Author Topic: How to break a Rohloff - contains profanities (Read 3391 times)

Wowbagger · « **Reply #25 on:** April 20, 2012, 11:41:21 AM »

My wheel has returned with the new sprocket fitted and some brand new parts. The bill: £0.00.

That really is most impressive. A big

for SJS Cycles.

Arvid, I'm 110 kg and I often ride with camping kit in hilly areas. That really tightens the sprocket. We've not done this job with the tandem yet, although at 11,000 miles we should. I'm inclined just to send the wheel back and get them to fit the part. If it's on a 4-day turnaround we won't even miss it.

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #26 on:** April 20, 2012, 12:06:53 PM »

Glad this turned out well for you, Wow, but I have to say you do seem to be running a one-man advertising campaign for SA, Shimano, SRAM, Campagnolo, etc etc...

Wowbagger · « **Reply #27 on:** April 20, 2012, 12:17:11 PM »

Quote from: Cudzoziemiec on April 20, 2012, 12:06:53 PM

Glad this turned out well for you, Wow, but I have to say you do seem to be running a one-man advertising campaign for SA, Shimano, SRAM, Campagnolo, etc etc...

Well, I don't know of anyone who has made the sort of demands of other makes of hub gears that we have of our Rohloff. Presumably there must be Alfine equipped tandems? I've never seen one.

Bear in mind that this is the first Rohloff problem we've had, other than breaking the flanges, in almost 35000 miles of really heavy duty riding. The flange problem has now been addressed by Thorn, at least, and our current hub is going well after well over 2 years' use.

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #28 on:** April 20, 2012, 12:20:54 PM »

Yes, but I remember those flange problems. IIRC it happened more than once on multiple hubs. It seemed to go on forever and I'm quite impressed you persisted with Rohloff - I guess that in itself says you must be very pleased with it overall!

Wowbagger · « **Reply #29 on:** April 20, 2012, 12:26:06 PM »

Rohloffs come with a lifetime guarantee. Having taken the plunge, it seemed sensible to carry on. I've been very pleased with the hub on my solo bike and it's only down to my inexperience / stupidity that I had a problem this week. You can break any component if you fettle it incorrectly.

Kim · « **Reply #30 on:** April 20, 2012, 12:34:02 PM »

Plus I dread to imagine what Wow's mechanical karma would do to dérailleur gears...

arvid · « **Reply #31 on:** April 20, 2012, 03:42:44 PM »

Quote from: Wowbagger on April 20, 2012, 11:41:21 AM

Arvid, I'm 110 kg and I often ride with camping kit in hilly areas. That really tightens the sprocket. We've not done this job with the tandem yet, although at 11,000 miles we should. I'm inclined just to send the wheel back and get them to fit the part. If it's on a 4-day turnaround we won't even miss it.

My complete moving weight including camping kit is indeed less than your weight. I think the time the sprocket is on the hub makes it worse though and might be more relevant. I can't remember if a sprocket has ever been on my hub for more than a year. Maybe the current one is now, I'll look that up when I'm home again.
I grease the thread of the sprocket, that helps too.

Tom B · « **Reply #32 on:** April 20, 2012, 05:18:21 PM »

Quote

Glad this turned out well for you, Wow, but I have to say you do seem to be running a one-man advertising campaign for SA, Shimano, SRAM, Campagnolo, etc etc...

Rohloff mechanical problem = man bites dog
Problem involving other drivetrain components = dog bites man

Wowbagger · « **Reply #33 on:** May 11, 2012, 03:37:42 PM »

I'm just about to go in and tackle the tandem.

Wish me luck.

I may be some time.

It's done 11000 miles. Oh, but we've broken some flanges in that time so the sprocket has probably been on only for about 2000 miles.

delthebike · « **Reply #34 on:** May 11, 2012, 03:40:37 PM »

Quote from: Wowbagger on May 11, 2012, 03:37:42 PM

I'm just about to go in and tackle the tandem.

If you think it'll help I can come round and take sharp intake breaths across my teeth and generally drink tea/beer.

Wowbagger · « **Reply #35 on:** May 11, 2012, 04:52:12 PM »

You are welcome anyway, Del, but you've missed the fun: I've done it!

I found that the way to do this was to align the chain whip and adjustable wrench only a few degrees apart so that you can hold both in one hand. Then hold them both in both hands and squeeze like buggery. Far more accurate application of pressure than with two big buggers working against one another, with all the risk of broken fingers if it gives out suddenly.

arvid · « **Reply #36 on:** May 13, 2012, 11:23:35 AM »

Oh right. My sprocket was indeed on it for 14 months or 18500km. I recorded the sprocket change, but it took me more than 5 minutes (not in the least because I was tightening it for about a minute instead of loosening

) and after 5 minutes my camera had a movie file of 800MB and the card was full, so the actual loosening wasn't recorded.
I doubt that I can apply enough pressure while squeezing, but I'll give that a try next time.

PH · « **Reply #37 on:** May 15, 2012, 09:10:47 PM »

I've only used a vice to change mine, even with the hub secure it takes a lot of force, I'm not sure I'd want to try it without.
Good result though, what I'd expect from Thorn.

arabella · « **Reply #38 on:** May 17, 2012, 11:09:51 AM »

fwiw my pet method to remove the fixed sprocket is to
remove lockring
replace wheel as for riding
turn bike upside down
immobilise cranks
turn wheel

it has to be confessed it's unlikely there's a massive amount of torque in the sprocket, but I am a weed so they cancel out.

andrewc · « **Reply #39 on:** June 04, 2012, 02:17:36 PM »

Arse! Just done a Wowbagger on my Rohloff!

The sprocket hadn't been removed since I bought the bike 5 years ago so I thought I'd remove it, regrease it and refit it.

Locked the tool into place with the quick release, applied judicious pressure with a chainwhip and spanner, then CRACK! I thought it was the sprocket shifting, but it was the edges of the 4 slots that the tool fits into crumbling away.

Oh well, I'll have to phone SJS on Wednesday

MacB · « **Reply #40 on:** June 05, 2012, 01:08:51 PM »

hmmm, I haven't yet invested in a Rohloff sprocket removal tool but do plan to, so what's the general verdict?

I'm really curious as to whether there's a maintenance schedule I can adopt that will avoid such a devastating amount of force being required?

Would loosening, cleaning, greasing and refitting on a regular basis help or do I have to accept that, as a big lad, it's going to be done up super tight no matter what I do?

I do have a bench vice, some stupendously large wrenches and I've made a beast of a chainwhip in anticipation. I just keep putting off the removal bit due to the rohloff tool costing as much as it does. but I'm now thinking I should remove and refit if only to familiarise myself with the process.

MacB · « **Reply #41 on:** June 05, 2012, 01:32:26 PM »

Ah, just found this which seems pretty solid advice, what think you folks?:-

http://forums.mtbr.com/internal-gear-hubs/speedhub-cog-removal-bloody-knuckles-250041.html

any recommendations on an anti sieze compound?

PH · « **Reply #42 on:** June 05, 2012, 02:23:43 PM »

Starting to get apprehensive. Mine is due for turning in the near future and although I've done it four times before it was without the knowledge that it could go wrong.

andrewc · « **Reply #43 on:** June 05, 2012, 03:21:30 PM »

Quote from: PH on June 05, 2012, 02:23:43 PM

Starting to get apprehensive. Mine is due for turning in the near future and although I've done it four times before it was without the knowledge that it could go wrong.

If you've done it before then hopefully there will be no problem. Wow hadn't done his for 10,000 miles and I've never removed mine.

andrewc · « **Reply #44 on:** June 21, 2012, 07:32:54 PM »

Phoned them last week. Bloke said to send it for attention of "Dave" and quoted me £80 parts & £20 labour.
Insured postage was £52 on Monday

"Dave" phoned me yesterday and told me I was a mechanically incompetent dickwad (no he didn't, but I am).
Wheel was delivered today. Receipt marked as "goodwill". No Charge.

I've spent over £300 with SJS in the last couple of months. With service like this I shall continue to send them my money for shiny bits.

Kim · « **Reply #45 on:** June 21, 2012, 07:37:46 PM »

If I ever find myself in the market for expensive German hub gears (as well as the usual unobtanium brackets and stuff), I know where I'll be buying it from...

Wowbagger · « **Reply #46 on:** January 17, 2013, 12:26:00 AM »

Experience is a wonderful thing.

I've just removed my Rohloff sprocket in about 10 seconds using the "squeeze" technique I adopted before. 4529 miles since I last removed it. Piece of piss!

The key is to ensure that the removal tool is really tightly held by the QR. I don't think it's possible to do the skewer up too tightly.

PS Andrew, I didn't realise you had repeated my experience. Commiserations. It's a really shit feeling when your pride and joy (and that's what a Rohloff hub is) has been knackered by your own incompetence.

PH · « **Reply #47 on:** January 17, 2013, 12:37:22 AM »

Quote from: Wowbagger on January 17, 2013, 12:26:00 AM

The key is to ensure that the removal tool is really tightly held by the QR. I don't think it's possible to do the skewer up too tightly.

Tip I saw on youtube - If you're using a spanner rather than a vice, use a proper 24mm spanner rather than an adjustable and put a large washer between it and the QR, makes it a lot easier to hold it in place with no chance of it slipping.
Haven't tried it, I use a vice

Wowbagger · « **Reply #48 on:** January 17, 2013, 12:57:02 AM »

I'll probably invest in a 24mm spanner then. The adjustable has worked both times I've done it successfully, but it's a bit temperamental getting the jaws to be a snug fit.

Ben T · « **Reply #49 on:** January 19, 2013, 01:55:22 PM »

Wowbagger - quite curious to know how you tell when you should remove the sprocket and reverse it / change it - and slightly bemused that you are removing it after 4,529 miles - this thread's got me slightly worried because mine has been on 19,500km / 12,203 miles from new without removing it at all.
It looks like this - does this look worn enough to need replacing/flipping?
Theleading edge is slightly more concave, but not much....

I think (hope) that there's a certain tightness that it won't go above and as long as it doesn't seize there shouldn't be any difference in difficulty of removal between 10,000km and 20,000km...