novatec hubs from iplay

[final forum]

I'm looking into servicing my hubs during the winter. I really don't want to buy a full novatec bearing puller kit. Anyone have any experience with the 771 and 772 hubs.

 I have to be honest never serviced a hub before but taken them apart to regrease the external bearing area. And check the bearings.

Any suggestions. Novatec USA service is sub par. Almost feel I should rebuild my wheel set and get hubs that offer tons of service tools and parts. (Hope)

[carbonazza]

After a deep passage in a river, I thought my rear Hope hub needed to be serviced.

I can confirm it was easy and... fun(yeah, I know, poor of us who enjoy this, especially the hub was still good).
Following this video and, on the cheap, without their tools.

Not sure what bearing they put in the Lefty Project321 front hub, but this one is still spinning like day one.

[MTB2223]

Here is a Bearing Replacement video for the D772SB hub.
I'm looking for the correct bearings now. Does anybody know which one I need ? (Already send a email to some distributors, waiting for answer).



Replace the bearing of the freehub:

[MTB2223]

Got replies from some distributors. Some useful, some unuseful.

Polish distributor:

For D772SB hubs NOVATEC is using #6902 sealed bearings. Measurements of those bearings are: outside diameter 28mm / width 7mm / inside diameter 15mm. I'm sure that you will be able to find that kind of bearings in some shops with sealded bearings. Our price is about 2,50EUR per 1pcs but the shipping costs to Netherlands will be about 5EUR by Polish Post...

Italian distributor:

Hi,
check this out:
http://issuu.com/novatecwheels/docs/novatec_hubs_guide_2014
 
You can find there the bearings' specs (number) and buy them in any good hardware store.

The rear hub (D772SB) contains four bearing (type 6902-2rs), two in the hub body and two in the freehub body.
The front hub (D771) contains two bearings (type 6902-2rs).

On eBay these bearings costs about 10 dollar for 10 pieces, 1 dollar each ( http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6902-2RS-Rubber-Sealed-Weatherproof-Less-Friction-Speed-Ball-Bearing-x10-/400711986894 )

1 ceramic bearing costs 13 dollar ( http://www.ebay.com/itm/6902-Ceramic-Bearing-15x28x7mm-Ceramic-Ball-Bearing-61902-Bearing-/251026751271 ).

I'm going to get the 10 dollar option as spare parts.

[cmh]

Novatec seems to have a pretty decent range of information available on issuu.com. I used their hub catalog to get the info on the hubs on the fat bike so I could order the spokes before I had the hubs in hand.

[MTB2223]

Novatec seems to have a pretty decent range of information available on issuu.com. I used their hub catalog to get the info on the hubs on the fat bike so I could order the spokes before I had the hubs in hand.

Yes, I've got a reply of one of the distributors with this link: http://issuu.com/novatecwheels/docs/novatec_hubs_guide_2014

[final forum]

Wow thanks guys thought my tread was dead... Still haven't serviced as it's in use on my trainer ATM... What did you end up going with for the rear? For bearings?

Brad

[MTB2223]

You need for the rear four 6902-2RS bearing and for the front two.
6902 stand for a certain dimension/size (15*28*7 mm) and the 2RS for two rubber seals. There are also 6902-ZZ available and these bearings have steel seals. And there are of course bearing without seals.
You need the 2RS bearings.
On AliExpress they are really cheap and maybe not the best quality but for 0,85 dollar each

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Hot-10-pcs-6902-2RS-Deep-groove-ball-bearing-bearing-steel-15-28-7-mm-free/1756101484.html

[final forum]

Any bearing gurus that can tell us if these bearings as just as good as maybe a big named brand?.


Also have you found any special tools besides buying the whole novatec kit to replace?. My buddy has the hope set I assume will work??

[carbonazza]

Not all bearings are equal on the bike. Especially in wet Belgium.

In my case. The bottom bracket ones must be changed multiple times a year.
The bottom bearing of the headset was so rusted, that it seized(a Cane Creek 40...)

Although the builder of my BB offered/sent me 2 ceramic bearings to try.
To see how they handle the mud.
I'll buy the cheap ones for the BB and headset now.

The eggbeater pedal bearings, may need to be changed once  a year.

While the hubs bearings(Hope evo and Project 321 lefty) are as good as day one, and I don't plan to change them soon.

[brmeyer135]

So ceramic bearings with seals didn't work in the BB carbonazza?
Obviously, you avoid rust bust cost can be excessive.
I have seen full ceramics, w/o seals, for decent price.  Gotta believe that even with a lot of grease, water and grit and such will take their toll...eventually removing most grease.

[carbonazza]

@brmeyer135, No no, I didn't try them yet.
Gary from BBInfinite did send them a week or so ago(for free!).

I understand that no seal can stand the bad weather here.
And as normal bearing are rusting, we'll try ceramic ones.
Except a surprise, I won't spend any money for hi grade bearings in the BB and bottom headset anymore.

[cmh]

Anyone have any experience with replacing axles on Novatec hubs - specifically doing a quick release to thru-axle conversion?

Judging by this video, it's super easy:



But I would need the conversion axle, which means finding someone who sells it.

What complicates things is that this is for the D202SB fat bike hub, and those aren't quite as common as the normal "slim" MTB offerings.

Plus, I'd love to see if I could find an aluminum freehub - the fatty hub is steel and I use good cassettes so I don't need it.

[MTB2223]

Anyone have any experience with replacing axles on Novatec hubs - specifically doing a quick release to thru-axle conversion?

Judging by this video, it's super easy:



But I would need the conversion axle, which means finding someone who sells it.

What complicates things is that this is for the D202SB fat bike hub, and those aren't quite as common as the normal "slim" MTB offerings.

Plus, I'd love to see if I could find an aluminum freehub - the fatty hub is steel and I use good cassettes so I don't need it.

I've got the D772sb and yes, it's that simple.

And for the D202sb it looks the same

[cmh]

I've got the D772sb and yes, it's that simple.

And for the D202sb it looks the same

So then I just need to find a reseller that can get me the appropriate axle. I wonder if Peter can get those parts?