Play in new shimano 105 freehub

Just had a bike shop put a new 105 groupset on an old steel frame. It isn't shifting very well. Seems there is a bit of play/wobble in the freehub. The cassette moves a few mm when lockring is fully tightened.

I've searched online for some answers and it seems some people say play on a freehub is normal. Others say it shouldn't have any play at all.

Any opinions on this?

Other opinions about why it's not shifting right (from various bike shops and friends);

1. Hanger is very slightly bent/twisted (one bike shop mentioned this and used a tool to check/straighten it. Didnt make any difference.)

2. The little silver end cap at the rear derailleur braze on cable stop is too big and causing issues when the cable pulls through. (Changed this to one that fits better and with no play. Didnt make any difference.

3. Cable routing at rear is too 'aggressive'. (This was done by the bike shop. Looks fine to me but I have tried a larger loop and also cable-tieing a different route as suggested by a bike shop)

4. Cable are being restricted under bar tape or where they enter the shifters. (Undid all the bar tape and checked. Seems fine.

Any input/advice greatly appreciated.

Can you describe the issues, for instance the gears skip when changing then settle down, skip when going down but not up, don't hold in gear at all etc etc

Also have you put it on a stand and run the through the gears? It's much easier to figure it out when you're face to face with it

Hi mate. Thanks for your response.

It's very inconsistent. When I have it in the stand sometimes it feels like it is dialled in only to start hesitating when I try and shift from smallest cog up again. Then with a little adjustment it shifts fine then all of a sudden hesitates on the way back down.

As I say, really inconsistent. Not shifting like a brand new groupset should.

Hangar? Freehub play? What you suggest?

Spacer for the cassette? Put your old one back on does problem continue?

I had this issue with a friends new Ultegra equipped Bianchi, trying to dial in the shifting never quite worked as it should. Tried new cables, outers etc etc. In desperation changed the derailleur and this fixed the problem. Examination revealed a weak return spring in the original (new ) derailleur.

I have tried a very very thin washer between freehub and largest ring to reduce the play. Didnt do much.
I have no old one. This is a new wheel set and new groupset

Looks like I will take it back to shop who built the wheels and installed the groupset. Hear what they say about the play in the freehub. I will mention what you have said about weak return spring.
Thanks

If everything is brand new and built by someone else, then it really isn't your problem. Sending it out of the shop when it wasn't shifting properly was pretty poor, to put it kindly.

What you've described sounds very much like an alignment problem: a weak spring would only affect shifting in one direction.

If it's hesitating my first thought (as it's the cheapest to replace and easiest to sort out) would be cables. They do this when corroded or not moving freely. So it may just be that.

But as already stated, it's a new set up so you shouldn't be the one having to fix it.

Everything is new but the frame. It's an old steel 80's tourer. Maybe the hanger needs looked at again.

Cables are new @Dogtemple

Is play in a freehub normal or not?

It's an old steel 80's tourer.

So would have been 126mm OLD originally: seems unlikely, but it's possible the hanger is no longer aligned with a 130mm OLD wheel in there.

Let the shop you paid to do the job in the first place, sort it out. If they can do so without replacing the hub/freehub, then they'll have demonstrated that that amount of play is acceptable.

cables may be new but they can still get caught on things or have an indirect route causing them to be slow. easiest way to check that it is undo the cable at the derailleur and flick through the gears whilst holding the inner and outer cable to give some resistance. you should feel no drag. if all ok you can rule that out.

you don't want play in anything where bearings are concerned. if theres enough it will certainly muck up your gear changes and that you say sometimes its ok then not, would suggest something has altered and the play may be that change causing the gears to go wrong.