Cup and cone hub service - Deore m525

[scotsbikester]

I brought M595 parts - so got that totally wrong! The cones and washers where totally different. Luckily I hadn't openned the packed so i can still return it.

It looks like the parts suggest by "Ming the Merciless" above are the cones for the M525A. AI searches are telling me the cones are different M525A vs M525. not sure how reliable AI is on that one? I've emailed SJS Cycles to see if they stock it - see if they can track down the correct one, before i buy the incorrect one.

Will see if I can find another complete hub (new or second hand) too

As I say, the A version of the those hubs has been out for quite some time, and I am fairly sure replaced the non-A version. Do you have any idea how old the wheels are?

I would have massive doubts about the reliability of AI on this, or any other, specialist subject. I have had several recent ChatGPT conversations where I have had to correct it. It apologises and says "yes, you are completely correct, the blah blah is in fact blah blah, as you say". Eventually you get there, but it can take some time.

SJS probably know their stuff, but have been wrong. I corrected them on one item, but they left the incorrect information on screen. I sent them a video showing that the information next to the product description was wrong, but they never corrected it. They don't sell that product anymore, probably because I bought the last one.

Spa Cycles in Harrogate might have replacement parts. But they have a similar ambiguity about M525 and A versions.

If yours is M525 you might be SOL.

Though if it's just cones, locknuts and axles, they sound like they might be standard-ish? Freehubs are a different ball game.

If you go to the Shimano Tech Docs site, you can get an exploded view, which gives compatible parts:

https://si.shimano.com/en/pdfs/ev/FH-M525-A-3287/EV-FH-M525-A-3287.pdf

But tread carefully. Think about it, you need to look for the later models, or maybe even different models, to looks for compatibility. Shimano can't say that a part is compatible for a product they haven't released yet, so earlier diagrams might not list compatible parts from a later model. Shimano have probably got better things to do than constantly update documentation for out of production items.

Those exploded diagrams often give dimensions, threading and such like, and if you spend enough time you might find ones that work,even if Shimano don't officially say they're compatible. Axles seem to be the same length, threading etc between various similar hubs.

 

[scotsbikester]

If you can find out exactly what your hubs are, you might have as much luck finding a bike with those hubs that hasn't seen too much use. It might not even cost that much. Of course you'll end up with bike you don't really want, but hey, there's no such thing as too many bikes, eh?

 

[l4dva]

That’s what I have. I got them second hand so no idea how old they are - 26inch built with Mavic rims so I presume they are old.

I think I might of found a brand new hub that is the same model, if SJS don’t have the parts I’ll just buy the whole hub and take the parts that I need and keep the rest as spares.

 

[scotsbikester]

View attachment 825492 That’s what I have. I got them second hand so no idea how old they are - 26inch built with Mavic rims so I presume they are old.

I think I might of found a brand new hub that is the same model, if SJS don’t have the parts I’ll just buy the whole hub and take the parts that I need and keep the rest as spares.

I've just looked at my hub, and there is very definitely an "A" after the M525. So you can tell them apart visually. I remember trying to source a spare freehub for mine, to keep in reserve. I found one, but it was barely any cheaper than a complete hub, which includes a QR. If it really is the same hub, complete, just buy it.

Alternatively, a little bit of detective work can sometimes pay off:

Step 1. Become acquainted with Shimano's tech doc site - https://si.shimano.com/en/

2. Enter the product name of the thing you're interested in. Either the actual one, or something that you think might be closely related. You might get a few related documents, you want the exploded diagram, like this - https://si.shimano.com/en/pdfs/ev/FH-M525-2067/EV-FH-M525-2067B.pdf

3. Find the actual part number. For example, the right hand cone and locknut, Y3AE03000. Do a google search for "Shimano Y3AE03000"

4. Look at the replies. With any luck some might come back from SJS, and even though the part number might be different, SJS will often list compatible hubs, like this - https://www.sjscycles.co.uk/hub-spa...0-rear-right-axle-spacer-seal-ring-y32x98020/

Yours is there, see? I'm going to assume that SJS's information must come from somewhere, presumably Shimano.

It's a fair bit of detective work, but given that Shimano C&C bearings ball size (different front and back though) is the same, the track in the cones and cups must be the same? The depth could be different, of course.

If you're thinking of keeping this bike, and you manage to find either a complete hub, or spares, I would stock up on spares. Out of a rear hub there is only one part that can only be replaced with a complete wheel rebuild, which is the LH cup. Everything else can be replaced with spare cones, or the freehub.

My bike has fairly old components. Not old in the sense of used, but old in the sense that they went out of production several years ago. I have built up a fair stock of spares, and with some of them I know I did it in the nick of time, buying them while NOS spares were still available.

Worth pointing out that C&C wheel bearings seem to be falling out of favour at Shimano.