Splined Carrier Lockring Conversion

General Notes

Pointer

Ensure the following prior to completion of any removal /assembly process:

  • Shift Rohloff SPEEDHUB 500/14 into gear number 14 (highest gear)
  • Clean hub shell, sprocket and general area carefully
  • Only use thoroughly cleaned components

Removal / mounting of the rear wheel
Refer to wheel removal and wheel installation. For additional information on E-14, see here.

Important Information

  • The original/current Splined Sprocket can be re-used with this new Splined Carrier
  • The securing circlip can be discarded along with the old Splined Carrier
  • The inner thread of the Splined Carrier L / SL has a special coating which must not be removed
  • Please note chainline/beltline differences: Use the table above to note the chainline / beltline currently used by the Carrier / Sprocket combination
    used on your SPEEDHUB
  • Take note of the mounting position before removing Sprocket from the Carrier:
    • Gates Carbon Drive Threaded Sprocket = Text facing inward,
    • Gates Carbon Drive Splined Sprocket = Text facing outward
  • A select few manufacturers deviate from this standard and mount sprockets inversely (technically possible):
    Gates Carbon Drive Threaded Sprocket (inverse) = Text facing outward,
    Carbon Drive Splined Sprocket (inverse) = Text facing inward
  • Select the correct new Splined Carrier #8540L / #8540SL with the help of the table above, to ensure your Splined Sprocket rests in the same position (+/-1mm) following the Carrier conversion
  • Maximum chain thickness: All chain thicknesses are compatible with chan sprockets of 15 teeth and above
  • Follow the assembly / removal instructions of the individual component manufacturer, e.g. Gates, Bosch etc.
  • Do not rest wheel driver-side facing downward with sprocket removed. Oil will leak out!

Note Splined Sprockets

The assembly instructions are equally applicable to Rohloff Splined Sprockets (15 tooth and over) as Carbon Drive Sprockets.

We recommend however, the use of either the regular Splined Carrier (Art.#8540) or Splined Carrier Slim (Art.#8540s) for chain sprockets, because this Carrier is compatible with all chains and Splined Chain Sprocket sizes while retaining the tool-free removal / mounting attribute of the original design!

Distinctive features between Regular and Slim Splined Carrier variants

8540 and 8540S

Broad carrier and narrow carrier

8540L and 8540SL

Clearance - Hub Shell / Sprocket

Tools

List of required tools

  1. Rohloff Lock-ring tool, Art. #8518
  2. Rohloff sprocket remover tool for 135/170/142/177 mm, Art. #8508
  3. Rohloff sprocket remover tool XXL for 148/190/197 mm, Art. #8509
  4. Chainwhip
  5. Gates Carbon Drive strap wrench
  6. Gates POM Key
  7. Gates POM Inserts
  8. Gates Flat Wrench SW 46mm, ½“ drive torque wrench
     

Rohloff tools

Link to the tool category in our B2B webshop.
Tools 1-3 can be found there for ordering.

Mounting

Installation with Special Tools

To mount a Gates Carbon Drive sprocket to a Rohloff Splined Carrier Lock-Ring #8540L/8540SL, proceed as follows:

  • Place splined Rohloff / Gates Carbon Drive sprocket over the splined interface of the carrier
  • Rotate splined Rohloff / Gates Carbon Drive sprocket in direction of drive to its bedstop. Now thread the lock-ring in arrow direction onto the carrier, until it rests against the face of the sprocket, holding it in this position
  • Secure lock-ring in place with a torque of 30Nm. Do not use screw locking agents!

Without Special Tools (Emergency Repair)

  • Place splined Rohloff / Gates Carbon Drive sprocket over the splined interface of the carrier
  • Rotate splined Rohloff / Gates Carbon Drive sprocket in direction of drive to its bedstop. Now thread the lock-ring in arrow direction, by hand onto the carrier, until it rests against the face of the sprocket, holding it in this position
  • Using a suitable tool (screwdriver, punch, chisel etc.) and a hammer, tighten the lock-ring by tapping this in the arrowed direction as indicated (Attention – torque value impossible to measure) do not use screw locking agents! Be sure to hold the tire / rim steady during this process
  • Mount the rear wheel back into the bicycle.

Removal

Removal with Special Tools

To remove a Gates Carbon Drive sprocket from a Rohloff Splined Carrier Lock-Ring #8540L/8540SL, proceed as follows:

  • Remove rear wheel from bicycle.
  • Hold chain / Gates Carbon Drive sprocket steady and loosen lock-ring by rotating this in the opposing direction to that indicated by the arrow.
  • Unscrew lock-ring completely and remove chain / Gates Carbon Drive sprocket from carrier.

Without Special Tools (Emergency Repair)

  • Leave rear wheel mounted in bicycle
  • Pull the rear brake with both bicycle wheels located firmly on the ground
  • Apply tension to the chain / belt by pushing on the forward pedal
  • Using a suitable tool (screwdriver, punch, chisel etc.) and a hammer, loosen the lock-ring by tapping this in the opposing direction to that indicated by the arrow
  • Remove the rear wheel from the bicycle
  • Unscrew lock-ring completely and remove chain / Gates Carbon Drive sprocket from carrier

Conversion

Conversion to Lock-Ring Version

To replace a Splined Carrier #8540 with a Splined Carrier Lock-Ring #8540L/8540SL, follow the steps below.

Tools required are Gates POM Key (6) and Inserts (7) and possibly Flat Wrench SW 46mm (8).

  • Remove rear wheel from bicycle
  • Do not remove sprocket or circlip from carrier!
  • Remove the entire sprocket/circlip/carrier assembly from the SPEEDHUB driver as illustrated in the section Sprocket reversing/replacing
  • Fully thread Splined Carrier #8540L clockwise by hand onto the SPEEDHUB driver
  • Place splined Rohloff / Gates Carbon Drive sprocket over the splined interface of the carrier
  • Rotate splined Rohloff / Gates Carbon Drive sprocket in direction of drive to its bedstop. Now thread the lock-ring in arrow direction onto the carrier, until it rests against the face of the sprocket, holding it in this position
  • Secure lock-ring in place with a torque of 30Nm. Do not use screw locking agents!

The dismantled Rohloff Splined Carrier (#8540 or #8540S) incl. retaining ring may no longer be used!
Please make both parts unusable and dispose of them.

Pointer

Should both the Gates Carbon Drive strap wrench and Gates Carbon Drive POM Key be unavailable for removal of the Gates Carbon Drive splined sprocket / splined carrier assembly, then remove the circlip and sprocket from the carrier, mount a splined chain sprocket, refit the circlip and use a chainwhip to remove the sprocket / carrier assembly.

Conversion from Threaded to Splined Sprocket

Two earlier versions of a conversion from a threaded to a splined system with Lock-Ring can be found here. These solutions have not been used in this way since 2019.

Version 1: Rohloff threaded sprocket to Rohloff splined sprocket using Splined Carrier Lock-Ring #8540L / #8540SL

Version 2: Conversion Gates Carbon Drive threaded sprocket to Gates Carbon Drive splined sprocket using Splined Carrier Lock-Ring #8540L / #8540SL

Here you can see the old solution #8224, which is no longer up-to-date, fully installed and lying on its side not yet installed.

To replace a threaded with a splined sprocket using Splined Carrier Lock-Ring, follow the steps below. Tools required are the sprocket remover tool (2) or (3), POM Key/Insert (6) and, if necessary, FlatWrench SW 46 (8).

  • Remove rear wheel from bicycle
  • Remove Rohloff / Gates Carbon Drive threaded sprocket from SPEEDHUB
  • Fully thread Splined Carrier 8540L clockwise by hand onto the SPEEDHUB driver
  • Place splined Rohloff / Gates Carbon Drive sprocket over the splined interface of the carrier
  • Rotate splined Rohloff / Gates Carbon Drive sprocket in direction of drive to its bedstop. Now thread the lock-ring in arrow direction onto the carrier, until it rests against the face of the sprocket, holding it in this position
  • Secure lock-ring in place with a torque of 30Nm. Do not use screw locking agents!
  • Check chainline / beltline as well as Snubber and chain tensioner. Adjust if necessary.