Setting up a new Mavic Ksyrium Elite wheelset

[Spin City]

I have bought a new Mavic Ksyrium Elite wheelset and I need some advice on how to set up the wheels so that they run freely.

The rear wheel appears to be OK but the front wheel does not spin as easily as it should do. The only way I can make the wheel spin as freely as I would expect is to loosen the Quick Release to the point where the wheel can be moved laterally at the rim (if that makes any sense).

The wheel is not rubbing against the brake blocks or anything else.

To my mind here are some possible issues:

a) The Quick Release has been done up too tightly - Please see above.
b) The wheel is new and needs to be 'run in' - I don't know enough about wheels to know whether this could be a problem.
c) The wheeel is sub-standard and needs to be returned - I don't know whether or not this could be true.
d) The wheels have Mavic's QRM+ technology which their website says "allows you to quickly adjust your wheels according to performance goals". Basically you can ajust the 'bearing play' by either tightening or loosening an adjustment nut. However, I don't know whether this is causing the problem.
e) There is some other problem that I haven't thought about or there is a combination of problems that I don't have the experience to deal with.

If anyone can offer any help or suggestions then I would be most grateful.

 

[potsy]

Sounds like an over-tightened hub to me,wouldn't expect it on a new wheel though.

 

[Spin City]

Thanks for your reply potsy. I see you're from South Manchester - same as me.

It may have something to do with the QRM+ bits then as these are what Mavic call a "micro-adjustability system".

I bought the wheels from an online store and I think I need to contact them for some advice as I've run out of ideas.

 

[accountantpete]

+1 re cones over-tightened. No biggie.

You should have got a small plastic tool which allows the adjustment to be made with the wheel on the bike.

You press the tool into the little holes in the hub and turn anti-clockwise to loosen - start with a quarter turn,then tighten the QR and see how it is.

 

[potsy]

Thanks for your reply potsy. I see you're from South Manchester - same as me.

It may have something to do with the QRM+ bits then as these are what Mavic call a "micro-adjustability system".

I bought the wheels from an online store and I think I need to contact them for some advice as I've run out of ideas.

No problem Spin City,I have recently ventured into hub servicing with mixed success,have learnt a lot though after taking mine apart last weekend.
I have Shimano RS10's but I'm sure someone else will be along later who can help you more.

Stockport boy who has moved to South Manchester,guessing you're a Blue with a name like that?

 

[Spin City]

Thanks for your replies accountantpete and potsy.

I will try what you've suggested tomorrow and let you know how I get on.

potsy - I am a sort of Blue but at the moment I've lost interest in the professional game of football and Spin City has got nothing to do with the football team.

 

[e-rider]

Sounds a bit odd to me. The weight of the valve sound be enough to make the wheel rotate if you lift it off the floor. I would expect that from new really although they might need some running in.

The cones might be too tight, or they might have even been assmbled incorrectly at the nice new Mavic factory in Romania (what was wrong with France?)

either way, if you are not a competent mechanic on these matters, I'd be heading back to the retailer.

 

[Spin City]

I tried to solve the issue I've been having without any success. So today I rang the retailer and they will take the wheel back under warranty to sort this problem out.

I'll let you know what happens. I'm not in too much of a hurry as it may be some time before I want to venture out with my new pair of wheels (assuming everything works out as I'd like).

 

[fossyant]

Mavic Ksyriums are cartridge bearing - sounds like a badly fitted bearing, or indeed too tight pre-load - they are easy to adjust the 'pre-load' (similar process to cup and cone) but you never really know if it's too tight - you need it just tight enough for there to be no 'rim wobble' when the skewers are tight. Shouldn't be like that new, so you did right.

Fit and forget they are - I've got the bottom end Ksyriums on my training bike, and you don't need to do anything with them.

 

[Spin City]

I've been a bit slow to get back but here's an update on the problem I had with the front wheel which did not spin as easily as it should do out of the box.

I rang the online retailer and they advised sending the wheel back to them 'under warranty'. So I returned the wheel and a week later it was sent back to me with the following note:
"Striped down, checked bearings, they were housed right. Reassambled and it seems fine. Because the bearings are good and new they may not run as free as you like but in this case it was right to have them checked. Checked in a bike. Enjoy."

I put the wheel back onto my bike and it now spins as freely as I would expect. I have not, as yet though, been out for a proper ride.

I've been impressed by the service provided by the store and there has been no financial cost apart from the postage to return the wheel.
(I've just had a quick look at the retailer's website and I couldn't see any information about who pays for the return of an item 'under warranty'. I think a phone call will be needed to find out this information.)

 

[raindog]

I've been following this thread as I have Mavic Cosmos on one of my bike.
Hmmmm.......sounds really strange that. I think it's impossible to get the bearings in skew-wiff, as it were, so what could it have been?

 

[Spin City]

Last final thing. I rang the retailer and it looks like they will pay for the postage costs to return the wheel to them. So it looks like a happy ending.

I will now, of course, probably be waiting for a long time before I'm prepared to venture out to see how the new wheels ride.