DT Swiss Hub - 36 Step Star Rachet Upgrade

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audiophilitis
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Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2012 12:49 am

by audiophilitis

Been reading about this upgrade for either DT 190 or 240 rear hubs. Stock rachet has 18 steps so this upgrade supposedly enhances the "engagement point." Just wondering if any DT Swiss hub users have any experience with this and willing to share an opinion. I've taken my DT190 hubs apart for cleaning/light greasing of the internals and though about doing this upgrade if anyone has a positive experience to share. It's quite a popular upgrade in the MTB space. TIA.

tetonrider
Posts: 91
Joined: Wed Oct 06, 2010 3:38 am

by tetonrider

hi.

i've performed this upgrade on some MTB wheels. it is a trivial upgrade to perform. the 36T ratchets are also very slightly lighter (5-10g?) than the standard. they are slightly noisier than the standard ratchets (can be made to be more quiet by adding a bit more lubricant).

i like them. more POE is good for technical MTB sections where you are ratcheting the cranks. probably less an issue on the road.

there's not much downside.

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JKolmo
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by JKolmo

I have it (for road use). To be honest I can't fell any real world difference at all.

audiophilitis
Posts: 479
Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2012 12:49 am

by audiophilitis

tetonrider wrote:hi.

i've performed this upgrade on some MTB wheels. it is a trivial upgrade to perform. the 36T ratchets are also very slightly lighter (5-10g?) than the standard. they are slightly noisier than the standard ratchets (can be made to be more quiet by adding a bit more lubricant).

i like them. more POE is good for technical MTB sections where you are ratcheting the cranks. probably less an issue on the road.

there's not much downside.


Thanks for the feedback -- guess I'll give it a try.

audiophilitis
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by audiophilitis

JKolmo wrote:I have it (for road use). To be honest I can't fell any real world difference at all.


That's good to know -- thanks!

Geoff
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Location: Canada

by Geoff

It is definitely lighter. A perfect upgrade for LW's with DT innards.

thisisatest
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by thisisatest

The 36t ratchets may have a bit more coasting drag. Haven't tested this with DT's star ratchet yet, but it's generally the case with conventional ratchet systems.

audiophilitis
Posts: 479
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by audiophilitis

Geoff wrote:It is definitely lighter. A perfect upgrade for LW's with DT innards.


Do you know if they're lighter than the stock 18T disks on 190 hubs -- which are used for the LW Standard Cs and Obermayers? I recall reading an article that mentioned a weight savings for 240 hubs, but a very slight increase in weight compared to stock 18t disks used for the 190s.

audiophilitis
Posts: 479
Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2012 12:49 am

by audiophilitis

thisisatest wrote:The 36t ratchets may have a bit more coasting drag. Haven't tested this with DT's star ratchet yet, but it's generally the case with conventional ratchet systems.


Hmmm...good to know -- thanks.

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corky
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by corky

I changed to more teeth..... the only real world change I could detect was the freewheel buzz is more buzzier( technical term). Didn't really detect a decrease in take up time......

audiophilitis
Posts: 479
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by audiophilitis

corky wrote:I changed to more teeth..... the only real world change I could detect was the freewheel buzz is more buzzier( technical term). Didn't really detect a decrease in take up time......



So I would assume more "frequent" clicks while coasting due to the twice-as-many teeth...albeit higher pitched?

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Zen Cyclery
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by Zen Cyclery

@audiophilitis- Not necessarily. Just because the points of engagement is increased does not mean that the tone would increase. It simply goes from a click, click, click to a bzzzzzzzz.

tinozee
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Joined: Wed Jun 01, 2011 7:53 am

by tinozee

I've don this upgrade to a few hubs and can't feel it.

audiophilitis
Posts: 479
Joined: Sun Jul 29, 2012 12:49 am

by audiophilitis

Zen Cyclery wrote:@audiophilitis- Not necessarily. Just because the points of engagement is increased does not mean that the tone would increase. It simply goes from a click, click, click to a bzzzzzzzz.



Got it -- thanks!

by Weenie


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jooo
Posts: 1510
Joined: Wed Feb 02, 2011 3:48 am

by jooo

The weight issue was that the 18 tooth ratchets were all solid AFAIK and that the 36 tooth ratchets were hollow. I saw on here recently that there are now hollow 18 tooth ratchets though so you may not get a weight saving by making the switch, depending on your model of hub/pre built wheel.

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