SPEEDi Center Lock Instructions

Please watch and read the following instructions very carefully. The SPEEDi is relatively simple to install, but there are a few factors that are important to get precise.

Please note that if your SPEEDi breaks due to improper installation, we can't refund you, so it's important you follow the instructions correctly. If you don't follow the instructions carefully, you may install the SPEEDi incorrectly or break it. Pay attention particularly to the notes in red below.


There are also some FAQs at the bottom of the page that will help troubleshoot any issues.

Contents:

  • Backing plate
  • Cover
  • Magnet
  • Centerlock nut

Tools Required:

  • 44mm Bottom Bracket tool
  • Internal Center-Lock / Cassette tool (if your bike has this stock)

Installation:

  1. Remove the rear wheel.

  2. Clean the disc and end cap from all contamination.

  3. Remove the stock Centerlock nut and magnet, set aside (somewhere safe)

  4. The Centerlock unit comes assembled. Disassemble the unit by pressing the Centerlock nut on the side with the 'NLS' on it. It will push out of the Backing plate.

  5. Install the new Centerlock nut with the stock stainless washer, grease the threads sparingly and tighten to 40nm with a good quality 44mm Bottom Bracket tool. Be very careful not to slip or damage the outer surface of the nut as this is what the Backing Plate mounts to, if this does get damaged, you will need to gently file off any burrs before installing the Backing Plate.

  6. Gently press the Backing Plate on to the Centerlock nut, start by lining up the 16 notches on the outer diameter, then with one edge fully on - work your way around the inside pushing with your thumbs, one notch at a time, until it clicks on. You know it is on correctly when the Centerlock nut face and Backing Plate are completely flush.

  7. Place the Magnet inside ring gear and engage teeth, if you have a steel axle the magnet may not stay in place, to fix this - engage the Magnet into the Cover gear then use the stock magnet to hold it in place from the outside.

  8. Take your time during the final install, make sure everything is very clean for a long and prosperous life.

  9. For silent operation we aim to leave a .1mm gap between the Cover and the Backing Plate.

    1. Gently press Cover onto the end cap with thumb pressure only, rotating as you go. This is supposed to be a very tight fit, so will take some pressure to get it on. WARNING! Press as close to the center as possible, do not put ANY pressure on the outer edge of the cover OR hit it with any tool, or it will break. 

    2. HOT TIP - soak the Cover in hot water (not boiling) for 10 seconds, this makes the plastic slightly larger and more malleable.

    3. As the Cover engages the last 2mm, the teeth need to line up so you will need to rotate the Cover slightly to allow easy engagement. Using a socket that fits over the axle and gently pressing it with your palm is a good way to install easily, be careful not to press it on too hard though, as this will likely make it noisy.

    4. Continue to press the Cover closer until you see a very small gap of around .1mm between the Backing Plate and Cover. You can test how close it is by pushing the outer edge of the Cover toward the Backing Plate and seeing how much it moves.

  10. Rotate the axle to make sure it spins freely and perfectly straight. Try pressing the hub end cap toward the hub and rotating, listening for excessive noise, as the wheel bearings may have play in them that can affect the offset when the axle is done up tight.

  11. There may be some slight plastic on plastic noise as the sealing faces gently touch each other, make sure this noise is not excessive, if anything sounds or feels off, pry it off completely (see uninstallation below) and re-install.

  12. Install the wheel gently into the frame, careful not to impact the unit or sensor.

  13. When tightening the axle - make sure there is always a slight gap between the unit and the sensor/frame at all times.

  14. Please note that for the first 5 minutes of use the unit may make some groovy noise, this is normal and will run smooth and silently after its initial bedding in. If it continues to make excess noise, try uninstalling (see below) and reinstalling following Step 9 closely.


Uninstallation:

  • Uninstallation is done by gently prying the complete unit off the hub from the back of the Backing Plate as strait as possible.
  • IMPORTANT: Make sure to take the complete unit off as ONE (see video). Trying to pry just the Cover (faceplate) off may cause it to break.

Reminder: To avoid any warranty issues, if you need to take your bike into the shop for any reason we recommend removing the unit and reinstalling the factory magnet. 


Frequently Asked Questions

My unit is making a lot of noise. What should I do?

To make it silent, take your time to read the installation instructions thoroughly as it has simply been pushed on too hard, causing too much friction between the cover and backing plate, we aim for a very slight gap between the components.

Please note that it's normal to have a little bit of noise in the beginning while things bed in. This will go away after the first ride.

Do not add any lubricant to lessen the noise. Lubricant will just gunk it up and attract contaminants.

Do I need to add lubricant?

We highly recommend not applying any form of lubricant on the unit, as the Acetal plastic is self lubricating, any lubricant will just gunk it up and attract contaminants.

What do I need to do for long term care?

The SPEEDi is made from Acetal plastic which is self lubricating, which means you don't need to add any lubricants (see above)

Generally, there is no need to clean the SPEEDi. When installed correctly, the tight seal tolerances keep out most dirt and water - there may be some very fine particles that get in, but these shouldn't affect performance. There's no harm in opening it up once in a while to make sure it's looking good and clean it up, but it's not required.

I think I ordered the wrong size
Please reach out to us here.

Got another question? Contact us here and we'll help you out.