Have questions or want to discuss cycling? Join Now or Sign In to participate in the BikeRide community.

New: Take Part in the May's Giveaway: Win the LIVALL PikaBoost 2 E-bike Conversion Kit


Axle to Hub Sizing
#1
Hey Folks,
I work with a Bicycle Collective in Seattle and we are putting together a Hub intensive class. Because we work with a milieu of mismatched parts one of the things that sometimes comes up, that I would like to cover in this class, is sizing axles to hub shells. I know how to size a standalone axle's length to a frame but because axles come in different diameters, how does one know which axle diameter is compatible with which hub? Does anyone know the answer?

Thanks!!
  Reply
#2
Most road and mountain bikes use a 9mm axle diameter on the front, and a 10mm axle on the rear. BMX bikes use a 3/8" (9.5mm) or sometimes a larger 14mm diameter front or rear.

There are other uncommon sizes for rare and specialized bicycles.
  Reply
#3
Just to add to Alex's post, you can always use a micrometer and convert it to its fraction or mm equivalent.
Good maintenance to your Bike, can make it like the wheels are, true and smooth!
  Reply
#4
Thanks so much, that info is great! Just to continue the question, are there any charts for the odd or specialty sizing?
  Reply
#5
Well, I'll be damned. I finally stumped Sheldon Brown's website. He actually never listed different axle sizes. But Harris cyclery on the same site http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/axles.html seems to have the most common axle types. There doesn't seem to be much difference. I may be wrong, but that's what I dug up.
Dedicated scholar of bicycles
  Reply
#6
I think he didn't list the axle widths because it wasn't necessary. Even better, he showed how axles should be 11mm longer then the dropout spacing, or 5mm - 5.5mm on each end, yielding the correct axle length. A 126mm rear dropout would then have a 137mm wide axle by simply adding 11mm. Came in handy when I had to cut down an axle for 130mm dropouts, to replace the broken one my 73 Schwinn six speed.
  Reply


Possibly Related Threads...
Thread
Author
Replies
Views
Last Post
 
8,288
12-04-2014, 01:06 PM
Last Post: DaveM
 
27,715
09-24-2014, 03:25 PM
Last Post: !TREK4ME!
 
13,809
07-19-2014, 10:07 PM
Last Post: Painkiller
 
7,383
04-05-2014, 10:42 AM
Last Post: DaveM
 
9,609
10-29-2013, 03:32 PM
Last Post: Budtooz22
 
27,474
09-28-2013, 11:01 AM
Last Post: nfmisso
 
22,054
05-28-2011, 04:57 PM
Last Post: k0p4n
 
9,063
05-21-2011, 08:00 PM
Last Post: RobAR

Forum Jump:

[-]
10 Latest Posts
Third best reason to ride a bent or trik...
Today 10:35 AM
Biking with helmet laws
Today 10:23 AM
The great thing about trikes
Today 10:15 AM
Is anyone riding with music?
Yesterday 09:15 PM
"There's been better times
Yesterday 09:10 PM
What was your first bicycle?
Yesterday 04:25 PM
Where are you from and What is your favo...
06-02-2025 06:22 PM
Effective Breathing Method I use to go u...
06-01-2025 11:50 PM
Attack // Force tire style narrow front ...
06-01-2025 12:47 AM
First long distance ride..
05-31-2025 10:33 PM

[-]
Join BikeRide on Strava
Feel free to join if you are on Strava: www.strava.com/clubs/bikeridecom

[-]
Top 5 Posters This Month
no avatar 1. Criminal
19 posts
no avatar 2. Flowrider
18 posts
no avatar 3. GirishH
17 posts
no avatar 4. rydabent
16 posts
no avatar 5. SPINMAN
12 posts