Q for BenG? Holes in hub?

Why does the front hub have a ring of holes, each with 1/4" threaded holes at outer and inner edge? The rest of the running gear appears to be 1957 99 (yes, I know the engine and the tank are not).

Other people's hubs don't have these holes. Are they a remnant of some Deluxe embellishment? Or has some loony owner put little scoops on it to cool the brake?

My 1960 Slimline Maxaman has the same holes in the front brake, they were to keep the brakes cool , don't think it was done when the bike was made, but my Slimline was set up for racing and it was done to keep the single leading brakes cool.

I am running a 1957 Wideline Featherbed with my 850 gear, I see in your pic you have the featherbed dual seat, I found this seat very uncomfortable, I ended up putting a Commando Interstate seat on, it fits geart you just got to change the lugs and is very comfortable on long runs, I have 2 Interstate seats 1 for dual riding the other is a solo seat.

Ashley

The unfortunate thing about the holes is they cause the brake to become become water cooled sometimes.

If you look at the top of the seat in the pic, you'll see the outline of the holes I punched in the foam filling, to make it squash down when sat on.

Some of the sportier BSA (and Velocette ?) models had holes in the front drum like that - that were then plugged with rubber bungs !

Maybe on fast runs on sunny days you removed the bungs ?
And refitted them when it rained ?!

Don't shoot me, I'm only the messenger. !
And wasn't there...

It certainly is nothing I ever saw the factory do. You could probably buy another front hub with none of those holes in it for an hours wages though...

beng said:

It certainly is nothing I ever saw the factory do. You could probably buy another front hub with none of those holes in it for an hours wages though...

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I've got one! At least one with the earlier separate iron drum inside.

But I'd have to lace a wheel to use it.

I hadn't actually thought of getting neat rubber plugs, unti I got the replies here. Think I'll do that and put screws into the threaded holes. Or even alloy grub screws Loctited in. That would be quite discreet.

Triton Thrasher said:

beng said:

It certainly is nothing I ever saw the factory do. You could probably buy another front hub with none of those holes in it for an hours wages though...

Click to expand...

I've got one! At least one with the earlier separate iron drum inside.

Click to expand...

I've got one too, it's a hybrid iron/alloy drum that I bought on flea bay for 15 quid. Although I've no idea if it left the factory like that.

Webby

Norton came out with the full width hub for the 1955 model year. For a few years they were half iron, half alloy, then they phased in all alloy sometime in 1957.

The early iron ones might hold their shape a bit better when they get hot, but of course they are heavier and might not cool off as fast once they do get hot. Choose your poison....

The Norton full width hub is a really easy hub to lace up. I did one a few months ago on the kitchen table. Make some blocks up the right thickness to space the rim off the table so it is centered on the hub sideways, then get a ruler and center it up radially. Lay your spokes all in position and put the top row in first, then the bottom row and screw the nipples on until they just all touch the rim, then you can go all around and tighten them up turning them each the a flat or two until you have the tension you want. Of course all the time you are stopping here and there to double check things stay concentric radially with a nice machinists rule. You can finish up by checking with a dial gauge on a truing stand, or just put the bare wheel on your bike and give it a spin with a pointer or dial gauge. If you are careful and take your time the wheel will need little to no adjustment at all before use.

Beyond the drilled hub faces, you get to even further embellishments like the "bacon slicers" which have no positive purpose that can be quantified.

grandpaul said:

Beyond the drilled hub faces, you get to even further embellishments like the "bacon slicers" which have no positive purpose that can be quantified.

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The spoke flanges on the hub are drilled, as if for bacon slicers.

All a bit of a mess, really- but I'm reluctant to change it. It's a very good brake.