Classic & Vintage - Does front axle size matter?

My Robin Hood frame has become a sort of scavenger hunt. I've come up with a couple of possible front hubs to fit the 91mm fork spacing, but both use 5/16" axle. The drop outs have a sort of keyhole end, and the hole looks to accomodate a 3/8" axle, although I haven't tried to fit an actual hub in there with that size axle. Is the 5/16" okay -- it will pass pretty easily through the bottom of the keyhole.

How heavy are you?
Lots of late 70s bikes, Schwinns in particular, had a little axle in a big hole and a washer with a lip that filled the gap. I think it was a safety feature or something. My LBS had those in stock, they'd make it fit right.

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/english-3.html#fronthub

You may need to file to get a standard front hub to work.

Thanks for your replies. I guess I weigh about 180 -- hope that's not too much for a 5/16" axle. I've looked at the reference to Mr. Brown's site, and I guess that's something like what's called for. I'd like to at least see an example of those nuts with the shoulder that goes into the hole. Maybe I can find some on ebay, or something.

Thanks for your replies. I guess I weigh about 180 -- hope that's not too much for a 5/16" axle. I've looked at the reference to Mr. Brown's site, and I guess that's something like what's called for. I'd like to at least see an example of those nuts with the shoulder that goes into the hole. Maybe I can find some on ebay, or something.

Here's what they look like:177580

My advice would be to find a Raleigh front wheel at a bike recycler/used shop, and just use that.

Thanks for the illustration, gna, I guess I thought the lip or "spigot" would be on the outside nut. I would really prefer to find an intact Raleigh front wheel, but I don't think they're very common around here. There are a couple of places I could check. Maybe just keep watching ebay.

I use a simple solution - a pair of long nuts machined in a lathe to form the shoulder.

Your Robin Hood--do you need the whole front wheel, or just the axle and cones?

The idea of machining a pair of nuts makes a lot of sense -- couldn't do it myself, though. Might not be too expensive. I work with some machinists who could no doubt do it. And I could use one of these hubs. I also thought about making spacers from tubing to just fill the gap between the hole and the axle -- looks like 10mm stainless might work. Not sure where to find that either. Gna -- hey, I need both wheels, and quite a bit of other stuff. I just bought this frame and fork on ebay. It had a headset and a pair of (I think) usable bb cups. Didn't have a bb lockring, so I had to buy another used bb to get that. Certainly not a cost effective way to get a bike. I'd just been reading the English 3 speed thread a bunch, and somehow ended up bidding on a frame. If I could find reasonably priced Raleigh wheels, with 91mm front and 111mm or so rear O.L.D's I'd definitely consider that. This will probably be the most expensive $75 bicycle around, it it ever gets all its parts.

Do you have any bike coops, recyclers, or used shops in your area? They may have Raleigh wheels available for a decent price.

There's a guy who has a pretty good mostly used shop. I went by there today. He said his mechanic was not there and to come back and bring the fork when he was there. He also mentioned washers that would adapt a hub to the hole size. He didn't say anything in response to my request about a Raleigh wheel. I'll probably try to go by with the fork and a hub next off day I get. There's also a new coop that started about the first of the year. Doubt they would have anything like that, but it might be a good excuse for a visit.