Irwin Hubs Fail...

Discussion in 'Hubs' started by Mikie, Mar 6, 2020.


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  1. Mikie

    Mikie Admin/iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    NW Arkansas
    Name:
    Mikie Watson
    Current Bike:
    Ibis DV9 / SC Hightower
    Whelp! The Trail Nazi hit me up... said, “No Trail, for YOU this weekend!
    Rear hub blew up...

    Edit: So I have moved this thread to the Hubs Forum as this is more than a one sentence one pic post. So some of the following post may seem odd at first.

    These are Irwin Hubs and this is there factory wheelset. The specific model or name I don’t know. I got a “deal” on them $300 for the wheelset and like anything else in life, you get what you pay for. Now in all fairness, I am tough on wheels. I did buy them out of the box, these are just over a year old, and I did put them through hell at such places as Kokopelli.

    Two things for sure, they spun until supper. They rolled incredibly well. However, I never forgot that @UPSed made the statement that they must have very small bearings. That was quite astute. When I pulled the wheel apart I was amazed by just how small the bearings indeed were. Too small?

    So my conclusion is I’m going to contact Irwin and at least ask about warranties as I think this was under engineered. Hopefully have them as back up wheels. They will certainly not be a primary wheelset for me.

    It’s why I like to pay the price and cry only once. Probably go to my favorites... Chris King.

    Crack in housing at 12, 4, and 8 o’clock. Apparently pushed the pawls into the body to the breaking point...:mad: You can see loose bearings inside the hub...
    A46FB8F0-6B60-43D0-B3E3-475A74E42A57.jpeg

    Bearing shrapnel wore down to nothing, even worn in half...
    upload_2020-3-6_22-10-2.jpeg


    Heavy Metal! (Shavings :unsure:)
    upload_2020-3-6_22-11-4.jpeg

    I’m guessing that the @Tom the Bomb attack on Palm Canyon Epic took a toll on this Bomber!

     
    Danmtchl, mike, Grego and 12 others like this.
  2. herzalot

    herzalot iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Laguna Beach
    Name:
    Chris
    Current Bike:
    2020 Revel Rail,Yeti SB 130 LR
    What hubs?
     
  3. Mikie

    Mikie Admin/iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    NW Arkansas
    Name:
    Mikie Watson
    Current Bike:
    Ibis DV9 / SC Hightower
    Irwin...
     
  4. herzalot

    herzalot iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Laguna Beach
    Name:
    Chris
    Current Bike:
    2020 Revel Rail,Yeti SB 130 LR
    Never heard of 'em. Should I?
     
    Danmtchl, bvader, mtnbikej and 2 others like this.
  5. Mikie

    Mikie Admin/iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    NW Arkansas
    Name:
    Mikie Watson
    Current Bike:
    Ibis DV9 / SC Hightower
    Nope.
     
    Danmtchl, bvader, mtnbikej and 2 others like this.
  6. UPSed

    UPSed iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Simi Valley
    Name:
    Ed
    Current Bike:
    Niner Jet 9 RDO
    If you plan on replacing I still have those plus wheels for cheap and I'm also looking to unload a set of Ibis 938s with SRAM XD driver. I'm not using the chunky tire set anymore and they only have a few hundred miles on them. 2.5WT DHF/Aggressor mounted up.
     
  7. mtnbikej

    mtnbikej J-Zilla

    Location:
    Orange
    Name:
    J
    Current Bike:
    SC Chameleon SS, SC Hightower
    Put the fatties back on.

    Isn't this the 2nd time the rear hub has failed?
     
  8. Mikie

    Mikie Admin/iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    NW Arkansas
    Name:
    Mikie Watson
    Current Bike:
    Ibis DV9 / SC Hightower
    No, I trashed the soft rear Arc 40’s that came on them. Hubs are still good.
     
  9. Faust29

    Faust29 Moderator

    Location:
    irgendwo
    Name:
    B. Bunny
    Current Bike:
    I gots some bikes.
    Soon you'll have a two bike stable again... :thumbsup:
     
  10. SnakeCharmer

    SnakeCharmer iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Front Range, San Gabes
    Name:
    Mike, aka "Ssnake"
    Current Bike:
    YT Izzo
    Isn't Irwin an accountant?

    I bet he just yelled: "You're killing me Mikie!!!"
     
    HBkites, Danmtchl, Mikie and 3 others like this.
  11. Cyclotourist

    Cyclotourist iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Redlands
    Name:
    David
    Current Bike:
    Don't fence me in!
    I see the title and keep thinking Irwindale.
     
    Danmtchl and Mikie like this.
  12. AKAKTM

    AKAKTM Well-Known Member

    Location:
    SCV
    Name:
    Tony A
    If possible, I recommend sticking with DT Swiss 350 or higher (lower numerical value) hubs with the star ratchet. Those hubs hold up very well and are super-easy to service. They are just great hubs. I have tried Hope, I9, King and Novatec among others. Several of these are really good, but none seem to be better or simpler to service.
     
    Sidewalk, Danmtchl, mike and 8 others like this.
  13. rossage

    rossage iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    East Sacramento
    Name:
    Ross Lawson
    Current Bike:
    Highball
    Yep. DTs exclusively for years now. All the features you mention and they're easily adaptable for different axles/lengths.
     
    Danmtchl, mike, Cyclotourist and 7 others like this.
  14. AKAKTM

    AKAKTM Well-Known Member

    Location:
    SCV
    Name:
    Tony A
    Oh yea and they aren't that expensive at the 350 level.
     
    Danmtchl, mike, rossage and 4 others like this.
  15. Voodoo Tom

    Voodoo Tom MTB Addict

    Location:
    Castaic
    Name:
    Tom Kokkinakis
    Current Bike:
    Mango one, black one, Ti one
    Yep several pairs of DT Swiss and never a problem. Even the 54T ratchets with those crazy fine teeth hold up fine. I've also found that our magic blue Maxima grease works great to lube the ratchets and lasts just as well as the expensive red DT stuff.
     
    Danmtchl, mike, Cyclotourist and 4 others like this.
  16. scan

    scan iMTB Rockstah

    Name:
    fran allas
    Current Bike:
    Scott Spark
    Could make a good band name:laugh:
     
  17. herzalot

    herzalot iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Laguna Beach
    Name:
    Chris
    Current Bike:
    2020 Revel Rail,Yeti SB 130 LR
    I highly recommend Stan's hubs! I've had four Stan's rear hubs in 4 years, they must be good! :cautious: :confused:
     
  18. HBkites

    HBkites Well-Known Member

    Location:
    Huntington Beach
    Name:
    Sharone
    Current Bike:
    Why S7, Revel Rascal, Spark RC
    I have a set of DT wheels (MKC1200) with 240 hubs, and I'm supersized that their low number of engagement point is bothering me.
    My other set (Ibis 935) have I9 Torch and their near instant engagement is addicting.
    I like Project 321 as well.


    Keep in mind that some of these hubs cost more that the price you paid for your wheelset.
     
  19. SnakeCharmer

    SnakeCharmer iMTB Hooligan

    Location:
    Front Range, San Gabes
    Name:
    Mike, aka "Ssnake"
    Current Bike:
    YT Izzo
    Love, love, love my i9 hubs!!! :inlove:
     
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As a former Amazon Associate I continue to get screwed trying to stay qualified as an Amazon Affiliate. So I quit!


Want to donate to imtbtrails?