Removing and installing the Rohloff rear wheel (A12)

This guide applies to Booda bikes with a Rohloff SPEEDHUB A12: the hub is held in the 12 mm thru-axle dropouts by two M7 mounting screws, one on each side, and the belt is tensioned with an eccentric bottom bracket or sliding dropouts. If your bike has a Rohloff quick-release axle instead, see the last section of this page.

You need: a 5 mm Allen key, a torque wrench for 15–20 Nm, and a clean cloth to lay the small parts on.

Removing the wheel

1. Disconnect the shift actuation

Bikes with a twist shifter (cable box): first shift into gear 14. The cable box is connected to the hub by a hexagonal coupling, and gear 14 is the position in which it lines up again when you refit it. Then loosen the knurled screw D and pull off the cable box E.

The knurled screw D that holds the cable box on the Rohloff hub.

Pulling the cable box E off the hub after loosening the knurled screw.

Bikes with GRX levers (Gebla Rohbox): the Rohbox takes the place of the cable box on the hub. Please ask our workshop how to detach and refit it before you remove the wheel for the first time.

Bikes with E-14: the shift cable plug has to be disconnected first — ask us how before you remove the wheel.

2. Loosen the A12 screws

Loosen the left and right mounting screws with the 5 mm Allen key and unscrew them. The Nord-Lock washers release with a clearly audible click; this is normal.

3. Take out the wheel

Take the wheel out of the frame and lift the belt off the sprocket. The fork of the axle plate on the left of the hub unhooks from its support on the frame.

Keep all loose A12 parts (bushings, washers, Nord-Lock washers and screws) in their order and separately for left and right until you refit the wheel. They are made for your frame and assigned to one side each.

Installing the wheel

1. Insert the wheel

Insert the wheel into the dropouts without releasing the belt tensioning (eccentric bottom bracket or sliding dropouts). Make sure that:

the belt sits on the sprocket;
the shift cables are not pinched;
the fork of the axle plate hooks around its support on the frame;
the brake disc sits correctly in the brake caliper;
all bushings and washers go back exactly as they were removed, left and right.

2. Fit and tighten the A12 screws

Check the Nord-Lock washers: each pair must face each other with the sawtooth sides pointing inwards.

A pair of Nord-Lock washers aligned with their sawtooth faces pointing inwards.

Push each screw with its Nord-Lock washers through the bushings and screw it into the axle by hand, at least two full turns. If the belt tension is too high for this, release the tensioning mechanism first, then screw both screws in by hand at least two full turns.

Before tightening, check that both axle ends sit correctly in the dropouts and the wheel is centred in the frame. Then tighten both screws evenly, alternately and in stages to 15–20 Nm with the 5 mm Allen key.

If you released the belt tensioning, set the belt tension again: see Belt tension. Check that the wheel turns freely.

3. Connect the shift actuation (cable box)

Turn the twist shifter to gear 14. Place the cable box E onto the guide pins H and slide it fully on until the hexagon I of the shift shaft engages. Gently rocking the shifter back and forth around gear 14 makes this easier. Then tighten the knurled screw D.

Sliding the cable box E onto the guide pins H until the hexagon I of the shift shaft engages.

4. Final check

All 14 gears shift, and the drive engages properly when you set off.
Both A12 screws are tightened to 15–20 Nm.
The axle plate is hooked onto its support on the frame.
The belt tension is correct and the brakes work.
The brake disc and pads are free of oil and grease.

Important for A12 hubs

Nord-Lock washers: replace them with new, unused ones after they have been opened four times (Rohloff Art. no. 8574, a set of four Nord-Lock washers). Counting the wheel removals is the simplest way to keep track.
The A12 screws are special M7 screws of increased strength, matched to your hub and frame. Do not swap them for other screws.
No trailer on the axle: a trailer coupling must not be mounted directly on the A12 axle or with the A12 mounting screw. The screw would then engage too few threads, and the thread in the axle plate or on the screw could be damaged or strip, which risks an accident.
Theft protection: a 5 mm Hexlox insert can be fitted in the A12 screws. Check that the screws are tightened to 15–20 Nm before fitting it.

Quick-release Rohloff hubs

Some Booda models have a Rohloff hub with a quick-release axle instead of A12. The order of work is the same: disconnect the shift actuation, open the quick-release, take out the wheel; the axle plate unhooks from its support in the same way. When refitting, make sure the fork of the axle plate hooks around its support, that both axle ends sit correctly in the dropouts and the wheel is centred, then close the quick-release hand-tight, max. 7 Nm.

What torque do the A12 axle screws need?

15–20 Nm, with a 5 mm Allen key. Screw both in by hand first, at least two full turns, then tighten them evenly, alternately and in stages.

When do the A12 Nord-Lock washers need replacing?

After they have been opened four times. Fit new, unused washers (Rohloff Art. no. 8574, a set of four), aligned in pairs with the sawtooth faces pointing inwards.

Can I attach a trailer to the A12 axle?

No. A trailer coupling must not be mounted directly on the A12 axle or with the A12 mounting screw. The screw would then engage too few threads, and the thread in the axle plate or on the screw could be damaged or strip, which risks an accident.