y'all ever seen a hub locknut just crack in two?
12-29-20, 07:02 PM
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y'all ever seen a hub locknut just crack in two?
I had never heard of such a thing, but it happened to me. This is half the locknut from the front Malliard hub on my Puegeot. I was riding a gentle incline, heard a "snap" and suddenly the wheel was all floppy. Luckily I was close to home, and the wheel held in place.
So... what might cause such a weird failure?
So... what might cause such a weird failure?
12-29-20, 07:48 PM
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Yes. It wasn't tight enough and backed off. Nowhere near strong enough to sustain your quick release or hub nut with no cone and washer supporting it.
I know this because I've been running Miche track rear hubs. They don't use keyed lockwashers. It seem inevitable that unscrewing the rear hub nut and flipping/removing the wheel many times is enough to loosen them. I've broken a few now. (I flip the wheel 2 to 6 times a ride fairly often and change the cogs a lot as my conditioning changes and I ride different rides.)
Now, for me, it's always been a nutted rear track wheel and I didn't know until I took the wheel off. So never a safety issue. But this is a good heads up. (Periodically throw a wrench on those nuts.) Thank you.
I know this because I've been running Miche track rear hubs. They don't use keyed lockwashers. It seem inevitable that unscrewing the rear hub nut and flipping/removing the wheel many times is enough to loosen them. I've broken a few now. (I flip the wheel 2 to 6 times a ride fairly often and change the cogs a lot as my conditioning changes and I ride different rides.)
Now, for me, it's always been a nutted rear track wheel and I didn't know until I took the wheel off. So never a safety issue. But this is a good heads up. (Periodically throw a wrench on those nuts.) Thank you.
12-29-20, 08:04 PM
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Yep, also on a French bike, as I recall. Looks like that metal is crystalized in the break.
12-29-20, 10:07 PM
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OK, what could I / should I have done differently?
12-29-20, 10:27 PM
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12-29-20, 10:28 PM
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not helpful, Hillrider
12-29-20, 10:47 PM
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Check to make sure the locknut hasn't backed off. When you find a suitable replacement, get two and replace the other side. How old is that hub? I worked at several shops in the '70s and we often joked about French bikes and parts. I used to build my wheels with Robergel zinc plated spokes. Built excellent, strong wheels but: threading was inconsistent and several spokes per box just broke. Once they were replaced, the wheels went many thousands of miles.
The French were passionate about their bikes but they also hosted two world wars. They had to rebuild their bicycle industry twice. They also built thousands of bikes incredibly fast to serve our '70s bike craze.
The French were passionate about their bikes but they also hosted two world wars. They had to rebuild their bicycle industry twice. They also built thousands of bikes incredibly fast to serve our '70s bike craze.
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12-30-20, 09:05 AM
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12-30-20, 01:08 PM
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12-31-20, 12:59 AM
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Often happens when they are lose, clamped in misaligned dropouts.
So check the dropout alignment when you get a chance.
=8-|
So check the dropout alignment when you get a chance.
=8-|
__________________
5000+ wheels built since 1984...
Disclaimer:
1. I do not claim to be an expert in bicycle mechanics despite my experience.
2. I like anyone will comment in other areas.
3. I do not own the preexisting concepts of DISH and ERD.
4. I will provide information as I always have to others that I believe will help them protect themselves from unscrupulous mechanics.
5. My all time favorite book is:
Kahane, Howard. Logic and Contemporary Rhetoric: The Use of Reason in Everyday Life
5000+ wheels built since 1984...
Disclaimer:
1. I do not claim to be an expert in bicycle mechanics despite my experience.
2. I like anyone will comment in other areas.
3. I do not own the preexisting concepts of DISH and ERD.
4. I will provide information as I always have to others that I believe will help them protect themselves from unscrupulous mechanics.
5. My all time favorite book is:
Kahane, Howard. Logic and Contemporary Rhetoric: The Use of Reason in Everyday Life
01-01-21, 11:38 PM
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From my days in the mid 1970's working on Peugeot's (Gitane's and Motobecane's too I think), those black metal hub nuts were pretty delicate. Other posters are right, if they back off, even just a little, the pressure of cranking down the quick release lever can break them. As I recall we had to be careful to blow-out any gook/grease on the threads behind that nut or it wouldn't seat down all the way to the cones and break under pressure. Might want to check that when you put a new one back on.
01-02-21, 11:46 AM
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I have rebuilt / cannibalized / parted out a bunch of french bikes. I would have been far ahead if I had never touched anything with french parts. When I was young it was a challenge. Now with some wisdom it was a waste of time.
Last edited by grizzly59; 01-02-21 at 09:41 PM.
