Dura Ace FH-7700 Hub Maintenance / Service

Dura Ace FH-7700 Hub Maintenance / Service - Dura Ace FH-7700 Nabe reinigen

This time we'll clean a Dura Ace FH-7700 Hub and regrease the bearings.

This has to be done from time to time and isn't too hard, but needs definitely attention.
My rear hub made a clicking sound, once per wheel rotation which could be traced to the hub. Since it's an old-school hub with free rotationg ball bearings, you can fix this easily be regreasing the hub.

Tools needed:

1. To remove the cassette
use a chain whip - they come in many forms. I highly recommend the Cyclus Tools Shimano and Campagnolo Multitool. You never know when you need the other side. This tool is high quality.

TIP: When removing the cassette use an old shoelace, tube or something like that and slide the cassette on it. This will make your life a whole lot easier, since the cassette contains several spacers, which need to be inserted between the right cogs.

2. To open and service the hub
Two (!) 15mm cone wrenches (Konusschlüssel) to open the hub e.g. Park Tool Cone Wrench 15 mm or Park Tool DCW-1C/2C/3C/4C double-ended cone wrench but it doesn't really matter.
Grease - this one shouldn't pull water, the rest doesn't matter that much.
a small magnet - this is a wonderful aid for picking all those bearings


We assume a removed cassette.

If in doubt ask your cat for help.

Unscrew the locking nut on the non-freehub side. You need two cone wrences for that task.

Remove the nut.

Remove the washer - turn the wheel around.

Use both cone wrenches to untighten the freehub side.

Voila the hub is open, you can now see the ball bearings. Pay attention you're not loosing them.

Use the magnet (I'm using a bike computer one) to remove the bearings safely.

Clean the bearings, clean the hub with toilet paper or something like that.

Put lots of new grease inside the hub so you can push the bearings in place.

 Wonderful!

Same on the other side.

Now it's time to reassemble everything.
 spin freely

PAY ATTENTION: do NOT overtighten the hub, or it won't spin. This might need several trials. I'm holding one cone wrench with my hand and then screw one cone with my hand on. When I can't turn anymore with my hand I gave it a little turn with the wrench, maybe about 1/8th of a rotation. Same thing with the outer cone on the non freehub side.


Reinstall the cassette, the cassette lock ring and tighten with about 40Nm. That's about how hard you can tighten it with the Cyclus Tool without using help.

Once inserted in the bike and fixed with the quick release skewers (grease them!) the hub should spin freely but shouldn't have play vertically.