Eccentric hub question

[xizangsteve]

Hello all:
I asked about the EBB and now I would like to know if anyone has any experience with the White Industries eccentric hub. I know where I can get one for a good price. It would allow me to turn a 97' Specialized Rock Hopper A1 Comp FS (long name) into a SS to see how I like it. I could always sell the Jamis XLT and upgrade later. Thanks for the help. Steve

[skillet999]

I think you might want to make sure that will work first. If the "FS" stands for full suspension, than I am not sure you can make it an SS as the suspension will change the chain tension as it goes through it's travel. I'm not an expert but I would wait for an expert to chime in that this will work first. On the other hand, if this is a hardtail and I'm merely suffering from my beer intake tonight, then EBB+hardtail= sweet SS. Good luck - D

[drevil]

Although skillet's correct that "FS" usually stands for full suspension, I think in this case it means front suspension, and that this bike is indeed a hardtail. If that is correct, then the ENO eccentric hub will work fine.

The only problem I've had with the ENO eccentric hub (and two others I've talked to and a few more in cyberspace) is that the bolts holding it to the frame may strip. If you are going to get the wheel, I'd suggest going to Home Depot and purchasing a couple of spare (35 cent) bolts to carry in your pack just in case you accidentally strip them.

Overall, I am satisfied with the ENO wheel. I love how it allows you to run not only a freewheel, but a fixed gear cog (with lockring) as well. It also gives the bike a cleaner look. No extraneous tensioners are necessary, so not only is your bike slightly lighter, there is one less thing to bash.

[xizangsteve]

Drevil,
What type of frame are you using the hub on, Al, Ti, Steel? Have you had any problems with the hub slipping in the frame and losing chain tension? I'm a 210 lb guy. Thanks for the help. Steve

[drevil]

Drevil,
What type of frame are you using the hub on, Al, Ti, Steel? Have you had any problems with the hub slipping in the frame and losing chain tension? I'm a 210 lb guy. Thanks for the help. Steve

I'm 160 pounds. I originally had it on my steel bike and it slipped the first few times I used it. I think it was because a combination of me not tightening it down enough and the dropouts on that bike are pretty minimal, thus not giving the axle endcaps enough purchase on the frame. When I really cranked down hard on the bolts, it didn't slip. However, all that hard cranking on the bolts is probably what led to premature failure (stripping).

When I transferred the wheel over to an aluminum frame, it never slipped, but the bolts stripped very easily. I think it's because the dropouts are thicker on the Al frame and the (already stressed) bolts didn't go as far into the endcaps.
I'm not sure if White Industries warns folks to use longer bolts if using thicker dropouts, but it seems like a good idea to me.

There is also a hiccup in the design: the endcaps aren't serrated. Instead, they're smooth, and IMHO, more prone to slipping. If they were serrated, they could "bite" into the frame better, and you wouldn't have to crank down on the bolts as hard. A buddy of mine modified his endcaps with a chisel and hammer, and he reported no slipping at all. However, consumers shouldn't be forced to resort to those measures for such an expensive product. :rolleyes:

[dmofot]

Then again, I weigh a little more than Ricky and used my ENO hub on a steel bike and an Al one and I didn't have any slipping issues ever. Including when riding fixie or doing drops. I did manage to somehow strip the threads for the fixie cog, but I don't think that's so much the design as to thread cog technology.

I think it's an expensive option, but if you have a hardtail bike that you already like and your running v-brakes, it's an excellent solution. It's a great wheel to have on hand anytime someone stupidly says "yea I'd like to try singlespeed sometime"...stupidly being that they don't realize I have the wheel in the back of the car and I'm going to change it for them before we ride, haha. Sure it could be improved upon, but no one else is making anything like it, so they sort of have the market cornered on eccentric hubs...

DT

[drewdane]

Although skillet's correct that "FS" usually stands for full suspension, I think in this case it means front suspension, and that this bike is indeed a hardtail.
It is - I used to have one.

Regarding converting full suspension bikes to SS, someone on MTBR posted shots of her Santa Cruz Superlight (I think) that she'd converted to singlespeed.

[locarno]

big drew!

its definitely possible to make a full suspension bike into a single, i've seen people do it. you just have to use an old rear derailer, or a chain tensioner that uses a spring loaded design like the rohloff.

also if its got more than a few inches of travel you'd have to throw on a chainguide like the MRP or e.13 to prevent it from throwing the chain off the front ring.

[themonkeyman]

A really easy full susp. SS conversion would be on a frame where the suspension pivots around the BB, resulting in no change in the chain length---Graham

[Snot-Rocket]

Per the dialogue above- the Hub is awesome, however the bolts are lacking! You can get 8mm replacement bolts that do quite fine at home depot- I got 10-mm longer bolts and also bought some 'huge' locking washers to put between the Hub and the frame, this seems to work purty fine...