Classic & Vintage - A cone nut: Something special or nothing special?

A hub on a nicer bike that I'm preparing to sell needs at least one new cone.

It seems like there are a lot of variables: axle size/threading, native bearing size if there is such a thing, "spacing" size/thickness of the nut, maybe something else.

What are the chances that I can find a good replacement in the bin? Are there special ones for nicer hubs?

Is it the best course to order a set of new ones? Where would you do that?

This is a decent bike and I want the quality of the replacement to be commensurate with the original. I've rebuilt 1,000 hubs, but suddenly I feel at sea.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

EDIT: Early 80s Miche Competition hubs

Going to need more 411...

What kind of hub is it? Brand, model #, etc. It could very well be something unique to that hub.

If it's a name brand hub, you might be able to match it up at Wheels Manufacturing or have your
LBS order the right ones for you.

Without more specifics it's a shot in the dark.

There are special ones for nicer hubs, they have ground and polished surfaces.

Sometimes you can mix-n-match sometimes you can't. In reality there's only 3 or 4 threadings but its more of the radius of the bearing surface and diameter that come inot play. in general the bearing should roll at about mid point on the cone. Back in my shop days I was probably 90/10 in favor of finding something in the parts bin. Then again we also had 2 50 gallon garbage cans full of old hubs.

its more of the radius of the bearing surface and diameter that come inot play.

This is what I was worried about. The hubs are Miche Competition. If they're original to the bike, it's about an '82. Should have just said that.

A hub on a nicer bike that I'm preparing to sell needs at least one new cone.

It seems like there are a lot of variables: axle size/threading, native bearing size if there is such a thing, "spacing" size/thickness of the nut, maybe something else.

What are the chances that I can find a good replacement in the bin? Are there special ones for nicer hubs?

Is it the best course to order a set of new ones? Where would you do that?

This is a decent bike and I want the quality of the replacement to be commensurate with the original. I've rebuilt 1,000 hubs, but suddenly I feel at sea.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

I can't stress enough that the follow is in no way meant to be offense.

You have rebuilt thousands of hubs and never had to replace a cone?!? That is incredible. I would say if I am opening a hub up, 9 times out of 10 the cones are in rough shape!

I can't stress enough that the follow is in no way meant to be offense.

You have rebuilt thousands of hubs and never had to replace a cone?!? That is incredible. I would say if I am opening a hub up, 9 times out of 10 the cones are in rough shape!

OK, OK, 100 hubs. You got me. I'm a hobbyist, not a professional. Hence the basic question. Most of my experience is at the co-op with lower-end bikes. There, a few pits in the cone is not a deal-breaker. On my bikes, mostly electro-forged Schwinns and stuff, I have followed a similar rule.

I'm sure I have replaced some cones at the co-op, but it was more like digging around in the bin, picking out one with fewer pits that threads onto the axle and saying, "welp, this'll work."

And, actually, to respond to your experience, I would have to say that I do dread finding a disaster in there, but I guess I've had pretty good luck. :thumb:

So, early 80s Miche Competition hubs, cones for. Any ideas?

So, early 80s Miche Competition hubs, cones for. Any ideas?

I'm not familiar with the Miche hubs, but being Italian they may be able to use Campagnolo cones. I replaced the cones in my wife's Ofmega hubs with Campagnolo cones many years ago and they're still holding up fine.

I'm not familiar with the Miche hubs, but being Italian they may be able to use Campagnolo cones. I replaced the cones in my wife's Ofmega hubs with Campagnolo cones many years ago and they're still holding up fine.

There is a good chance they are the same but you can measure them with calipers... don't measure the race but the rest of the cone's width and look at the race. sometimes they can have a wider race area depending on the taper etc... if you change one cone and measure he OLD and it is wider than it was before (or narrower) you'll know that the new cone has a slightly different geometry, you can compensate with moving spacers around... I had a bin of hub parts as I did this fairly often when refurbing old bikes.

Yes and no. There's only one cone that's a direct replacement, true. But... there's only one radius that will fit a ball of a given diameter. So if you can match that, then that takes care of the bearing surface. The other dimension is the outer diameter of the cone, it has to be a pretty close match to the dust cap. Finally, of course, the threads have to match.

Now, you may get lucky in your search for an original Miche; they *are* out there. If you can't find one, and don't have any luck with a 'close-enough' fix, you could also try using a scrap hub with old balls and some valve-grinding compound to try to polish out the roughness in your existing cone. I've read reports here of some success with that technique.

Good info, guys. Thanks!

There was a lonely Miche Competition hub in the BOC!

EDIT: Early 80s Miche Competition hubs

Front or Rear?

I bought a NOS rear Miche axle set on eBay for $10. I used it in a Normandy Luxe Competition hub, but I had to trim the dust cap just a hair.