Investigating the reason for my speedometer needle twitch and intermittent drop to 0mph, I found the rear hub cracked at the speedometer drive collar left hand threads, the drive collar spinning in the damaged thread during drive causing the issue. I'm doubting there's a repair for this, unless someone knows otherwise, so I'll be looking for a replacement hub and if doing so would it be a sensible to fit an 18" rim?
Not just a speedo drive, the…
Not just a speedo drive, the collar also holds the bearings in.
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Thanks Stan, I removed the…
Thanks Stan, I removed the hub cover to see how far the crack goes and it's only the threaded area, fortunately the clamping force of the axle has held everything in place and there's no play between the bearing outer race and hub housing. Either way hub needed.
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I was thinking about…
I was thinking about mentioning welding it up carefully, but old wheels can be found for 40 to 50 pounds if your rim is already rusty.
Converting to a 18" would make it feel more nimble (or nervous), but if you would only do the rear, the bike will have a long trail (like a chopper), making it harder to turn. Which theoretically could leave you with the same handling, but a bike that looks a bit sagged.
In my opinion, smaller wheels look a bit weird. Leaving a gap under the mudguards, and they then also have a wrong radius. But that's aesthetical and very personal.
Simplest thing (if your wheel is nice otherwise) would for someone to weld it up, and refresh the thread. Saves you re-spoking the wheel.
But what a weird place for a crack. Did the speedo drive lock up at any point perhaps?
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Thanks Tim. The repair…
Thanks Tim. The repair option stalled at the thought of the fine left hand thread, the wheel needing to be mounted in a sufficiently large enough lathe or the necessity to strip the rim if need be, in which case the cost of a used hub makes more sense. The rim is in good condition and the spokes are stainless and I'm competent to rebuild it.
Thanks for your thoughts on the 18" conversion, I'd not want to upset the handling, I thought possibly a deep profile 18" tyre would be close enough to the equivalent size of the19" to not effect the handling. I'll probably stick with the diminishing supply of 19" tyres and take action later if need be.
The speedometer had a twitch since I bought it, I did the usual tests, drill to the speedo head, cable route and clean this lead me to think the gear drive to be at fault. Everything is free and smooth from the gear drive upward and the damage is a previous owners mystery.
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I've had an 18" wheel on the…
I've had an 18" wheel on the back for years, it seems to make no di9fference to the handling. The circumference of the 18 " with a slightly bigger tyre is about the same anyway
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Thanks Sam, I've still not…
Thanks Sam, I've still not decided as I've not got a hub yet.
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