Easton R4 Hub... how do these work?

[Dead Man]

I'm used to hubs where you just stick a couple 5mm allens in the sides, set your bearing load, then either lock off the cups with locknuts or tighten a set-screw to hold the cup(s) in place.... but this hub doesn't seem to have a set screw nor any kind of locknut system, and the cups (or what I'm calling "cups" on this hub) don't appear to be adjustable. Instead, there's a smooth section on the non-drive side between the "cup" and the hub body that can be twisted with finger pressure in either direction, loading the bearings.

When I got this wheelset, I just figured that's how the R4 does it... no set screw to lock it off? I guess not... hopefully it'll stay put. But after just a few miles, it does back off, and the wheel gets play again.

Anybody know how these hubs work?

Thanks

-B

[Dead Man]

I found this....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIIMmsMx7Ng

And bam... that's exactly what I do. Problem is, 10 miles later, there's play in my hub again. W T F?

[Hermes_Alex]

Easton R4 generation hubs rely on the clamping force of the quick-release to load the bearings. Most of the time, it gets the job done to some extent, but the problem arises because the hubs themselves are not made especially well - they were infamous for having this exact problem arise on a regular basis, for years.

[Dead Man]

Weak. Guess I'll try greasing up my skewer and really clamping that sonuvabizzle down.

[Dead Man]

A simple set-screw would solve the whole problem. If I could figure out how to disassemble the hub, I could put one in there myself- drilling and tapping is not hard. How do you get the cup(s) off?

[cmg]

here's a link to the hub cutaway. http://www.eastoncycling.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/R4SL_Rear_Hub_Drawing.pdf says it has 5mm end caps. if you do the set screw thing please post photos. the manuals are located here http://eastoncycling.com/en-us/supported-product/ec90-sl/

[Dead Man]

here's a link to the hub cutaway. http://www.eastoncycling.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/R4SL_Rear_Hub_Drawing.pdf says it has 5mm end caps. if you do the set screw thing please post photos. the manuals are located here http://eastoncycling.com/en-us/supported-product/ec90-sl/

Thanks... looks like the drive side cup has to come off first- that must have been my problem.

I tried clamping the skewer lever harder before tonight's crit-lap session - no dice. It didn't loosen up as much, but it did still loosen up. If I clamp it any harder I'm just going to damage something, so that's not going to be a viable solution. I will see if I can get that preload adjuster off and look at doing a set-screw. I'll post pics if I do it.