

No, the "noise from hell" problem hasn't returned (yet?), but like I said
there's still some drag and "roughage".

All the guy (Ron) did was open the hub with a 10-mm, swab it out with a
Q-tip, and add some grease. But he agreed that the bearing wasn't very
smooth, and recommended replacing (I assume under warranty, as it started
well under a year since purchase).

He also implied that I abused the wheels somehow -- that no one else had
EVER had a problem with them -- so you can bet I'm going to show him your
original post (and my initial reply). I even started road biking last
summer, so the wheels get a lot less use than they would by a "full time"
mountain biker.

Keep us posted on what happens with your SL's!

Bill "thanks to others for /bearing/ with us" S.

Hi Bill,

Thanks for your comments. I'll post a new thread if it the situation
comes back or I solve it somehow.

Neil

Dear Neil,

With luck, your hub noise will never return. But if it was a
come-and-go noise, something must have come-and-gone.

All that I can think of is:

a) Debris like rust (or spotty lubrication) moving around

b) Ever-so-slightly different re-assembly changing mating surfaces

If stable surfaces were shrieking because they were unlubricated or
were binding, the noise probably wouldn't come and go from day to day:

"Oh -- well, about a year ago -- I was chopping that tree -- minding
my own business -- when suddenly it started to rain....and right in
the middle of a chop, I...I rusted solid. And I've been that way ever
since."

http://www.un-official.com/The_Daily...t/ms_wizoz.htm

Usually, squeaks don't improve unless something changes. The Tin Man
needed oiling.

Frank Baum

Hi Frank,

Thanks for your comments. You may be right. I'll pay close attention
to the details.

Neil

Death wale? Perhaps a corduroy would be less loud.

Believe me, this noise sucks big knobbies! Sort of a mid-pitched vibratory
squeal that makes you think your rear end is about to disintegrate. Shakes
the frame a bit, even.

Bill "keeps others at arm's length, at least" S.

Bill is not kidding. This noise is definitely disturbing and unsettling.

Neil

On 4 May 2004 15:43:43 -0700, (toolguy) wrote:

Death wale? Perhaps a corduroy would be less loud.

Believe me, this noise sucks big knobbies! Sort of a mid-pitched vibratory
squeal that makes you think your rear end is about to disintegrate. Shakes
the frame a bit, even.

Bill "keeps others at arm's length, at least" S.

Bill is not kidding. This noise is definitely disturbing and unsettling.

Neil

Dear Bill and Neil,

Even worse, disturbing and unsettling noises like this can come from
ridiculously tiny sources. Several times every year, I get an early
Monday call from yet another medical office manager who has turned on
her computer and been greeted by an enormous noise--the usual
description is that it's "like an airplane taking off." It's not
really that bad, but I can almost always hear it in the background.

I go out and replace the power supply fan, whose spinning shaft is
imitating an angry cicada. The office managers never seem reassured
when I tell them that the noise means that the fan is alive and well
and doing its job--it's when they're silent and motionless that things
fry.

Good luck,

Carl Fogel

I've had/have the same problem with my CrossMax freehubs--yes the
plural is correct. The first time about a year ago when the hub was
about a year ago. Replaced freehub ($60 I think) and now a year later
the same problem. Screech and vibration/drag? when freewheeling fast (I
even pedaled downhill to avoid the noise, but it is hard to brake and
pedal at the same time on a fast fire road descent or windy single
track). I'm not sure about the drag, but it feels/sounds like the tire
is hitting the chaninstay, although the tire isn't hitting the
chainstays.

The second freehub started doing the same thing while an a week long
trip to Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada (fantastic technical cross
country riding BTW) last week.

With the help of a machine shop owner, we analyzed the problem on the
first freehub to be the wearing of the plastic bushings that are in use
when freewheeling. The other symptom is that the cassette body can be
rocked back on forth in the plane of the wheel, because of the bearing
play.

I don't think I've ever worn out a freehub before, certainly not in a
year. This is unacceptable in a $800 (or whatever the price is ) wheel
set. I haven't been to the shop yet to see what they'll do about this
(I found this group and discussion via a Google search). I bought the
wheelset new on eBay from someone who upgraded to disks--the wheels
were new--so warranty was uncertain on the original. I only weigh 160
and although I ride fast (downhill anyway) I don't do big drops.

On the plus side the ceramic sidewalls are holding up well, even with
some rock hits. And Shimano brake pad wear is very good. On the
negative side, both skewers lost their plastic handles--my local shop
got free (road style) replacements from the local Mavid rep.

Greg


In article , toolguy
wrote:

then on the descents at higher speed (about
+50 km/hr) the hub made this high pitched death scream that made me
think the wheel was going to explode. When this happened it felt like
I was hitting the brakes hard.

I've had/have the same problem with my CrossMax freehubs--yes the
plural is correct. The first time about a year ago when the hub was
about a year ago. Replaced freehub ($60 I think) and now a year later
the same problem. Screech and vibration/drag? when freewheeling fast (I
even pedaled downhill to avoid the noise, but it is hard to brake and
pedal at the same time on a fast fire road descent or windy single
track). I'm not sure about the drag, but it feels/sounds like the tire
is hitting the chaninstay, although the tire isn't hitting the
chainstays.

The second freehub started doing the same thing while an a week long
trip to Lake Tahoe, California/Nevada (fantastic technical cross
country riding BTW) last week.

With the help of a machine shop owner, we analyzed the problem on the
first freehub to be the wearing of the plastic bushings that are in use
when freewheeling. The other symptom is that the cassette body can be
rocked back on forth in the plane of the wheel, because of the bearing
play.

I don't think I've ever worn out a freehub before, certainly not in a
year. This is unacceptable in a $800 (or whatever the price is ) wheel
set. I haven't been to the shop yet to see what they'll do about this
(I found this group and discussion via a Google search). I bought the
wheelset new on eBay from someone who upgraded to disks--the wheels
were new--so warranty was uncertain on the original. I only weigh 160
and although I ride fast (downhill anyway) I don't do big drops.

On the plus side the ceramic sidewalls are holding up well, even with
some rock hits. And Shimano brake pad wear is very good. On the
negative side, both skewers lost their plastic handles--my local shop
got free (road style) replacements from the local Mavid rep.

Greg


In article , toolguy
wrote:

then on the descents at higher speed (about
+50 km/hr) the hub made this high pitched death scream that made me
think the wheel was going to explode. When this happened it felt like
I was hitting the brakes hard.