Mavic's tubeless Crossmax SX wheelset is light enough for trail use, but designed to take all-mountain and even park riding in stride. To encompass the wide range of frames and forks in these categories, Mavic designed the SX hubs to accept a variety of quick release and through-axle configurations. The two most popular for all-mountain are a QR-dropout frame paired with a 15QR through-axle fork, and the 142/12-millimeter through-axle frame with either a 20-millimeter or a 15QR through-axle fork. Mavic includes conversions for all three of the above configurations with the SX wheelset. In this Tech Tuesday, we go over the steps to convert Mavic's SX axles from quick release to through-axle in the rear and from 20-millimeter to 15QR in the front hub. The basic switch is easy to do and once you go over the steps, you will be able to convert to all of Mavic's axle options like a pro mechanic.
Pinkbike starts with a nearly new set of Mavic Crossmax SX wheels in stock configuration and using the parts Mavic ships in its SX wheelset kits and minimal tools, it was a snap to convert the axles to fit a 142/12mm rear through-axle frame and a QR15 through-axle fork.
Mavic Axle Tips: • As always, start with a clean work area and clean parts. You won't want to be exposing the inners of the freehub and expensive bearings to grime.
• Mavic hubs use fine threads and close tolerances, so use care and a tiny bit of lightweight grease on the endcaps and axles to assist the assembly process.
• This is an easy job, but Crossmax SX wheels are not cheap, so if you don't feel confident once you get into it, have a good shop finish the conversion for you.
•
More info on Mavic Crossmax SX wheels Things You'll need: (clockwise) • 17mm cone wrench • Mavic 15mm front-hub endcaps • Mavic 142/12mm rear-hub endcaps • Mavic bearing adjust tool • 14mm cone wrench or open-end wrench.
Crossmax SX Front Axle: 20mm to 15QR Through-AxleStarting with the front hub, find the notches in the 20mm endcaps and fit the edges of the cone wrench and Mavic bearing adjust tool in the slots on opposite ends • Unscrew counter-clockwise and one endcap will come off.
Slip the edges of the cone wrench and Mavic bearing tool into the notches in the exposed axle end and the remaining endcap to remove the opposite cap.
The new 15mm front endcap (left) next to the original 20mm endcap • Notice the O-ring (right) behind the flange that retains the new 142/12mm endcap inside the Mavic hub axle. The O-ring locks the new endcap in place.
Put a tiny amount of grease inside the hollow axle and then slip the endcap into the axle with the short end facing outwards • Push it in firmly by hand until the flange sits flush with the end of the axle. Repeat on the opposite side.
The front axle has been converted successfuly. Note that there are threads exposed where the 20mm endcaps threaded onto the axle. No worries there.
Crossmax SX Rear Axle: Quick release to 142/12-millimeter Through-AxleStarting on the rear hub, locate the nubs on the Mavic bearing adjustment tool and note that they engage the inner, bearing-adjustment flange on the left side. The left-side endcap is only held in by an O-ring • If it won't pull off by hand, then slip the 17mm cone wrench over the endcap on the drive-side of the rear axle and then unscrew the bearing adjustment flange. This will press off the left-side cap.
Once the endcap spacer is off, pull out the quick release axle plug by hand • Now slip a 14mm wrench over the exposed axle flats and slip the 17mm cone wrench on the drive-side endcap.
With the 14mm wrench in place on the axle, unscrew the drive-side endcap with the 17mm cone wrench • The quick-release plug will come off with the endcap • Now, thread in the new 142/12mm endcap finger tight.
Thread in the left-side bearing adjustment flange finger tight. Do not use grease on the adjustment cup as it needs friction to retain the bearing preload setting • Use the Mavic bearing adjustment tool and the 17mm cone wrench to set the bearing preload just tight enough so there is no end play, and the axle runs friction free in the hub.
After you have adjusted the hub bearings, slip the 14mm wrench on the left side axle and use the 17mm cone wrench to tighten the drive-side endcap (snug is good, don't overdo it) • Slide the left-side endcap onto the axle and then snap it into place with hand pressure.
Our Mavic Crossmax SX wheelset is ready for the trail - 15QR front and 142/12mm rear. The job from start to finish required only 35 minutes.
TT Guest Photographer: Justine Zafran
Past Tech Tuesdays:
Tech Tuesday #1 - How to change a tube. Tech Tuesday #2 - How to set up your SRAM rear derailleur Tech Tuesday #3 - How to remove and install pedals Tech Tuesday #4 - How To Bleed Your Avid Elixir Brakes Tech Tuesday #5 - How To Check And Adjust Your Headset Tech Tuesday #6 - How To Fix A Broken Chain Tech Tuesday #7 - Tubeless Conversion Tech Tuesday #8 - Chain Wear Tech Tuesday #9 - SRAM Shift Cable Replacement Tech Tuesday #10 - Removing And Installing a HeadsetTech Tuesday #11 - Chain Lube ExplainedTech Tuesday #12 - RockShox Totem and Lyric Mission Control Damper ModTech Tuesday #13 - Shimano XT Crank and Bottom Bracket InstallationTech Tuesday #14 - Straightening Your Derailleur HangerTech Tuesday #15 - Setting Up Your Front DerailleurTech Tuesday #16 - Setting Up Your CockpitTech Tuesday #17 - Suspension BasicsTech Tuesday #18 - Adjusting The Fox DHX 5.0Tech Tuesday #19 - Adjusting The RockShox BoXXer World CupTech Tuesday #20 - Servicing Your Fox Float ShockTech Tuesday #21 - Wheel Truing BasicsTech Tuesday #22 - Shimano Brake Pad ReplacementTech Tuesday #23 - Shimano brake bleedTech Tuesday #24 - Fox Lower Leg Removal And ServiceTech Tuesday #25 - RockShox Motion Control ServiceTech Tuesday #26 - Avid BB7 Cable Disk Brake SetupTech Tuesday #27 - Manitou Dorado Fork RebuildTech Tuesday #28 - Manitou Circus Fork RebuildTech Tuesday #29 - MRP G2 SL Chain Guide InstallTech Tuesday #30 - Cane Creek Angleset InstallationTech Tuesday #31 - RockShox Maxle Lite DHTech Tuesday #32 - Find Your Tire Pressure Sweet SpotTech Tuesday #33 - Three Minute Bike Preflight CheckTech Tuesday #34 - MRP XCG InstallTech Tuesday #35 - Stem Choice and Cockpit SetupTech Tuesday #36 - Handlebars - How Wide Affects Your RideTech Tuesday #37 - Repairing A Torn TireTech Tuesday #38 - Coil spring swapTech Tuesday #39 - Trailside help: Broken Shift CableTech Tuesday #40 - Installing a Fox Float Air-Volume SpacerTech Tuesday #41 - Replace the Seals on Your 2011 RockShox Boxxer World Cup ForkTech Tuesday #42 - Clean and Lubricate Your Fox F32 Dust Wiper SealsTech Tuesday #43 - Thread Locker BasicsTech Tuesday #44 - Install a SRAM X.0 Two-By-Ten CranksetTech Tuesday #45 - VPP Suspension Bearing Service Tech Tuesday #46 - Rotor StraighteningTech Tuesday #47 - Finding and fixing that creakTech Tuesday #48 - Bleed and Service Magura Marta Disc BrakesTech Tuesday #49 - Cup and Cone Hub BasicsTech Tuesday #50 - Install and Adjust Pedal CleatsTech Tuesday #51 - Cup and Cone Hub RebuildVisit
Parktool.com to see their entire lineup of tools and lubes
Surely a bit of winter proofing/readiness advice would be a bit better (at least for everyone in the northern hemisphere) would have been more useful.
My situation is one among many, If you want something done at all sometimes you resort to doing it yourself.