Cassette Spacer Question.

[Mr Pig]

Hi there,

I've just taken delivery of a pair of Mavic wheels. In the box was a tabbed aluminium spacer/washer. Am I right in thinking it's a washer to fit behind the free hub?

Also, if it is a free hub spacer, do you use it when fitting an eight or nine-speed cassette? Or could it be an extra spacer for use with a seven-speed cassette? I would have thought they'd ship wheels ready to take a nine-speed.

Thank you in advance for your help :0)

 

[TheDoctor]

IIRC, Mavic wheels take a shimano cassette, or a special Mavic cassette that's got Campag spacing. You need the spacer for one or other of them. I expect someone more knowledgeable (like Mickle?) will be along soon.

 

[Mr Pig]

It looks like a Shimano freehub.

 

[summerdays]

Hubby bought some Mavic wheels, and used them with a 7 speed. He ended up using the spacer supplied next to the cassette (I think), and IIRC 2 other spacers that he got from the LBS.

 

[John the Monkey]

On mine (Aksiums) the spacer goes behind the cassette. You need it (iirc) because Mavic make their own cassettes (which also fit these hubs, but without the spacer). My Aksiums are shimano splined freehub, btw.

 

[Steve Austin]

You need the spacer on the freehub first, before the Cassette. 8 and 9 speed cassettes are the same width so you will need it with both of them. IIRC 7speed are the same width too, but i haven't fitted one for quite a while so i may be wrong.
and you'll definitely need it for 10speed as they are narrower than 7/8/9 speed.

 

[TheDoctor]

7 speed are narrower - you need a 3 mm spacer to get 7 speed on a 9 speed hub.

 

[Steve Austin]

thought so. Not used 7 speed for about ten years now...

 

[TheDoctor]

Built a 14 speed bike up just a month ago. *feels ashamed*
It's something of a bitsa.

 

[Mr Pig]

You need the spacer on the freehub first, before the Cassette.

That sounds right. This spacer does not fit over the freehub, it could only go behind it.

Perhaps there is already one spacer fitted, making the hub ready for 8/9-speed cassettes, and this one is extra in case you want to fit a 7-speed? Does that sound reasonable?

Sorry for asking stupid questions but I don't want to take a brand new hub apart to check if I don't have to.

 

[Steve Austin]

you got me confused there Mr Pig.


What cassette you running?

 

[Mr Pig]

What cassette you running?

It'll be a Shimano 9-speed MTB cassette.

 

[Steve Austin]

right then. thats easy. just run it with the thin washer that came with the wheel. job done

 

[fossyant]

Washer/spacer next to spokes - first on the freehub, then your cassette. You'll know as you won't be able to tighted up the cassette.

To fit a 7 speed, you shove on 2 x 3mm spacers first, then the 7 speed cassette (that's what my Aksiums are running) - no need for the mavic spacer.

 

[Mr Pig]

Thank you chaps :0)