It is possible to get a new part, dismantle the hub, fit it, reassemble the hub with all the bearings back in place, but this is a faff. Paying a shop to do that is a £25 job even outside London, and the part is about the same.
A new hub is much the same as a freewheel, and means building it back into a wheel.
You can buy a new wheel for not much more than the cost of the part and fitting it, so that was what I decided to do. So far, quite annoying and expensive, but bearable. I proceeded to whip off the cassette and switch it onto the new wheel, but the rotor for the brake would be a whole other issue.
Here are some lessons I learned:
- Buying cheap tools form Halfords is a false economy even if you already have the tools at home and want to avoid buying two sets.
- Not moving bolts for 7 years will mean they are stuck, and cheap tools will not help you move them.
- Using other tools in conjunction with the cheap tools will help, but you might end up pinching your finger very painfully.
- Rounded-out bolts will not come out.
- When buying new bolts it’s probably a good idea to check that even if you’re buying them in an allen key format (a tool you have), you should make sure they are in a size that you actually have with you.
- You will need a power drill and braver friend to drill the heads off the bolts and free the rotor. A hand drill will not do.
All in all highly successful, I think you’ll agree.
In the end I got to the end of what could have been a fairly quick job in about three days. Finally I was ready to get a quick, muddy, but fun-favourite ride on the Chilterns before heading back to London. All done with a new wheel and no food.
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