Silver 9/10-speed Record hubs: vintage?
 

I have a pair of silver 9/10-speed Record hubs which I purchased used, but I am out of contact with the seller. The beginning of the era of 9-speed compatible hubs dates to 1997, and in 2007 Campagnolo came out with its new black hubs, so one could safely say that the vintage of these hubs dates to within this 10-year period.

Is there any way of narrowing that down further in terms of distinguishing features? Here's a not-very-good photo of the rear hub:

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...23_13small.jpg

Another of the rear hub, also not very satisfactory:

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j2...g?t=1233333335

I'd be happy to take more close-up photos if that would help. I've done some cursory web searching, but I haven't found a storehouse of textual and/or visual information on this (which is a bit surprising). I suppose I should try "Campy Only" as well. Eh?

unless campy still dates the locknuts, you should check and let us know. I have a set of chorus hubs circa 2000 or 2001 and they are decidedly more modern than those. So I would guess they pre-date 2000.

i have some 8 speed record hubs that look very similar to those. if i remember i'll take a picture and compare. think that they are about 1997.
but i know that you used to be able to get a kit that would convert 8 speed to 9...

This is definitely the earliest 9 speed style.Tit uses the 8 speed hub shell design, steel axle and original freehub design (which is why there is the bulge for the inbound bearings). There were versions of Record with and without titanium parts, at least on the rear hub. I can't remember off hand when this changed - I think 2002 was the first year of the aluminum axle hubs for Record, then a year later for Chorus. That design is distinctive because of the on-bike adjustable bearing load.

I've got all the catalogs from 97-2005 at home if you need more info. Your challenge is to figure out if it is a titanium rear hub.

Rousseau - I was way off. 9 speed hubs in that style were sold in 97 and 98 and were titanium. In 99 Campy went to the aluminum axle Record hubs. So you have a 97 or 98 hub which has the titanium bits (axle and freehub inner). The only other small possibility is that someone took a 96 or earlier 8 speed hub and fitted a 9s freewheel body. I know this was possible in some configurations, but probably prohibitively expensive unless stuff was just laying around.

Thanks very much for all the replies. It looks like my hubs must be 97s or 98s. I'll have to take the wheels off the bike and have a look at the locknuts more closely, though.

No date on the locknuts, unfortunately.

Say, speaking of these great hubs: what should I do with the grease/oil ports? Should I periodically put grease or oil in there? I've had them for half a year and am riding them through this winter. I wipe down my bike every time it's messy out, but I'm certain that moisture is getting under the caps of the grease/oil ports.

What do people usually do with these in terms of maintenance?