Old Phil Wood Hubs

Quoted message said:

My question is this: is it worth rebuilding these hubs with new rims? They still spin like new
about 4000 miles without any maintenance at all (the bearings are sealed) but for how much longer
and what about parts which might be needed. I would love to keep using them as the workmenship is
outstanding.

Also, one bike shop I visited in Denver told be these hubs are quite collectable. Could be just a
bunch of bull just to make me feel good.

Can anyone recommend some good rims and spokes which are compatable and can any old bike shop do a
decent job building the wheels?

They are only collectable if they're the 3 piece hub with chrome steel barrell and no rust of any
kind. Otherwise they're just about the best hubs ever made. I have a pair of the 3 pieces (rusted
barrells) that roll perfectly about 30 years later or so Bought a bottom bracket at the same time.
Still going strong. And if you're in Denver Peter Chisholm is the wheelbuilder. Phil Brown

In article <[email hidden]>,

lawrenpx said:

My question is this: is it worth rebuilding these hubs with new rims? They still spin like new
about 4000 miles without any maintenance at all (the bearings are sealed) but for how much longer
and what about parts which might be needed. I would love to keep using them as the workmenship is
outstanding.

"They spin like new" answers your question. Phil hubs are practically bullet proof. You can have
Phil replace the bearings if you want. Check Phil's Website (www.philwood.com, IIRC).

Quoted message said:

Can anyone recommend some good rims and spokes which are compatable and can any old bike shop do a
decent job building the wheels?

If you can find a rim with the same ERD ("effective rim diameter"😉 as your old ones, you can even
use the old spokes. Just tape the new rims to the old, lining up the valve stem holes, and unscre
the nipples and move them to the corresponding spoke hole in the new rim. Of course, after this many
years the spokes and nipples may be corroded beyond usefulness.

lawrenpx-<< I bought some Phil Wood hubs (sealed bearings) around 30 years ago for a college break
bike tour of Europe- 100 miles a day for 3 months, lots of rain. The rims took a real beating and
are basically shot now.

My question is this: is it worth rebuilding these hubs with new rims?

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

<BR><BR>

Sure, if the hubs are OK-

lawrenpx-<< Can anyone recommend some good rims and spokes which are compatable and can any old bike
shop do a decent job building the wheels? >><BR><BR>

Not any old bike shop has somebody that can build good wheels. Some do, I think we have a good rep.
in that department(we build about 300 per year). Mavic and Velocity make some nice rims of lots of
styles, I am sure I could design a wheelset that would suit you-give Vecchio's a call-

Peter Chisholm Vecchio's Bicicletteria 1833 Pearl St. Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535 vecchios.comvecchios.comOpen ↗ "Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

Phil-<< And if you're in Denver Peter Chisholm is the wheelbuilder. >><BR><BR>

many thanks for the pitch-in Boulder...

Peter Chisholm Vecchio's Bicicletteria 1833 Pearl St. Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535 vecchios.comvecchios.comOpen ↗ "Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

lawrenpx said:

My question is this: is it worth rebuilding these hubs with new rims?

No. It's dangerous to use old hubs. Send them to me for proper disposal. No charge.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | Arguing with an engineer is like mud wrestling with a pig... You _`\(,_ | soon find out the
pig likes it! (_)/ (_) |

lawrenpx <[email hidden]> wrote in message
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Quoted message said:

I bought some Phil Wood hubs (sealed bearings) around 30 years ago for a college break bike tour
of Europe- 100 miles a day for 3 months, lots of rain. The rims took a real beating and are
basically shot now.

My question is this: is it worth rebuilding these hubs with new rims? They still spin like new
about 4000 miles without any maintenance at all (the bearings are sealed) but for how much longer
and what about parts which might be needed. I would love to keep using them as the

as i read your query, the wheel have 4000-mi done 30-yrs ago and nothing since? my guess is the
grease is dead, maybe the seals too. which leads to the bearings being dead because you can't buy
seals only nor would i want to since the bearings are only about $10/pair. which leads to my
objection to the early Phil hubs, they're not field serviceable. so while any competent mech shop
can pop the bearings, you might as well send them off to Phil, which i would want to do before
building the wheels because shipping the hubs only is cheaper. so much so that i would do it even
if i had 'guessed' the bearing were good because the risk/reward isn't there.