Profile Tech Tip #11: What drives you?
The differences between the Profile Mini and Elite Driver Mechanisms.
In 1996, Profile engineered the first bmx specific cassette hub. This concept was to both allow for easier cog replacement (and later, complete driver: 9, 10, and 11t) as well as complete driver rebuilds. It is much easier to replace the bearings in a driver rather than try to repair an old unsealed freewheel.
By 2001, the Profile Mini cassette hub morphed out of this existing High Flange design, using a much smaller hub shell but utilizing the same driver mechanism.
This 4 spring/4 pawl driver allows for 2 staggered sets of 2 pawls to engage with 24 total, internal ratchet ring teeth (inside the hub shell).
This combination creates 48 points of engagement per revolution.
The 4 spring/4 pawl design for Profile allows for more engagement and a louder hub as opposed to the more common three pawl design (where all pawls engage at once).
Below are two photos of this driver mechanism that works for the Profile High Flange, Mini, Totem, and Madera V-2 Rear hubs.
Notice the springs have the loop facing outward? The springs in the Elite Rear are reversed. Keep that in mind if and when you rebuild your driver.
The classic 4 spring/4 pawl driver is made for standard Race, Freestyle, and MTB applications.
In the late oughts, Profile re-engineered the existing cassette driver and morphed it into the Elite.
This new, 6 spring/6 pawl driver allows for 3 staggered sets of 3 pawls to engage with 68 total, internal ratchet ring teeth (inside the hub shell).
This combination creates 204 points of engagement per revolution.
The 6 spring/6 pawl design for Profile allows for more than 4 times the engagement and a MUCH louder hub.
This was an advantage on the race track (especially for gate starts), but soon became popular on the freestyle end as a lot of folks really like a loud cassette hub.
Below are two photos of this driver mechanism that works for the Profile Elite BMX and Elite MTB hubs.
Notice the springs have the loop facing downward? The springs in the Mini Rear are reversed. Keep that in mind if and when you rebuild your driver.
The Elite 6 spring/6 pawl driver is made for Race, Freestyle (Mainly transition/ramp), and MTB applications.
