5.10 wheels

Cup-and-Cone Hub Service (Older Shimano)

Cup-and-Cone Hub Service (Older Shimano). Step-by-step procedure for bike maintenance — tools, time, and what to watch out for.

Difficulty ★★★ advanced
Time ~45 min per hub
Applies to Bikes with cup-and-cone hubs (older Shimano; many Commuter and entry-level)

Tools

  • Two cone wrenches (typically 13mm and 15mm or 15mm and 17mm)
  • grease
  • ball bearings (if replacing)
  • rags

Procedure

  1. Remove the wheel and the QR/axle

  2. Place two cone wrenches

    on opposite sides — one on the cone (thin nut closest to the bearing), one on the locknut (outermost nut).

  3. Loosen the locknut

    by holding the cone stationary and turning the locknut counter-clockwise.

  4. Unthread the locknut, washer, and cone

    off the axle on one side.

  5. Slide the axle out

    from the other side — bearings will fall out (catch them on a rag).

  6. Clean everything

    — bearings, cones, races inside the hub — with degreaser. Inspect:

    • Bearings should be smooth and round; pitted or discolored = replace.
    • Cones should be smooth at the contact track; pitted = replace.
    • Hub races (inside the hub shell) should be smooth; pitted = replace the hub.

  7. Pack fresh grease

    into both hub races. A generous bead of grease holds bearings in place during reassembly.

  8. Press bearings into the grease

    — count them on each side (typically 9–11 per side; same number both sides).

  9. Insert the axle

    carefully so the cone on the still-installed side seats against the bearings.

  10. Thread the cone, washer, locknut

    on the open side.

  11. Tighten the cone

    finger-snug — should hold but the axle still spins freely.

  12. Tighten the locknut

    against the cone using two cone wrenches (cone holds, locknut tightens). The "lock" effect engages here.

  13. Test

    the axle should spin smoothly with no play. Hold the axle ends and try to wiggle laterally — should feel solid. If it has play, loosen the locknut, snug the cone tighter by an eighth-turn, re-lock. If it's notchy/tight, loosen the cone slightly.

  14. Reinstall the wheel