Classic & Vintage - Replacing hub races 101

Not really a 101 project but what the heck....

On occasion you'll come across hub races that need replacing. Obtaining the races themselves can be an issue but if you happen to have one around here's the procedure.

http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr314/jimr2527/bf%20stuff/DSC03786.jpg

Get everything ready. Its important to find a socket that the same diameter as the hub opening and race. Have this socket ready to go!!!

Pic 1. Obtain replacement race. I obtained mine from an donor Record hub.
Pic 2 & 3 . Install race removing tool. These are actually called 'bearing pullers'. I bough a complete set from Harbor Freight
Pic 4 & 5. Decide how your going to remove the race. You can either use a slide hammer or come in from the backside and tap the puller (I guess at this point it a pusher) with a drift (I used an axle) and hammer
Pic 6. Heat hub shell. It doesnt take much, 3 or 4 seconds is all.

At this point remove the race with the desired mothed as seen in pics 3 or 4. Let race cool completely before removing race from bad hub. This is important as you want to shrink back down to ease installation.

Now you remove the bad race. Follow the same steps as you did when removing the donor race. As soon as the bad race is removed immediatly install the donor race. My donor race dropped right in because it was cold and the hub shell was still hot from removing the bad race. As the hub shell cools it tighten around the cold donor race. If the race doesnt drop right in heat the shell a touch more and drive it into the place the socket.

http://i495.photobucket.com/albums/rr314/jimr2527/bf%20stuff/DSC03787.jpg
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http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270532423121&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

I cringe at your locking your hub in a vice like that, even though I'm guessing it's a trash hub

Step 1: Properly secure your hub in vice

just kidding, but seriously

I didn't know you could replace bad races. Do you have to use the fancy equipment?

I replaced a bad race in a Record high flange hub once. I took one from a cracked hub. I used a small screwdriver to tap the race out from the other side. It worked like a charm, the whole project took about 10 minutes, and it saved a hub that was laced in a wheel.

Good thing I didn't trash that cracked hub!

I didn't know you could replace bad races. Do you have to use the fancy equipment?


I replaced a bad race in a Record high flange hub once. I took one from a cracked hub. I used a small screwdriver to tap the race out from the other side. It worked like a charm, the whole project took about 10 minutes, and it saved a hub that was laced in a wheel.

Good thing I didn't trash that cracked hub!

As mentioned by RK you dont need fancy equiptment. If you use the screwdriver method be carefull not to rock the cup/race back and forth too much as it will distort the hub shell diameter and cause the new cup/race to fit loosely.

Something like the tool pictured below would probaly work as well. You could either try to pull real hard or insert an old axle from the backside and tap the race/cup out from the back.

http://www.bikeman.com/store/graphics/00000001/product_images/TL/TL8900.jpg

Thanks for the write-up Jim. Useful to know. :thumb: