Suntour xc pro rear hubs saga

[8690q]

Hi,

The rear hub non driveside bearing collapsed on the Dyna tech a few months back. I found out it was a 6001rs so went about getting whats left of the old bearing out.

It's only the outer shell of the sealed bearing that's left in the hub and with no way of getting at it from behind\driveside it proved quite impossible to remove.

I stuck up a wanted ad for a rear hub to build into my wheel with no luck until new user Blindlemon pm'd saying he had one surplus.

When the hub arrived yesterday I noticed it was a 6 speed so I've just been out to the garage to swap the freehub with the 7 speed one off of the old hub and the splines at the back of the freehub are different and the 6 speed one is held on like Shimano with a 10mm allen bolt but the 7 speed one is just held on with the axle tension.

I can't find much info on the Suntour stuff to see when the freehub changes happened.

Anybody else been through this or similar and care to help ?

I'm away to bump my wanted ad to the top.

Thanks

Michael

 

[Blindlemon]

Hi Michael,
I think you'll find it is a 7 speed although the cassette is retained by the last two gears screwing into place. Gutted that isn't the right hub for you though. PM me and we can try and sort something out

 

[8690q]

No worries Phil.

I'll just look for the right cassette.

Thanks

Michael

 

[FluffyChicken]

Sounds like a Microdrive hub then.
You'll need the specific Suntour 7speed MD hub.

Take some pictures


have a read here http://www.yellowjersey.org/stcass.html


You can tell which cassette it takes by measuring the length of the splines. I posted up the lengths somewhere if you need it. Though if you want rid of it...

 

[silverclaws]

Why not extract what remains of the old bearing ?


A 6001 bearing must have an outer race measuring 28mm outer dimension, so say 2mm or whatever thickness of the outer race, you need to use a blind bearing puller to remove the outer race ;


http://www.toolbuddy.co.uk/franklin-tools-5-pce-blind-bearing-puller-set---ta976-2414-p.asp

Wonderful tools, I used to have a set, but there is no need to buy for just one job, find a garage that does gearbox rebuilds, or even a motorcycle repair shop, they could well have a set and particularly a blind puller that works in the range 25mm to 32mm, bung them a note, and I am sure they will do it for you, quick and easy.

The other way of course is diy, which involves a dremmel type tool and a suitable cutting disc. Too big a disc, just grind it down and cut the race through, once the tension has gone the thing can be got out with a bit of prodding and poking with a pick tool especially so if you warm the area of aluminium first.

It's a thing with bearings, once a cut has been made through the race, they physically loosen and can be hooked out, battered off, whichever is the problem.

The diy method I have done many times, and with a bit of care and perseverence, it has always worked. But repair shops that deal with motorcycles also come across collapsed bearings from time to time, so most likely would have the tool to remove the remaining race.

 

[8690q]

I had a look through that link Fluffychicken. Thanks.

If I source a 7 speed MD cassette will it index ok with the existing non MD stuff already on the bike ?

Silverclaws. I Have my heart set on getting a greasegaurd rear hub to match my front one so getting the new one built into the wheel and fitted with the correct cassette will make my and the Dyna techs day. Once I've got the old hub off I'll get the old bearing out, fit a new one and maybe pass it on to be used.

 

[silverclaws]

I understand about greaseguard, for it is superb, far better than sealed anything, as the grease pushes the crud out to be wiped away.

Although I am coming to like Suntour equipment, I like you am pretty clueless about the intracacies of it, but with the big S dominating the market, I feel suntour has been overlooked.

There is I have noticed a Suntour equipped retrobike in my hallway, a bike completely unmolested which sees regular action out on Dartmoor.

The bike is a putrid green Raleigh Montage built from Reynolds 501.

I have told the neighbour if he wishes to get rid, see me first.

 

[FluffyChicken]

I had a look through that link Fluffychicken. Thanks.

If I source a 7 speed MD cassette will it index ok with the existing non MD stuff already on the bike ?

Probably shift better, assuming 7 speed came off.
The spacing is the same but has APII ramping. You will however have a much higher gear ratio. (11-24T) compared to probably 12-28 that came off ?
So uphill will be harder, though you could drop the front to a 24 tooth granny ring (assuming it's not that already). You'll not fit anything smaller, especially not the 20tooth MD was designed for.
That'll be the big downside.

 

[Blindlemon]

Just wondered if you'd spotted this on e-bay

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Suntour-Cassette- ... 1c1689f424

I checked the part number against the XC catalogue which lists it as a Microdrive cassette. (OK there's also an MD logo on the box but just making sure) See here

http://www.equusbicycle.com/bike/suntou ... 200008.pdf

 

[FluffyChicken]

I had and posted it up, I have a NOS set myself in a better looking box else I would be bidding on it.

Need to find the time to rebuild my rear hub before I even think of using it.

That is the 7 speed MD cassette you need

11 tooth always give MD away.
But notice my concerns with only the 24 tooth rear.
fine with a compact front, but with a 24 min of a standard front it's hard work.