Campagnolo bearings front wheel

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garygkn
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Campagnolo bearings front wheel

Post by garygkn »

I have a set of Campnolo Veloce wheels they appear to have had an easy life however they are 8 speed and have been in storage for many years . In the warm and dry. I have noticed that the font wheel is a bit notchy. I am thinking of replacing the bearings and grease.
However I am not sure what size bearings I will need and where to get them?

Thanks in advance.
Brucey
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Re: Campagnolo bearings front wheel

Post by Brucey »

they will be 3/16 or 7/32 if it is a loose ball hub. If they need changing (they may not) you should get proper campag ones or the best available from a bearing factor. The ones you get in little bags in the LBS are usually not well-toleranced enough for campy hubs. A few LBS carry grade A balls, but not many. Campy ones are better than one micron tolerance for roundness and equal size IIRC.

When you reset the cones, be sure that the hub has a little play in it which just disappears when the QR is tightened. This will prevent overloading of the bearings and it will make them last far longer.

cheers
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Brucey~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
garygkn
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Joined: 16 Aug 2008, 8:59pm

Re: Campagnolo bearings front wheel

Post by garygkn »

Cheers.
I think I will get some new ones and if they are not needed this time I will have them for next time round.
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Mick F
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Re: Campagnolo bearings front wheel

Post by Mick F »

What front hub is it?

There are three types:
The old Campagnolo we know and love.
The new Campagnolo with oversized axle and body.
The new Campagnolo with cassette bearings.

The sort of hub you have will dictate the bearings. They are all completely different.

If you have the second sort, they are the best/easiest/most maintainable/easiest to adjust too! You do it with the QR tight.
Mick F. Cornwall
garygkn
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Re: Campagnolo bearings front wheel

Post by garygkn »

Hi Mick,
I have 8 speed Veloce.
The rear seems fine it's only the front that has a notchy feel.
Perhaps the grease has evaporated after some water ingress?
I am not sure?
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Mick F
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Re: Campagnolo bearings front wheel

Post by Mick F »

What year?

Veloce have come in all three sorts. From 1999 (I think) Campag went away from the old cup and cone you needed a cone spanner for except for Pista.

'99 onwards they brought out the oversized system with a ring you rotate to adjust the bearings, and some time later, the lower groups went to non-adjustable non-maintainable cassette bearings.

All three sorts of hubs are completely different.

The old sort had different sized balls front and rear. '99 onwards had identical front and rear.
Mick F. Cornwall
garygkn
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Re: Campagnolo bearings front wheel

Post by garygkn »

Not sure what I have.
I will retrieve them at the weekend.
I think they are cup and cone but not 100% sure.
Brucey
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Re: Campagnolo bearings front wheel

Post by Brucey »

IIRC 8-speed veloce will be cup and cone, adjust with locknuts in the traditional way, 3/16" balls.

If there is no play in the bearings with the QR undone, then the bearings may well be a little worn. If you want to 'feel' how the bearings are in use, tighten the QR over a pair of 10mm open ended spanners (in place of the dropouts) Or a small stack of M10 washers. I anticipate that you may be apalled by the binding and general horribleness that ensues. When the bearing adjustment is correct, the play should disappear just as the QR is tightened. In good condition and adjusted like this, your hub will probably never wear out.

cheers
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Brucey~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
garygkn
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Re: Campagnolo bearings front wheel

Post by garygkn »

Sounds good Brucey.
Perhaps they are just too tight?
I'll take them apart at the weekend and have a good inspection.
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Mick F
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Re: Campagnolo bearings front wheel

Post by Mick F »

Just checked. Brucey's right about Veloce.
It was Mirage 8sp that was cassette bearings.

If the bearing is feeling notchy and lumpy, it could easily be dried grease. Those bearings didn't have much in the way of seals. The Record version had an oil port under a clip, but Veloce didn't. I suppose you'd have to undo the cones a tad and drizzle some oil in there and see if that solves it.

If you do need new balls, I'd be tempted to fit new cones too. The cups lasted longer than the cones, but I found that the balls and cones wore together. Hopefully a little oil will solve it!
Mick F. Cornwall
PW
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Re: Campagnolo bearings front wheel

Post by PW »

The cup races last years. I've had 60,000 out of a set of Tipo hubs. The cones are the sacrificial bit because when a ball splits the flat edge grids them to bits. I think Mick will confirm that Mercian in Derby are the best source for spares.
If at first you don't succeed - cheat!!
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Mick F
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Re: Campagnolo bearings front wheel

Post by Mick F »

Yep, give Mercian a ring. 01332 752468
The cones and balls will be available.
http://www.merciancycles.co.uk/
Mick F. Cornwall
garygkn
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Re: Campagnolo bearings front wheel

Post by garygkn »

Thanks Mick.
Brucey
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Re: Campagnolo bearings front wheel

Post by Brucey »

BTW if you want to go mad, you can often upgrade to higher quality bearings.

e.g. it used to be the case that a Nuovo Tipo front hub could be converted (but not a rear) to Campagnolo 'Record' bearings throughout, by fitting Nuovo Record Cups, Cones and balls to the hub.

It may be possible to do the same thing now, but I don't know which models interchange these days. Mercian or some other Campagnolo supplier may know a route here. If your cups are worn, it may be worth thinking about.

cheers
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Brucey~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
garygkn
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Joined: 16 Aug 2008, 8:59pm

Re: Campagnolo bearings front wheel

Post by garygkn »

Food for thought, for sure.
Many thanks.
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