Longer axles/spacers to use 130mm hubs?
 

I was at the FL state TTs yesterday, and saw a couple of tandems using race wheels that (presumably) had 130mm spaced hubs. Since in at least one case they used the same wheelset for their solo TT rig, it had to be something easily changed. I'm working on restoring a mid 90s Burley Duet, which is supposed to have 140mm rear spacing. Hubs for this spacing seem to be uncommon..so seeing this got me thinking. Dangerous, I know. :)

I thought I might do this with a spare set of HED Deep wheels I have, by buying a longer axle and using spacer washers on each side. Standard road axles are ~141mm, to allow 5.5mm of axle engagement in each dropout. Nobody seems to sell a common 151mm axle for the 140mm spacing, but I can cut down a 158mm one, I suppose. The catch will be to get enough axle engagement on the tandem, but not have it protruding through the dropouts on the single bike. Sheldon Brown seemed to think that 1-2mm per side engagement is enough, so I'm hoping I can find a happy medium that'll fit both bikes.

Anybody done this and have advice to offer?

I'd suggest you check with HED for their advice.

I'm very conservative when it comes to fooling around with sketchy component "Make Dos" on a go fast tandem. Pull that wheel forward at speed and things are going to be ugly in a hurry........

You also might try tracking down one of those tandem teams and see how they did it-could be that they had the same type of wheels (but not the exact same wheels) on both their tandem and half bikes.

I used Sheldon Brown's cold-set method to re-space the rear of a Burley Zydeco to 130mm so I could put on Mavic Ksyreium Elites I had lying around. Wouldn't have done it if we were over 250lbs, wheelset had a rider weight limit and the frameset was not chromoly. I had to adjust the rear derailleur hanger and front derailleur angle to get it to shift properly. Did a MS 150 recently on it and it was smooth ride. I surprised my self that it worked out so well. That's my experience on the subject.