SP dynamo hub grumbly bearings - how long have they got left

[S.Softie]

Day 2 of Tuscany Trail I noticed my SP rumbling. Now had a look and it has 2mm movement at rim - so not to be trusted beyond the end of the road.
It's 2 years old but its hardly seen any real action other than last week so I'm less than impressed.

[Steezysix]

I bought an SP hub last summer but have only just got round to having the wheel built up, this thread has me feeling worried! Might just stick with my old Shimano one for any longer trips...

[Dave Barter]

I've done LEJOG on an SP and over 3000 mtb miles as well. Never a hint of trouble.

[Trail-rat]

i think Johnny storm has the answer to this now sadly - with a banjo'd hub on the tour divide :(

[mountainbaker]

I think the real answer is it's pot luck.
A friend says there are reports the X models are crapper than the non X models (does the X signify a 15mm axle? would make sense, smaller bearing if in same shell perhaps?)

Mine has done nearly 6000 miles, including TD, and it's same as new. Mr johnnystorm's died so fast. Shït luck I think.

[Taylor]

Ive got an X model(15mm) on about 4500-5000k and it seems fine.
Probably put the kiss of death on it now.

[jameso]

would make sense, smaller bearing if in same shell perhaps?

Correct, they have revised the bearing spec recently to account for that. Sealed bearings do seem a bit hit and miss generally, my PD-8 QR has play after about 12-13,000km and 2 winters. So it's done OK but I've had front hubs last longer. They probably last longer the less degreaser etc that goes near the bike - I mostly just dry-brush my bikes : ) They are working on durability though, seems that recent rise in popularity is giving them a lot more use feedback. Good company, I think they'll get better, suspect old hubs with dead bearings will get replaced with newer spec hubs in time, etc.

[fatbikephil]

Is there any way to get the end caps off so that you can get at the bearings, pop the seals off and squirt some more grease in? Variable life bearings are usually a result of lack of grease at the factory which is common on cheap bearings so if you can get at them without removing them this could remove a bit of doubt about service life.

[ianfitz]

would make sense, smaller bearing if in same shell perhaps?

Correct, they have revised the bearing spec recently to account for that. Sealed bearings do seem a bit hit and miss generally, my PD-8 QR has play after about 12-13,000km and 2 winters. So it's done OK but I've had front hubs last longer. They probably last longer the less degreaser etc that goes near the bike - I mostly just dry-brush my bikes : ) They are working on durability though, seems that recent rise in popularity is giving them a lot more use feedback. Good company, I think they'll get better, suspect old hubs with dead bearings will get replaced with newer spec hubs in time, etc.

I'd had 4 of the 15mm ones in that distance!

[johnnystorm]

Mine lasted the DR200 and 6 days of the TD. That's only a weeks use.

[ianfitz]

Mine lasted the DR200 and 6 days of the TD. That's only a weeks use.

I was joking about a warranty claim on the new chain that 18 bikes fitted before the ht550. It's stretched to 0.75 after ONLY ONE RIDE!!!!

[slarge]

I'll hack my scrap one apart this weekend to see how serviceable it could be. Report to follow.

[ianfitz]

I'll hack my scrap one apart this weekend to see how serviceable it could be. Report to follow.

Ison will replace it Steve!

[slarge]

They already have Ian. I bought one that failed, SP sent me a new one but they didn't want the old one back, so I now have 2 hubs. Wouldn't be right to trade the old one in for another new one, hence an investigative strip down is required.

[ianfitz]

They already have Ian. I bought one that failed, SP sent me a new one but they didn't want the old one back, so I now have 2 hubs. Wouldn't be right to trade the old one in for another new one, hence an investigative strip down is required.

Ah, ok. Didn't realise that. Chop away!

[Adventurer]

I had one for 12 months and it started to make a high pitched noise and then seized completely.

Tried to contact the distributor but had no reply.

So bought a new one from exposure and only had a few months and it's started to get some slight play side to side already.

I bought from exposure because of the warranty. Looks like I may be using it soon.

To say I'm not impressed after all the SP hype is an understatement.

Hopefully the exposure SP Dynamo I have will last a little longer so I can save to get a more reliable SON Dynamo.

I think I've found out that SP dynamos are cheaper for a reason.

[jameso]

I think I've found out that SP dynamos are cheaper for a reason.

They are, it's a shame that the bearings are part of it as it's a faff to rebuild a wheel. I think they could add 30% to the hub cost and put all of that into the bearings and shielding. It'd still offer good vfm.

I think that the use of dynamos on MTBs in the last couple of years has boomed in a way that's really SP beta-testing by users. Not sure if they saw it coming to this extent? I'm keen to try an SON but I'm not sure they cope with immersion (pressure system can get swaped according to reports?) or a lot of mtb style washing/degreaser as well as the mileage durability rep might suggest, but they do seem to have a good track record on bearing life under touring use.

I'd had 4 of the 15mm ones in that distance!

- Actually, checking notes I'd say it was a bit over 9,000km, not 12-13. The bike has done the mileage but the SP front hasn't been on it the whiole time. 'Must check my facts'. It'll do another 1000km at a push but there's a tell-tale slight amount of play there.

[Zippy]

Mine lasted the DR200 and 6 days of the TD. That's only a weeks use.

I was joking about a warranty claim on the new chain that 18 bikes fitted before the ht550. It's stretched to 0.75 after ONLY ONE RIDE!!!!

I started measuring chain wear once a week on my regular commuter as it's a pretty controlled environment with fairly consistent riding, and weather being the only variable. Yeah, that lasted about 3 months, and really it was all to do with the weather/grit conditions as to how the chain wore. I was going to do some statistical analysis and graphs and suchlike (I even had 4 different tools to measure the chain wear).

It's also quite impressive how worn a chain can be, and still function

Attach a signature (signatures can be altered via the UCP)

Watching with interest

[Trail-rat]

Re chain wear.

My road bikes 10 years old it's done a power of miles (used to audax )

The chain was original until I climbed up alpe a dhuez a couple years back and my cranks kept jamming.

On inspection my chain was splitting apart

So I broke out the broken link and put another in
By the time we got back to to.bourg dosains I had 3 more about to split.

The shop wanted 140euro for a chain and cassette (integra) so I stuck a chain on in hope......and it's never slipped and is still on there shifting crisply.

Goes against every thing I believe in BUT I use all my block and not just one or 2 gears.

[Pete-G]

Pity the Shimano XT dynamos aren't available in bolt through yet as they are cheap and readily serviceable

[S.Softie]

Day 2 of Tuscany Trail I noticed my SP rumbling. Now had a look and it has 2mm movement at rim - so not to be trusted beyond the end of the road.
It's 2 years old but its hardly seen any real action other than last week so I'm less than impressed.

This was PD8-X. Wheel bought from St James Street (SJS) Cycles - dropped them a line and they said that manufacturer had confirmed to them that they would honour 2 year warranty on hub (wheel ordered in Aug 2014). Lets hope that the design has improved in the 2 years.

[Taylor]

Ive got an X model(15mm) on about 4500-5000k and it seems fine.
Probably put the kiss of death on it now.

Bloody knew it.
Small amount of play appeared in mine now and its out of warranty.

[S.Softie]

Just as a follow up .... my dynamo hub replaced and built into the old wheel at no charge by either SJS or hub supplier. I was expecting the rebuild to be charged so very pleased with how it was handled. Lets just hope the bearings last this time round.

[ctznsmith]

I sent my sp8x that was cracking after less than 300 miles back to charlie (from norway!) and it was quickly replaced under warranty...only issue being i had to buy a new dynamo hub on the road so i have a spare pd8x :-/