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DT Swiss Ratchet LN greenlights DIY upgrade, kit converts pawl hubs to ratchet engagement

DT Swiss Ratchet LN hub upgrade kit, from 3-pawls to Star Ratchet, exploded
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DT Swiss has unveiled a simple Ratchet LN upgrade kit that will bring your low-cost DT wheels up to Star Ratchet high-performance. The kit includes all the parts needed to swap out the 3-pawl engagement of entry-level DT hubs, and replace it with their signature Ratchet engagement.

DT Swiss Ratchet LN hub upgrade kit: from pawls to Star Ratchet

DT Swiss Ratchet LN hub upgrade kit, from 3-pawls to Star Ratchet, insides

Long a secret upgrade carried out in the darkness of YouTube, converting a lower-cost DT 360/370 series hub with a 3-pawl freehub to DT Swiss’ signature Star Ratchet is a relatively straightforward process. The trouble had really always just been getting ahold of the right spare parts, and access to DT’s two hub-specific tools. Now, the parts discussion just got easier. And you can drop your wheels & kit in at your local bike shop or custom wheel builder for the simple upgrade.

How & why to upgrade? Tech details

DT Swiss Ratchet LN hub upgrade kit, from 3-pawls to Star Ratchet, old hube internals
entry-level 3-pawl hub internals (threaded Ring Nut in red)

Even DT’s lower-spec’d 3-pawl hubs on many affordable OEM wheels thread their Ring Nut (the teeth the pawls engage) into the hub shell just like their premium hubs. So, swapping that out with a Ring Nut that allows the spring-loaded Star Ratchet system to engage & disengage means you get faster performance & improved durability.

DT Swiss Ratchet LN hub upgrade kit, from 3-pawls to Star Ratchet, engagement comparison
3-pawl engagement (left) vs. Star Ratchet engagement (right)

While tons of hubs work fine with pawl engagement and only 3 points of contact to transfer pedaling torque from the freehub into the wheel itself via the hub shell, the Star Ratchet system fully engages the entire surface area of the ratchets and their teeth with every pedal stroke forward. That means better distribution of force, and ultimately increased reliability. It also makes further upgrading engagement possible.

DT Swiss Ratchet LN hub upgrade kit, from 3-pawls to Star Ratchet, components

The DT Swiss Ratchet LN upgrade kit comes standard with an 18T pair of ratchet rings, but since it uses the long-established Star Ratchet system, you could even upgrade it further to 24, 36, or even 54 tooth ratchets for even quicker freehub engagement.

DT Swiss Ratchet LN hub upgrade – Pricing, options & availability

DT Swiss Ratchet LN hub upgrade kit, from 3-pawls to Star Ratchet, kit contents

The Ratchet LN kit includes all the parts needed for hub upgrade: the new threaded Ring Nut, a pair of ratchets with 18 teeth, springs, shim ring, spacer, grease, and the freehub body of your choice – standard Shimano, SRAM XD, or Shimano Micro Spline. To carry out the conversion you will need both DT-specific ring nut removal tools.

The kit with the standard alloy Shimano freehub is the cheapest upgrade at $92 / 70€, or a bit more with alloy XD or MicroSpline bodies at $105 / 80€. Kits with heavy-duty stainless steel freehub bodies are also available for $26 / 20€ extra. Get them not from any DT Swiss bike shop or wheelbuilder near you.

DT Swiss Ratchet LN Upgrade Kit Road, XDR exploded

Update: DT Swiss has expanded Ratchet LN upgrades to road bikes now too, and has added faster 36T MTB upgrade kit options, too. Read it all here.

DTSwiss.com

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K-Pop is dangerous to your health
K-Pop is dangerous to your health
3 years ago

If you attempt this conversion be prepared for a full 5 round Championship main event MMA fight trying to remove the old ring nut. Sometimes they’re easy, 1st round knockout. Sometimes it’s a grinder with a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu master. 300lb minimum weight workbench, heat gun, steak and egg breakfast, breaker bar, and somebody to hold the bench from spinning.

Thesteve4761
Thesteve4761
3 years ago

You’re severely over stating things. I’ve removed dozens. Never once needed heat or impact. Two people, at most, and a sturdy workbench and vise.

It’s no different than removing an old freewheel.

Shafty
Shafty
3 years ago
Reply to  Thesteve4761

Okay Mr. Expert, clearly you haven’t had a real stuck one. Most are easy-ish, but I’ve had a few that were so tight, any more force would damage the wheel/rim. In those cases, you must remove the DS bearing through the ring. Sometimes it kills the new bearing though. Maybe a powerful impact gun would do it, but I haven’t gone to that length.

K-Pop is dangerous to your health
K-Pop is dangerous to your health
3 years ago
Reply to  Thesteve4761

Steve, if you’ve never come across a stuck ring nut (DT or otherwise) in all your professional career, you’re either extremely lucky, or simply don’t have enough experience.

And never ever use and impact gun doing this. You run the risk of cracking the hub shell. A magnifying glass will reveal that.

PhatWrapperSlim
3 years ago

Just curious. Has anyone ever tried a six foot breaker bar? We’ve struggled with these in the past, then one day I just applied some logic and thought lets increase the leverage ratio. Two guys held the wheel upright, I used a six foot pipe on a crescent wrench, turned out easy. Maybe you all have tried this before and maybe I just got lucky. But if not, I suggest giving this a try next time.

Bret
Bret
3 years ago

This is fantastic. Now all those $3000+ bikes from Santa Cruz can get a real hub.

John P
John P
3 years ago

If anyone is having trouble finding the part numbers, scroll to the bottom of the page below.

https://www.dtswiss.com/en/wheels/wheels-technology/ratchet-ln-technology

David
David
3 years ago

About time. Way too many fragged 370 hubs out there.

satanas
satanas
3 years ago

This could be useful assuming shops can actually buy the required tools; I doubt anybody in Oz has them.

BubbRubb
BubbRubb
3 years ago
Reply to  satanas

They are cheap, and readily available and if a shop doesn’t have a DT splined tool for the hub service, you don’t want to use this shop for service. Period. The tools have been out for over a decade.

Adam
3 years ago

This has been possible for several years. Funny that they finally figured out how to sell it… maybe. Any chance they figured out how to go up in engagement. 6.7 deg is pretty good especially when you get 3 fully seasons on a set of bearings. I don’t mind doing bearings once a winter for better engagement in techy rocks.

Thesteve4761
Thesteve4761
3 years ago

Thus eliminating any reason to buy any of their nicer hubs. Funny how they denied that this conversion worked for years, then do this. So wait, if we believed you then, what’s that mean about what you’re saying now???

Ratchet Exp- Harder to work on. Less field serviceable. More expensive.

Ratchet LN- the new 240/350.

Shafty
Shafty
3 years ago
Reply to  Thesteve4761

It doesn’t eliminate reason to buy the nicer hubs, because most users of all bike parts use the stock components. This doesn’t hurt 240 sales, since the upgrade transforms a pawl type hub to a ratchet type–it’s a different customer altogether. No one buys those with the intent to convert them to a 350-ish hub, it’s just what came on their bike.

Also, it’s important to note that the frehub seal is part of the *freehub* with pawl hubs, so converting previously meant you’d lose freehub sealing since the 350/240 seal wasn’t compatible with the hub shell.

Noah Buddy
Noah Buddy
3 years ago

Exactly my thoughts. Except they cost $6700 in Canada.

Derek
Derek
3 years ago

370’s came stock on my M1900 wheels (2021 YT Jeffsy). So the LN kit comes with an 18T upgrade. From the article above, I’m reading that you can go up to 24-26-54 teeth as well. Why do 18 when you can do 54?

MG
MG
3 years ago

Derek – I’m wondering the same! Exactly what I can’t work out.

Aquila
Aquila
3 years ago

So they can sell you more?
For 18T, you need to buy:
-DT Swiss Upgrade Kit Ratchet (+-100€)
-DT Swiss Tool for Thread Ring (+-55€)

If you want the 54T, you have to buy the above and also:
-DT Swiss Upgrade Kit Superlight 54T (+-75€)

Leo
Leo
2 years ago

What Happen Whit RATCHET LN XDR????

Jonathan van Zuijlekom
Jonathan van Zuijlekom
2 years ago

18T for strength. The more teeth the smaller they are. The H-1700 has 24T and HXC-1501 30. The 3 paw system has the same degrees as 24T, so it is a bit of a downgrade.

And remember there is an freewheel on the motor side as well.

I bought a H-1900 rear wheel last may, with 3 paw, and see know reason to “upgrade” to Ratchet LN.

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