How do I remove hub from wheel without damaging the spokes on a 1926? The taper is messed up. Looks like it ran off the axle at some point and the threads eat away the back of the taper real bad. Is their a easier way to fix it other than replacing it? I got the bolts out and the outer cover off.
When the spokes are installed in a wheel they are pressed into place after they are set up like an inverted funnel. Think of a teepee. So I would think if you would set the rim or felloe of the wheel up on blocks in at least four places so as to have enough travel for the hub to come out the reverse way it went in, it would not be a hard job to get done.
I don't quite know what you are referring to in regard to the taper.
Herb
I gather this is for your coupe. If the hub does need to be replaced, it should be easy to find one. I think the 1926 hub for rear wood wheels is the same as earlier hubs. But maybe you don't need to replace it. Why not post a picture or two showing its condition?
I can move the wheel side to side 2" when it is on tight. The spokes seem to be glued in to hub or maybe its the varnish that's holding it together. I tried hitting the hub from front side with a 5 pound hammer and it didn't break loose.
OK I got the hub out by putting front of hub on 2x4 and driving on each spoke with another 2x4 on back side a little at a time.
Another way to do that is to put the wheel spokes horzontally on a vertically mounted 8-inch (about) pipe, on the floor, which supports all the spokes without letting them "lock" on the the hub, and driving the hub out with a heavy rubber mallet. It is my perception the spokes should receive almost all of their support by meeting on the shoulders of the spokes and there should be little or no pressure of the spoke heel against the hub. This helps prevent the spokes from coming loose with use.
If you try to reverse the spoke insertion process from a tented configuration by pushing the inserted spokes back into a tent shape, you are virtually guaranteed of damaging (breaking off, even) some of the dowell portions which go through the felloe. Don't ask me how I know that.
Steve Boyd