Classic & Vintage - Hub polishing - before and after photos

EDIT: I'm moving my webhosting around right now, if the photos break, I'll update the thread asap.

A little example of what a little bit of time, a good terry cloth rag and some aluminum polish can do to some hubs. Most of these are Campagnolo Record hubs which we all know had a very nice polish on them to start, but most of these had been sitting unused for the better part of 10-15 years. First post is the before shots, I'll put the after photos in the second post...

Campagnolo Record Front:
http://TheCuda.com/Serotta/tn_P3042067.JPG

http://TheCuda.com/Serotta/tn_P3042069.JPG

Shimano Exage Rear:
http://TheCuda.com/Serotta/tn_P3042071.JPG

http://TheCuda.com/Serotta/tn_P3042072.JPG

Campagnolo Record Rear:
http://TheCuda.com/Serotta/tn_P3042075.JPG

And the after:

http://TheCuda.com/Serotta/tn_P3042077.JPG

http://TheCuda.com/Serotta/tn_P3042078.JPG

http://TheCuda.com/Serotta/tn_P3042076.JPG

http://TheCuda.com/Serotta/tn_P3042082.JPG

http://TheCuda.com/Serotta/tn_P3042081.JPG

All polishing was done by hand (no power tool assist on the buffing) with a terry cloth rag, a little bit of simple green to break up the grease and grime, and then Mother's Aluminum Polish. Even the Shimano hub has a very nice clean polish to it now. Not sure what I'm going to do with that wheel, might be up on the trade thread before too long (7speed cassette laced to a Mavic MA-2 rim, 700c) or I'll keep it until I get a clincher set built for the Serotta with Campagnolo parts.

What sort of time did you put in, per hub?

I'm going to ask a really stupid question here.

What is the purpose of the metal strip that doesn't quite encircle the hub? What metal is it? I've tried to polish the metal strips of the Record hubs that came with the Nishiki Pro, and I haven't made them anything except the same dull brown that they were when I started.

East Hill

Maybe 10-15mins each? Not really sure how long I was in there. Not too long though. Went through these steps:

1) Shot hub down with simple green and let sit for 10-20seconds before wiping down with paper towel to get loose grime off.

2) Using terry cloth rag rubbed aluminum polish over ends of hub, rubbing over area 3-4 times with light pressure

3) Buffed ends of hub to a clean polish with fresh area of terry cloth rag.

4) Applied poish to one half of the inner hub area, working in between the spokes and turning wheel to go between a new set of spokes as needed.

5) Buffed the polish off with fresh area of rag, turning wheel to get to other areas as needed.

6) Flipped wheel around and repeated 4 & 5 on the other side.


East Hill: those dark metal clips cover the oil hole in the hub. One of my front hubs doesn't have the clip and you can see the hole. I've got a photo of that somewhere in my Serotta thread I think. I'll see if I can find it. On the back side of that clip, you can see a little divet impression where the hole is under the clip.

edit: EH, you can see the hole I'm talking about in the middle photo of the "polished" set. The picture with both front and rear hubs in it. The front hub (left side) you can see the hole in the center of the hub body.

I'm going to ask a really stupid question here.

What is the purpose of the metal strip that doesn't quite encircle the hub? What metal is it? I've tried to polish the metal strips of the Record hubs that came with the Nishiki Pro, and I haven't made them anything except the same dull brown that they were when I started.

East Hill

They are to cover the oil hole. They are probably a stell chosen more for its capability to be a fine spring than looks... I have some cable clips that are about the same (polish does little good) so I plan to try to use my power tool on those. :D

What is the purpose of the metal strip that doesn't quite encircle the hub?

It covers the oil port.

Oh! I never even thought to try to take them off. I guess that wasn't quite as stupid a question as I thought then (seeing as this is the only bit of Campagnolo stuff I've got).

Thank you for the answers, everyone.

By the way, those are beautifully polished, and I think I will have to go down and work on mine some more :D .

East Hill

And the after:

{snip**

All polishing was done by hand (no power tool assist on the buffing) with a terry cloth rag, a little bit of simple green to break up the grease and grime, and then Mother's Aluminum Polish. Even the Shimano hub has a very nice clean polish to it now. Not sure what I'm going to do with that wheel, might be up on the trade thread before too long (7speed cassette laced to a Mavic MA-2 rim, 700c) or I'll keep it until I get a clincher set built for the Serotta with Campagnolo parts.


I do need a front wheel :D please let me know :)

I do need a front wheel :D please let me know :)

Sorry, the front isn't likely going to be up for sale, if anything I'd relace the front hub with a different rim. The Shimano rear is the only one I'd likely be parting with.

Sorry, the front isn't likely going to be up for sale, if anything I'd relace the front hub with a different rim. The Shimano rear is the only one I'd likely be parting with.

Thanks anyways :)

Lovely

What's wrong with them before? :) All my Campy's look like that. I'm just too dang lazy.

Hmmm, got me thinking about doing this with my Schwinn. Since the weather is bad outside I might as well.

Cuda2k did a fantastic job polishing mounted hubs!


Hmmm, got me thinking about doing this with my Schwinn. Since the weather is bad outside I might as well.

You may as well. Some of the Schwinn hubs will polish up nearly as nice as the Record hubs. Here's a (Non Schwinn Approved) Normandy hub that I was able to bring to a decent shine -- note the reflection of the cloth on the outside of the hub:
http://users.cis.net/coldfeet/NORMANDY.JPG

The Shimano 333 hubs I have for the Barracuda Mk.I poished up nearly as nice. I've got some pictures of those somewhere around here. Got to admit that the Campagnolo hubs are prettier. :D

Very nice, luckily you are starting out with hubs in excellent condition. I have spent as much as a couple hours on one corroded campy hub, clips were complete rust, you will never get that kind of shine out of a badly neglected hub unless you use power tools. I have to resort to super fine #0000 steel wool to polish I should start with #00 (recommended for metal) and then to #0000.

Yeah, I have to admit that they were pretty good shape after just the wipe down with the simple green. They have been stored in a garage here in the Dallas area for years. Now I would love to pick up a 32h rear hub to pair with one of the pair of Campagnolo rims I am thinking of picking up, and then rebuilding the front wheel with the other rim. Too many darned wheel projects right now. :lol:

This sparked a memory of some old-timers I would see on the trail in my younger days. These guys would have a peiced of leather loosely wrapped around the hub with what would appear to be a snap/weight to keep it stationary while the wheel turned. Anyone else remember these, they kept the hub nicely polished.

Actually, there's a thread in here about that very thing:

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=273995

Interesting reading.

East Hill

Aluminum polish. Woof. Inspiring.