Bicycle Mechanics - ENO Eccentric hub won't clamp on my dropouts

I have an old Panasonic frame, with what I assume are standard dropouts. My cheapo calipers show either 7/32" or 5mm. When I tighten the bolts on the hub all the way down, the gap seems to be the same. So the hold is very minimal when I install the wheel.

Am I doing something wrong? Is my frame sub-standard? Do I just need washers? None of the above? Any advice appreciated...

Apparently the hub was made for thicker dropouts than yours. The fix is easy, add a serrated washer under the nut. Any washer will solve the thickness problem, and the serrations will improve the bite ensuring that the wheel won't slip.

Should I be looking at a bike store, or a hardware store?

Wait, something does not make sense here. Has the hub been retro-fitted with a quick-release axle? If so, then drop-out thickness could be an issue. If it is a bolt-on axle, then it would make no difference. I have several ENO hubs and the bolts go all the way in, so even if your dropout was paper thin, it would work.

I am confused by the description of the problem in the OP; can you describe the problem again?

jim

thicker forged dropout/ vs thinner stamping die cut.. how thick? measure.

Wait, something does not make sense here. Has the hub been retro-fitted with a quick-release axle? If so, then drop-out thickness could be an issue. If it is a bolt-on axle, then it would make no difference. I have several ENO hubs and the bolts go all the way in, so even if your dropout was paper thin, it would work.

I am confused by the description of the problem in the OP; can you describe the problem again?

jim

Well, this is my first/only ENO, but it is the Eccentric, so the bolts aren't going into the center of the axle. Even with the wheel off the frame, when I tighten the bolts, they seem to hit a limit, and when I measure the gap, it's 5mm or 7/32" and no, no QR.

I just went out and re-checked one of my eccentric hubs, and the bolt does go all the way in on it. There is a separate collar under the bolt head with a small flange that is meant to fit in the drop-out, but that flange is small. Maybe 1/16". No dropout is thinner than that.

I suspect that there is a rough spot on the threads you are feeling. Maybe clean the threads up as much as possible and put some grease on there, and then maybe work the bolt back and forth to see if you can't get it to go in further. Having said that, I am merely an owner of some of these hubs, I cannot say with complete authority that yours is the same; so be careful. Its a beautiful hub, and worth thinking before acting.

jim

p.s., D'uh. My earlier question about it being a QR on an eccentric hub was pretty dumb. Sorry.

That's very curious indeed. Yes, I have the same collar w/flange, but I removed the bolts completely, and there is a bottom to the bolt hole. And that certainly appears to be what I'm hitting (same on both sides). Mine is second hand, so I don't know if it would be older or newer than yours. No worries about the skewer -- I appreciate your help!

After a couple of back and forth emails with White Industries, it would seem that the hub I bought has longer bolts for aluminum dropouts. I've ordered the shorter bolts and the correct axle ends from them. A tad expensive, but if it makes everything fit just so on my bike, that will be nice. I also think my hub is an older style, as it doesn't appear to have splines for attaching the fixed gear. Looks to be threaded.

I also think my hub is an older style, as it doesn't appear to have splines for attaching the fixed gear. Looks to be threaded.

Say what? The vast majority of fixed cogs and lockrings thread on, only a rare few use a splined system. If your hub looks like this, with the stepped threads, it will work for fixed gear:

http://sheldonbrown.com/harris/images/hub-white-eno.jpg

Sorry; didn't mean that fixed gears wouldn't work -- just trying to document that mine is an older style of the ENO. And the reason I don't know for certain what it looks like is that it already has a freewheel and a fixed gear on it from when I bought it! :-)