MTFCA Forum

Hello, I was hoping to get some advice on a wire wheel hub that has a crack on the outer bearing surface. I'm concerned on the pressure
on this surface when the bearings are tightened. My question is, has anyone tried to weld the crack closed.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Steve

I have sent you a PM

I have welded a similar crack with my wire welder. I left the bearing race in place when I made the weld. I have not run the hub. I think silver brazing a thin steel sleeve on the outside of the hub would be a good idea.

I was thinking of cutting a V groove into the crack and filling it with weld. Then grind the weld back to original shape.
I would put a liner inside to protect the side from weld splatter so not to interfere with inserting the bearings later.
Seems like an easy job if I had a mill.
My question is. Is it worth the trouble and is it safe?

Usually if the question arises about ''is it safe''....it isn't. Don't risk your ride and others safety for a $100.00 part. IMHO

Hector, the bearings are never 'tight'. The cups need to be a firm slide fit. The inner cone slides on over the spindle and the outer is threaded on. Nothing is 'tight'. The outer end of wire wheel hubs is rather thin, and it is not uncommon to find similarly cracked hubs like yours. I have found similar cracks braze welded, and even parts of a wood wheel hub grafted on. As posted, this is a safety item. I would never use a welded front hub

Allan from down under.

Hector, the bearings in a front hub are never 'tight'. The two cups are neat drive in fit. The inner cone slides onto the spindle. The outer cone is threaded on until almost all play is taken up. They should never be 'tight'. The crack you have found is quite common on wire wheel hubs. They are quite thin at that point. While welding can be done, sometimes satisfactorily, you are riding on a compromised part. The only welded hub I have ever used is the one on a spindle I use to rotate wire wheels when painting them.

Play it safe.
Allan from down under.

I say fix it. Weld it up and if needed put it a lathe and re cut it. Nothing to technical here. Of course if one is readily available I would grab it.

Thank you all for your input.
I have read all and appreciate your concern and advice. My main concern is safety for my family and others.
I have purchased three of these hubs and only one was usable. It worries me to have a compromised part on my front axle.
I will keep looking for another spindle.
Thanks to you all

From above: " bearings are never 'tight'. The cups need to be a firm slide fit".

Take it for what it's worth, but bearing cups in wheel hubs should never be a slide fit- light press fit yes, slide fit-no. Others may disagree, but this really is bad advice. I'm sure it would be ok for a wheel barrow hub, but not on a front hub on an automobile, or any other place where the load is substantial.

Dan, you are correct about the fit of the cups. i could not edit the first post and corrected the advice in the second. Because the wire wheel hubs are thin where the outer cup goes, they are often stressed so that the outer cup is just a slide in fit. They need to be carefully inspected and a trial fit done to really be safe.

Allan from down under.