How easy is it to replace a hub
#1
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How easy is it to replace a hub
I am thinking of buying a single speed rear hub from nashbar and installing it on an late 80's rear wheel
#2
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You will be rebuilding the wheel from scratch. Make sure the hub and rim take the same number of spokes. Also, it's very possible that your old spokes won't be the correct length and you will need to get different length spokes.
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Get a hub, spokes and a new rim and learn how to build a wheel.
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I'm not one for fawning over bicycles, but I do believe that our bikes communicate with us, and what this bike is saying is, "You're an idiot." BikeSnobNYC
I'm not one for fawning over bicycles, but I do believe that our bikes communicate with us, and what this bike is saying is, "You're an idiot." BikeSnobNYC
#5
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You can reuse the spokes. They and the hub are the most durable parts of the assembly. If the hubs measure nearly the same width and flange diameter is similar you can do it.
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If the hubs measure the same and the flanges are the same spacing you can do it the hard part is the lacing patern. find a good how to book and go for it. I use Tod Downs Road bike maintenance. very easy to understand.
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my guess is the late 80's bike had five speeds and he is replacing it with a single speed so the change in dish will likely result in a change in required spoke lengths. (the hub dimensions will not be the same - I would think the flange to flange distance will be greater for the single speed)
Last edited by bubbagrannygear; 03-31-09 at 07:30 PM. Reason: stated "hub to hub" and meant "flange to flange" distance
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The short answer is that its not easy. Wheel building is one of the more difficult skill required for working on bicycles and generally a skill you learn after being good at most other things.
Anthony
Anthony
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Wheelbuilding can be fun, but it's also a pain that can take a lot of time and there are multiple factors to consider. operator is right that this is more trouble than it's worth for you, unless you really want to build a wheel. And even so, in that case, I'd recommend you build a new wheel from scratch, unless you have no use for (and can't sell) the wheel presently on the bike.
Another thought: if your goal is singlespeed (not fixed-gear) and you have a rear wheel with a freewheel, then just take the freewheel off, re-space the axle and re-dish the wheel, and put a singlespeed freewheel on and you're set.
But you may want a fixed-gear rear wheel, and you may have a late-80's hub with a 7-speed cassette.
Another thought: if your goal is singlespeed (not fixed-gear) and you have a rear wheel with a freewheel, then just take the freewheel off, re-space the axle and re-dish the wheel, and put a singlespeed freewheel on and you're set.
But you may want a fixed-gear rear wheel, and you may have a late-80's hub with a 7-speed cassette.
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Why again, are we penny wise pound foolish again?
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I'd much rather buy a wheel unless that rear hub was dirt cheap and I was itching to learn (by doing) how to build a wheel which takes a lot of time a patience. Like 3 days of patience for my first one.
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Do yourself a favor and get a new rim and appropriate length spokes. As big of a headache it is to built your first few sets of wheels, it will only frustrate you more if you try to wing it with a rim and spokes that may or may not be the correct length.
It took me around 2-3 hours to build my first wheel. Now I can go from parts to trued and tensioned wheel in 45 minutes.
It took me around 2-3 hours to build my first wheel. Now I can go from parts to trued and tensioned wheel in 45 minutes.
#14
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You'd seriously use 20+ year old spokes to build a new wheel? Crazy talk.
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I did this exact same thing this fall, mostly for fun and practice building a wheel, and I ended up having to buy a rim (needed 32 hole, had a 36) and then had to buy spokes because they didnt fit. it ended up being more expensive than i had figured and i still ended up with a 27" wheel, now i wish i had a 700. But it was a fun journey trying to get everything figured out. so if your doing it for fun, go for it, but if your doing it to save money, either ditch the RD and just run one gear on the rear group, or find a cheap wheel set on line
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The op didnt ask how to build a wheel from scratch. He asked about replacing a hub in his current wheel. If the thing was a p.o.s. he would have asked where he could just buy a new one.
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The op didnt ask how to build a wheel from scratch.
And no way you could or should reuse old spokes to do it.
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I cant understand this attitude,why is there no way I "could," I do it quite often. I have never had a problem, if things are in good shape what is the difference? Please educate me as to why you can not reuse spokes.