lowlife1975

found these on the front hub of a vintage phil wood hub. looks like they are part of the barrel, maybe a bracket of some sort for something? can anybody confirm/ explain. also, how do you remove those barrels? doesn't appear to be any slots for a wrench. puzzled.

[IMG] IMG_5396 by evifenocvt, on Flickr[/IMG]
[IMG] IMG_5395 by evifenocvt, on Flickr[/IMG]

Drillium Dude 

That appears to be a retro-fitted mount for a vintage odometer.

DD

Jeff Wills

What part are you talking about? It looks like there's a bracket for a cyclometer (possibly a Huret Multito) attached to the axle end. Old Phil axle ends press on to the axle, so there's no wrench flats needed.

I wouldn't swear to it, but it looks like the cyclometer bracket is brazed to the axle end.

Chombi

Could it be part of the tandem disc brake system they used to make?

Chombi

ColonelJLloyd 

No.

The Jeffs have it.

Chombi

I had a Multito on my Peugeot back in the 80's and that's what kinda popped up in my mind when I saw the pics too....

Chombi

lowlife1975

thanks for the suggestions all. it makes sense that its some super old cyclometer bracket, but yah it looks to be welded in there pretty good. just barely enough space for the axle to rest on the drop out.

Jeff Wills

No. The Phil disk brake threaded on the left side of the hub, with the majority of the caliper held on by an O-ring on the axle.

Novakane 

I'm no Phil Woods expert, but I suspect nobody would have a disc brake on a radially spoked hub, nor would likely use a radial on a tandem.

Chombi

Hey, there it is!!
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-SACH...item19d2d178a3


So the PO welded the thing on for good on the hub/axle??
Or is that just corrosion holding it on??

Chombi

dddd

The absence of chrome on the axle stub suggests that Jeff's suspicion is right (about the bracket having been brazed on) since the heat of brazing would have removed all the chrome plating, and I see none.

purebikes 

You could probably remove the bracket if needed with a torch. I would remove the axle first of course as to not damage the bearings.

repechage

As these odometers were not very useful at any decent speed, I would consider sending the hub to Phil at some point for a new axle end and bearings. They will probably get a laugh at the modification. I would not heat the axle to remove it from the assembled hub.

Jeff Wills

I agree that this is a candidate for servicing at Phil Wood. It has the earlier pressed-together construction (later hubs had threaded end caps. I'd guess it's a candidate for new bearings, judging by the rust on the outer bearing race. It would be simple to replace the axle end cap when the bearings are replaced, and you could keep the one with the brazed-on Multito mount (thanks, Chombi!) as a souvenir.

Sixty Fiver

We still make hubs like this and people are usually baffled as to how to service them and then are quite pleased to find out how easy they are to service.

I am not sure if that mount is brazed or just friction fitted to the axle...

lowlife1975

well, i was able to pull the press fit cap off and sure enough that bracket is welded in good. any ideas of what temperature i'll need to torch it loose? don't really have a welding torch around, any sort of home fire that can get hot enough to do the job? i've got a pretty heavy duty kitchen torch for creme brulees. haha... i'll give phil wood a call to see if i can purchase a replacement if that doesn't work. bearings actually feel super smooth still so i don't think i'll need to send it in for service anyways.