Dura Ace Hub Questions
 

I recently acquired a set of vintage Dura Ace hubs. These are the type with the oil ports. They are both 36h and have tubular 27 x 1 - 1/4 rims. I have the following questions regarding these hubs.

1. I'm rebuilding an old Schwinn Passage touring bike to use as my all-around bike. I have some 700C 36 hole rims already. Would these hubs be good for that considering I'm around 250 lbs?

2. The rear has a bent axle. I've found a replacement at Harris from World Manufacturing. How does this compare with the original Dura Ace?

3. Is constant oiling necessary with these hubs or can I grease and pack them like other cone/cup hubs?

Thanks,

Ken

1) All around bikes will benefit more from cartidge bearing hubs, with loose ball, even with grease injection you are only lengthening the amount of time between acceptable maitenance, not removing it. Once the races on the hub are gone, say goodbye. Not so with cartridge.
2) They are fine
3) Again, grease injection only lengthens the time between maintanence. It's a shortcut way of delaying the necessary repacking/replacing of bearings. Of course you can repack them like a hub without grease injection ports.

Operator,

Thanks for the info.

One other question.

The existing axles have a key slot cut in them and the washer has a tab that rides in that slot. I don't believe the World Mfg. replacement has the key slot. What was the purpose/benefit of the key slot and its mating washer? I assume it may have made adjusting the cones easier since it keeps the cone from turning when the lock nut is tightened down. Is this correct?

Thanks,

Ken

Don't worry about the slot in the axle, get new washers that don't have the key. High-end axles do not have the slot. It's only for quick-adjustments on low-end bikes using a single wrench. You get much better adjustments and precision using two wrenches. Better locking of the locknut as well.

Also the axle is much stronger without the slot.

Are those Dura-ace AX hubs?

I don't know how to tell if they are AX or not. Can you point me in the right direction? The dust caps say Dura Ace on them. The hubs themselves are only marked Shimano and stamped with a Z and an I or maybe it's a 1.

A little more research leads me to believe that these hubs are 1975 Dura Ace HA-100. They are indentical to the low flange hubs in the 1975 catalog cutsheet linked below.

http://www.equusbicycle.com/bike/shi.../03shimano.jpg

All-in-all, a good garage sale find at $1.00 for each wheel. Replacement axle will be ordered and they will be relaced for the Passage.

Thanks for all the help

Those are nice! Shades of the old Campagnolo Records. Having just ordered a set of Ultegra's - I can only hope they are half as nice.