I have been adjusting the rear hub on our tandem and becoming intensely frustrated. This is a Shimano hub with cup and cone bearings. There's no adjusting the right-hand side cone, because it is inside the freehub body, so the left-hand one has to be adjusted. This seems inherently trickier to get right than I am used to c&c bearings being, but what really makes it agonising is that then the drum brake has to be screwed down on top of it without jiggering the adjustment. Furthermore the axle nuts seem to like to twist the axle slightly, but obviously I should just replace the axle with a hollow QR one. We carry two locks and anyway the rear wheel would be a nightmare to steal because of the way the drum brake is lovingly intertwined with everything.
In any case persistent maladjustment has destroyed one set of cones and I suspect it will eventually destroy the cups. Hence I've reached the point where I'm willing to throw money at the problem.
Can anyone recommend tandem rear hubs which are sufficiently robust for loaded touring, accomodate the Arai drum brake, come in 140mm spacing and 48 holes, and ideally use cartridge bearings or failing that are as straightforward to adjust as possible? Bonus points if the answer isn't shelling $400 for a Phil Wood, although I will if I absolutely have to. -- David Damerell <[email hidden]> flcl? Today is Second Sunday, May - a weekend.
I have been adjusting the rear hub on our tandem and becoming intensely frustrated. This is a Shimano hub with cup and cone bearings. There's no adjusting the right-hand side cone, because it is inside the freehub body, so the left-hand one has to be adjusted. This seems inherently trickier to get right than I am used to c&c bearings being, but what really makes it agonising is that then the drum brake has to be screwed down on top of it without jiggering the adjustment.
Shimano hubs usually have plenty of spacers. Put a thin locknut directly against the adjusting cone, and replace the spacer by a corresponding thinner one. Now you can adjust the hub without the brake making things difficult -- --- Marten Gerritsen
I have been adjusting the rear hub on our tandem and becoming intensely frustrated. This is a Shimano hub with cup and cone bearings. There's no adjusting the right-hand side cone, because it is inside the freehub body, so the left-hand one has to be adjusted. This seems inherently trickier to get right than I am used to c&c bearings being, but what really makes it agonising is that then the drum brake has to be screwed down on top of it without jiggering the adjustment. Furthermore the axle nuts seem to like to twist the axle slightly,
My method of tightening the nuts on solid-axle hubs: tighten both nuts finger tight. Then alternate tightening both sides as much as possible before the axle starts to twist. This is very little on the first go, but in just a few iterations, you can get 'em real tight without any axle twist.
Quoted message said:
Can anyone recommend tandem rear hubs which are sufficiently robust for loaded touring, accomodate the Arai drum brake, come in 140mm spacing and 48 holes, and ideally use cartridge bearings or failing that are as straightforward to adjust as possible? Bonus points if the answer isn't shelling $400 for a Phil Wood, although I will if I absolutely have to.
A friend is trying a White Industries hub (on his tandem) at the moment. I think his is only 40 hole, but ISTR it had threads for a drum. He believed the design looked strong, and said it was far cheaper than the Phil.
I have been adjusting the rear hub on our tandem and becoming intensely frustrated. This is a Shimano hub with cup and cone bearings. There's no adjusting the right-hand side cone, because it is inside the freehub body, so the left-hand one has to be adjusted. This seems inherently trickier to get right than I am used to c&c bearings being, but what really makes it agonising is that then the drum brake has to be screwed down on top of it without jiggering the adjustment.
Shimano hubs usually have plenty of spacers. Put a thin locknut directly against the adjusting cone, and replace the spacer by a corresponding thinner one. Now you can adjust the hub without the brake making things difficult
This is already the arrangement. The problem is, screwing down the drum brake seems to derange this adjustment no matter how tightly I have screwed cone and locknut together.
Perhaps I'm missing something. -- David Damerell <[email hidden]> flcl? Today is Second Sunday, May - a weekend.
A friend is trying a White Industries hub (on his tandem) at the moment. I think his is only 40 hole, but ISTR it had threads for a drum.
They do them in a 48 and they are indeed threaded for drum brakes. And they're 140mm - our machine, being '89, isn't 145mm - and cartridge bearings. Thank you very much; if Sheldon doesn't appear in the next few days saying "Oh, you want the Wazco 31A hub", I'll probably try one of these; I see some Tandem Club people have used them for long distances without trouble. -- David Damerell <[email hidden]> flcl? Today is Second Sunday, May - a weekend.
