Converting hubs from cup/cone to cartridge

General Help
1

I haven’t given this a lot of thought yet, so before I go about pulling my hubs apart and attacking them with the verniers I was wondering if anyone has converted hubs from cup and cone to cartridge bearings and if it is even possible. I guess if the hub inside diameter is the right width and and depth, all that is needed is two cartridges and perhaps a new axle.

I’m quite sure I’ve heard of this before but google has ‘no dice’.

This post on BF has a similar idea - the cartridge fits the hub.

P.S. I was servicing a cartridge bearing hub last week which didn’t have a stepped axle, bearings were stuck hard and I don’t have a bearing puller. When used carefully, good old dyna bolts make excellent ‘bearing pullers’. Tap the end into the bearing, tighten nut and tap out from the other side using the axle.

2

Have used a dyna bolt as a bearing puller on a few things other than bikes.

3

That’s a great tip!

But I think in almost every case it wouldn’t be worth the effort of converting from cup and cone to cartridge, given the fairly wide range of hubs available.

4

I don’t understand. Do you mean no point converting because I can get good cartridge bearing hubs? If it works it’ll only cost $10 for the bearings, then I’ll have another wheelset I can run carelessly on the street.

5

Yeah pretty much.

But first of all, I’ve never attempted it so I don’t know shit. But I find it hard to believe that it’s likely to be simple and effective.

My only experience is seeing the innards of the cup and cone hubs I’ve had over the years and it doesn’t look simple to me.

And I’m guessing the original cups are buggered so it’s convert or throw away?

6

^
There may be enough room to put bearings in without modification. Some hubs can have the races removed.

At this point best to stop speculating, go home and get my hands dirty. Given the lack of google hits I’m guessing it doesn’t work easily though.

7

  1. Cartridge bearings will require removing the cups, then machining in a rebate to fit the outer race, there may not be enough material present in the hub shell for this.

  2. New axle required, either with a stepped section that matches the inner race, or a “cone” that matches it.

  3. Bearing size will be smaller due to extra races, reduces performance.

Good luck, but I doubt this will work, better to buy a new hub if you’re desperate for cartridge bearings.