surreal

Hi. Yes, I searched. Here's proof: https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...ight=velosteel So, yeah, on to my question.

I'm having the same issues with my velosteel as the guy from the linked thread had: The hub engages erratically, after braking and sometimes after coasting. I've searched elsewhere; most of the ppl who've reported this problem get a response from the guy (who, incidentally, is named Guy) that i bought the hub from. Guy says that the problem is caused by over-lubing the hub.

The thing is, I haven't had the thing open since I got it from him. I guess I got it sometime in 2011; the hub is marked 2009, and it sat in a box for a long time til i finally (recently; <1year) built a wheel around it and started riding it. So, all it ever had on it was the light coating he gives it, and then that sit for a loooong while.

I can't have more than 2000miles on this hub; probably much closer to 1000. It seemed to have a lot of play before engagement from day one, but nowadays it sometimes engages right-quick; other times, the pedals go around 270degrees before engagement! Typically, it is somewhere in-between.

I like the hub, and it's on a cruiser that I ride for short distances. It's super quiet, looks pimp, and doesn't drag. But I just bought a bike with an old-ish made-in-Japan Shimano cb-110 hub, and there's a dramatic difference. The Shimano hub's brake is far stronger, and while engagement takes a few degrees, it is entirely consistent and not-at-all terrifying. OTOH, drag is crazy noticeable. (Prolly needs a cleaning and a repack.)

It seems worth noting that Velosteel hubs are basically a newer, more cheaply-built iteration of the old Sachs SS CB hubs. The design is entirely different from more conventional CB hubs, so I'm looking for Velosteel- (& possibly vintage Sachs) specific advice here.

I have to admit, I am a little terrified of overhauling CB hubs, after having some nightmarish experiences with KT HiStop units in the distant past. I'm hoping someone can advise me to the proper remedy for this issue, as Guy's advice regarding too much/too heavy grease is certainly not the culprit in this case.

Thanks in advance,
Rob

mrrabbit 

I've overhauled these things before...

1. The outboard bearing on both sides are absolute crap...buy a new pair from an LBS and replace 'em.
1a. If they have an inboard drive side bearing available, replace that one as well while you are at it.
2. Sometimes I find that the brake shoes have been installed backwards - turning them around fixes it.
3. You can't over lube these things - any excess will come squirting out the sides making mess just from simply spinning the wheel on the bike BEFORE you can ride it...trust me.

If the fixes I mentioned above don't work - wait for others who are more familiar with the inner mechanicals...

=8-)

surreal

Thanks. I'm stArting to feel like maybe I will just tear into it. Worst that can happen is, I'll mess it up, but I've got other bikes to ride. Do these hubs take a standard sized caged bearing?

DieselDan

Could be a bad clutch cone/spring if it is a Shimano E-110 or the KT knockoff.

surreal

Yeah, but it's the danged Velosteel. The vintage cb-110 on the other bike is supremely awesome, which prompted this thread b/c the much newer Velosteel is decidedly non-supreme and non-awesome

surreal

Update for future users who find this thread via the search feature:

After some emails from Guy, the dude who seems to sell the most of these things (besides, I suppose, Coasties...but I bought mine from Guy @ Elegant Wheels); I decided to tear the hub down, clean all the parts, and repack it with less grease.

As of today, it's worked well. No problems with engagement, and the brake might be ever so slightly improved. This is, of course, day one. If it goes south on me again, I'll post another update.