Broken hub, replacement options? - Cycling Mob: Road Cycling, Mountain Biking and More

01-18-2005, 03:04 PM

I've had a pair of Phil Wood hubs for over thirty years and just noticed
some wobble in my rear tire. My bike shop (a trustworthy place) reports
that the hub is broken and they'd recommend replacement.

I don't have a high-end modern bike. It's a parts hybrid assembled in the
early seventies that includes an Allegro 531 frame, some Campagnolo gear
and a few pedestrian components that I really should get around to
replacing (Universal 61 centerpulls, that sort of thing). But my immediate
concern is a new hub.

I ride for fitness, usually not more than 12-15 miles a day, all urban
cycling on surface streets. I don't need anything fancy but don't really
want something that would be inappropriate with the upgrades I'm gradually
doing.

Would someone like to recommend something and let me know what price I'll
need to anticipate? Do I need to replace both hubs or just one?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

----
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01-18-2005, 03:40 PM

On Wed, 19 Jan 2005 00:04:25 +0000, saki wrote:

> Would someone like to recommend something and let me know what price I'll
> need to anticipate? Do I need to replace both hubs or just one?
>
> Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

First thing to do is contact the Phil Wood company--they're truly
amazing--and find out what to do. Perhaps the hubs are quite salvageable,
perhaps not. If it's just a shot cartridge bearing or axle--that's
relatively cheap and easy. Your shop may be trustworthy, but not as
familiar with the particulars of Phil's hubs as you think. Worth a shot
getting a second opinion, and would probably help if you can send or post
some digital images to go along with your query.

Building a new wheel around a fresh Phil Hub is going to cost a pretty
penny (you'll get a damn fine wheel in return of course) but perhaps it's
time to take stock and see if that money would be better invested towards
a more basic wheelset or new bike, or if sentimental value trumps
all...just go for it.

Let us know how it goes.

01-18-2005, 03:40 PM

On Wed, 19 Jan 2005 00:04:25 +0000, saki wrote:

> Would someone like to recommend something and let me know what price I'll
> need to anticipate? Do I need to replace both hubs or just one?
>
> Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

First thing to do is contact the Phil Wood company--they're truly
amazing--and find out what to do. Perhaps the hubs are quite salvageable,
perhaps not. If it's just a shot cartridge bearing or axle--that's
relatively cheap and easy. Your shop may be trustworthy, but not as
familiar with the particulars of Phil's hubs as you think. Worth a shot
getting a second opinion, and would probably help if you can send or post
some digital images to go along with your query.

Building a new wheel around a fresh Phil Hub is going to cost a pretty
penny (you'll get a damn fine wheel in return of course) but perhaps it's
time to take stock and see if that money would be better invested towards
a more basic wheelset or new bike, or if sentimental value trumps
all...just go for it.

Let us know how it goes.

01-18-2005, 03:40 PM

On Wed, 19 Jan 2005 00:04:25 +0000, saki wrote:

> Would someone like to recommend something and let me know what price I'll
> need to anticipate? Do I need to replace both hubs or just one?
>
> Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

First thing to do is contact the Phil Wood company--they're truly
amazing--and find out what to do. Perhaps the hubs are quite salvageable,
perhaps not. If it's just a shot cartridge bearing or axle--that's
relatively cheap and easy. Your shop may be trustworthy, but not as
familiar with the particulars of Phil's hubs as you think. Worth a shot
getting a second opinion, and would probably help if you can send or post
some digital images to go along with your query.

Building a new wheel around a fresh Phil Hub is going to cost a pretty
penny (you'll get a damn fine wheel in return of course) but perhaps it's
time to take stock and see if that money would be better invested towards
a more basic wheelset or new bike, or if sentimental value trumps
all...just go for it.

Let us know how it goes.

01-18-2005, 04:02 PM

maxo wrote:

> First thing to do is contact the Phil Wood company--they're truly
> amazing--and find out what to do. Perhaps the hubs are quite
salvageable,
> perhaps not. If it's just a shot cartridge bearing or axle--that's
> relatively cheap and easy. Your shop may be trustworthy, but not as
> familiar with the particulars of Phil's hubs as you think. Worth a
shot
> getting a second opinion, and would probably help if you can send or
post
> some digital images to go along with your query.

Excellent advice, thanks. I'll see what Phil Wood might have to say.

> Building a new wheel around a fresh Phil Hub is going to cost a
pretty
> penny (you'll get a damn fine wheel in return of course) but perhaps
it's
> time to take stock and see if that money would be better invested
towards
> a more basic wheelset or new bike, or if sentimental value trumps
> all...just go for it.

I'm very nostalgic about the frame, perhaps foolishly, but I recognize
that things have changed during the past thirty years. This is
something I'll have to consider carefully.
Thanks very much!

----
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
> Let us know how it goes.

01-18-2005, 04:02 PM

maxo wrote:

> First thing to do is contact the Phil Wood company--they're truly
> amazing--and find out what to do. Perhaps the hubs are quite
salvageable,
> perhaps not. If it's just a shot cartridge bearing or axle--that's
> relatively cheap and easy. Your shop may be trustworthy, but not as
> familiar with the particulars of Phil's hubs as you think. Worth a
shot
> getting a second opinion, and would probably help if you can send or
post
> some digital images to go along with your query.

Excellent advice, thanks. I'll see what Phil Wood might have to say.

> Building a new wheel around a fresh Phil Hub is going to cost a
pretty
> penny (you'll get a damn fine wheel in return of course) but perhaps
it's
> time to take stock and see if that money would be better invested
towards
> a more basic wheelset or new bike, or if sentimental value trumps
> all...just go for it.

I'm very nostalgic about the frame, perhaps foolishly, but I recognize
that things have changed during the past thirty years. This is
something I'll have to consider carefully.
Thanks very much!

----
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
> Let us know how it goes.

01-18-2005, 04:02 PM

maxo wrote:

> First thing to do is contact the Phil Wood company--they're truly
> amazing--and find out what to do. Perhaps the hubs are quite
salvageable,
> perhaps not. If it's just a shot cartridge bearing or axle--that's
> relatively cheap and easy. Your shop may be trustworthy, but not as
> familiar with the particulars of Phil's hubs as you think. Worth a
shot
> getting a second opinion, and would probably help if you can send or
post
> some digital images to go along with your query.

Excellent advice, thanks. I'll see what Phil Wood might have to say.

> Building a new wheel around a fresh Phil Hub is going to cost a
pretty
> penny (you'll get a damn fine wheel in return of course) but perhaps
it's
> time to take stock and see if that money would be better invested
towards
> a more basic wheelset or new bike, or if sentimental value trumps
> all...just go for it.

I'm very nostalgic about the frame, perhaps foolishly, but I recognize
that things have changed during the past thirty years. This is
something I'll have to consider carefully.
Thanks very much!

----
[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]
>
> Let us know how it goes.

01-19-2005, 10:48 AM

I agree that the first thing you should do is contact Phil Wood. Phil
can be very reasonable with repairs of its products.

With regard to your frame, hey, it you're nostalgic and the frame fits
you, no need to change it. You can "upgrade" your frame with modern
components should you choose. Modern components may require you to
spread your dropouts to fit 130mm standard, but other than that, you
should be able to use it!

If you need to build a new wheel, and a new Phil is too expensive. Take
a look at Shimano or Campy's hubs. Both are excellent and will easily
take 8, 9, or 10 speed cogs should you decide to make your bike more
modern. Alternatively, freewheel hubs and complete wheels can be found
fairly cheap on ebay, craigslist or your local bike shop bulletin board
as most riders today don't use this form. Lots of ways to go. Good
Luck!

01-19-2005, 10:48 AM

I agree that the first thing you should do is contact Phil Wood. Phil
can be very reasonable with repairs of its products.

With regard to your frame, hey, it you're nostalgic and the frame fits
you, no need to change it. You can "upgrade" your frame with modern
components should you choose. Modern components may require you to
spread your dropouts to fit 130mm standard, but other than that, you
should be able to use it!

If you need to build a new wheel, and a new Phil is too expensive. Take
a look at Shimano or Campy's hubs. Both are excellent and will easily
take 8, 9, or 10 speed cogs should you decide to make your bike more
modern. Alternatively, freewheel hubs and complete wheels can be found
fairly cheap on ebay, craigslist or your local bike shop bulletin board
as most riders today don't use this form. Lots of ways to go. Good
Luck!

01-19-2005, 10:48 AM

I agree that the first thing you should do is contact Phil Wood. Phil
can be very reasonable with repairs of its products.

With regard to your frame, hey, it you're nostalgic and the frame fits
you, no need to change it. You can "upgrade" your frame with modern
components should you choose. Modern components may require you to
spread your dropouts to fit 130mm standard, but other than that, you
should be able to use it!

If you need to build a new wheel, and a new Phil is too expensive. Take
a look at Shimano or Campy's hubs. Both are excellent and will easily
take 8, 9, or 10 speed cogs should you decide to make your bike more
modern. Alternatively, freewheel hubs and complete wheels can be found
fairly cheap on ebay, craigslist or your local bike shop bulletin board
as most riders today don't use this form. Lots of ways to go. Good
Luck!