Do new hubs need bedding in?

[kokoman]

When I first put them on (new wheel and hubs), they didn't spin as freely as my old ones. (simple hand spin test)

Now after about 200km, they spin a little better? (I think)

[grantw]

I'd be checking the bearings for grease.

[kokoman]

it's a new Bracciano....

[barefoot]

Any machine that has two surfaces moving relative to each other will "bed in".

The bearing surfaces (balls and races) in your hubs weren't perfectly smooth when manufactured, because there's no such thing as perfectly smooth.

As you've used then, the bearings have worn the high spots off each other. So the surfaces are smoother, and the bearings not as tight as they were.

tim

[jacks1071]

it's a new Bracciano....

They'll bed in but are quite smooth out of the box, I wouldn't worry until you have 500+ kms on them unless you think they are abnormally tight?

The only thing that can really create extra drag from new is if the outer seal in the freehub is pinched by the axle cone instead of sitting in its groove. This would effect the rear wheel only. I havn't seen this from the factory but its pretty common where people have re-greased the freehub and not seated the seal properly.

To check this is relatively easy. Remove the cassette.

Look into the end of the freehub and ensure that the seal there is sitting in a groove on the axle cone. If its not - remove the cones (2x 5mm allen keys), lever the seal out with a tiny allen key, sit it onto the axle cone so its in this groove and do it back up. With a small allen key press around the OUTSIDE of the seal to bed it into the freehub body. Don't press around the centre as you don't want it to pop out of its groove.

I can talk you through it on the phone if those directions are unclear.