Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > General Cycling Discussion
Reload this Page >

'way back in the dawn of time...

Notices
General Cycling Discussion Have a cycling related question or comment that doesn't fit in one of the other specialty forums? Drop on in and post in here! When possible, please select the forum above that most fits your post!

'way back in the dawn of time...

Old 07-25-10, 10:59 AM
  #1  
3speed
Thread Starter
 
CitiZen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Posts: 128

Bikes: Breezer Citizen

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
'way back in the dawn of time...

rear bicycle hubs used to have a little hinged cap into which one was supposed to put in a wee bit of oil once a year or so. We kids overdid it, natch.

Whatever happened to the concept of the little hinged cap? (I don't remember if it was used for single or three-speed bikes.) I'm assuming it was replaced by the all-enclosed, all-sealed, all good all the time rear hubs of today?

Please assure me I'm not the only old fart on these boards.
CitiZen is offline  
Old 07-25-10, 11:10 AM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
Retro Grouch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: St Peters, Missouri
Posts: 30,225

Bikes: Catrike 559 I own some others but they don't get ridden very much.

Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1572 Post(s)
Liked 642 Times in 363 Posts
Sturmey Archer 3-speeds definitely had that feature. There was also a little strap to hang on your hub that kept the excess oil from accumulating on the hub. I can also remember overhauling my road bike hubs 2 or 3 times every year.

I think that modern sealed mechanisms have eliminated the need for any of that. I, for one, still remember them but I don't miss them.
Retro Grouch is offline  
Old 07-25-10, 12:04 PM
  #3  
Bianchi Goddess
 
Bianchigirll's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Shady Pines Retirement Fort Wayne, In
Posts: 29,716

Bikes: Too many to list here check my signature.

Mentioned: 191 Post(s)
Tagged: 2 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2910 Post(s)
Liked 2,830 Times in 1,457 Posts
I remember those hubs too. my Dad was an upholester and always had lots of leather around. so while we never has the little reflectors we always had those leather straps

some old 3spds had them on the BB too right? my newest Campi Record hubs from '99/'00 still have the oil clip on the front hub atleast too
__________________
One morning you wake up, the girl is gone, the bikes are gone, all that's left behind is a pair of old tires and a tube of tubular glue, all squeezed out"

Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk
Bianchigirll is offline  
Old 07-25-10, 12:37 PM
  #4  
On a Mission from God
 
FunkyStickman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Thibodaux, LA
Posts: 2,010

Bikes: '10 Surly LHT, Rat-rod Klunker, '82 Peugeot PH12 Centennial

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times in 3 Posts
Correct, they were for older 3-speeds. Most modern hubs (even geared ones) use grease, but you can still find oil-bath hubs if you look around.
FunkyStickman is offline  
Old 07-25-10, 01:12 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
nancyj's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 278
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Even the old Campy Nuovo Record hubs had oil holes and little black clips for those who wanted to use oil instead of grease (did anybody ever do that?)
nancyj is offline  
Old 07-25-10, 01:34 PM
  #6  
Membership Not Required
 
wahoonc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: On the road-USA
Posts: 16,855

Bikes: Giant Excursion, Raleigh Sports, Raleigh R.S.W. Compact, Motobecane? and about 20 more! OMG

Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 70 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 15 Times in 14 Posts
Originally Posted by FunkyStickman
Correct, they were for older 3-speeds. Most modern hubs (even geared ones) use grease, but you can still find oil-bath hubs if you look around.
And some of us will even convert the newer IGH back to oil bath.

I have several of the old oil bath Sturmey Archer hubs still in frequent use. One has seen well over 30,000 miles in its life time and is still ticking along.

Aaron
__________________
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(

ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.

"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"
_Nicodemus

"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"
_krazygluon
wahoonc is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Cycologist
Classic & Vintage
10
11-30-18 09:17 PM
Knet
Classic & Vintage
13
06-23-17 08:54 PM
Oracle7775
Bicycle Mechanics
2
02-12-17 07:07 AM
rdtompki
Tandem Cycling
4
08-26-11 06:59 AM
tim00gle
Road Cycling
5
11-10-10 10:40 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.