Joined
·
787 Posts
Hi all,
I've a Novatec/Bitex new rear hub, had to replace the NDS bearing since it came bad. Removing the NDS was easy, but I found it a bit tough to jury rig up a bearing press to press the new one back in. I had to use a long, skinny threaded steel axle bar (to slide thru the middle of the aluminum axle), appropriate sockets to match outside diameter of the new bearing's race on both sides of the hub, a small bit of cut pipe (to go over the DS axle sticking out) and finally washers & nuts to press it all. I have a question about the Novatec/Bitec axle; here's a pic of it:
Since this axle has bearing perches (or lips) on the axle where the axel rests up against the inner race of the bearing, I and also since the axle has to be installed first with the NDS bearing resting over it (DS hub bearing has to also be already installed), then you press it all together. This proved, as mentioned, a bit tough to make work given that the drive side of the axle stuck out so far, and even a deep socket wouldn't reach the hub to press against. I finally, after cutting some piping, got it all to work.
But then I noticed in a Youtube video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=py4Qy_wJmy4) of the BHS-style hubs that have axles that are smooth all the way across, and in the video the axle slid out easily from the DS to the NDS, and does not have to be installed until AFTER all new bearings have been pressed into the hub. Am I correct in assuming you can more easily replace the bearings in a BHS-style hub since you do not have to have the axle in along with the bearing, like you do when pressing in a bearing on a Novatec/Bitex hubs?? If so, it sure would seem this would make maintenance much easier on BHS hubs versus Novatec/Bitex style hubs. Plus, the bearing press kits for Novatec/Bitex style hubs are really expensive vs, what you can use on BHS-style hubs (if I am correct in what I saw on the Youtube video). Here's a pic of a BHS-style rear axle:
Has anyone worked on both?? Would appreciate any response from someone who has actually worked/serviced both styles/types of rear hubs bearings with their different axles configurations.
Thanks!!
I've a Novatec/Bitex new rear hub, had to replace the NDS bearing since it came bad. Removing the NDS was easy, but I found it a bit tough to jury rig up a bearing press to press the new one back in. I had to use a long, skinny threaded steel axle bar (to slide thru the middle of the aluminum axle), appropriate sockets to match outside diameter of the new bearing's race on both sides of the hub, a small bit of cut pipe (to go over the DS axle sticking out) and finally washers & nuts to press it all. I have a question about the Novatec/Bitec axle; here's a pic of it:

Since this axle has bearing perches (or lips) on the axle where the axel rests up against the inner race of the bearing, I and also since the axle has to be installed first with the NDS bearing resting over it (DS hub bearing has to also be already installed), then you press it all together. This proved, as mentioned, a bit tough to make work given that the drive side of the axle stuck out so far, and even a deep socket wouldn't reach the hub to press against. I finally, after cutting some piping, got it all to work.
But then I noticed in a Youtube video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=py4Qy_wJmy4) of the BHS-style hubs that have axles that are smooth all the way across, and in the video the axle slid out easily from the DS to the NDS, and does not have to be installed until AFTER all new bearings have been pressed into the hub. Am I correct in assuming you can more easily replace the bearings in a BHS-style hub since you do not have to have the axle in along with the bearing, like you do when pressing in a bearing on a Novatec/Bitex hubs?? If so, it sure would seem this would make maintenance much easier on BHS hubs versus Novatec/Bitex style hubs. Plus, the bearing press kits for Novatec/Bitex style hubs are really expensive vs, what you can use on BHS-style hubs (if I am correct in what I saw on the Youtube video). Here's a pic of a BHS-style rear axle:

Has anyone worked on both?? Would appreciate any response from someone who has actually worked/serviced both styles/types of rear hubs bearings with their different axles configurations.
Thanks!!