>"Never try to remove the non-driveside labyrinth seals on a
>Maxi-Car. They only come out with the axle. Unlike a "standard"
>hub, these can be disassembled only from the non-driveside."
>
>Did you mean never try to remove "drive side" seals?
YES. My typo. I am very sorry. Two typos in a day! Maybe I should
hire a proofreader before posting stuff to the list...
>The non drive seals, if I've identified them correctly, just slipped
>off the axle. By seals I am refering to the three washers: The large
>one against the bearing with an internal diameter that fits the
>bowl-shaped bulge of the second washer that has an internal diameter
>that fits the axle. The last washer's outside diameter fits in the
>bowl of the second. So three washers have a height of two, pretty
>much.
Yes, a classic labyrinth seal. The main reason why these hubs last so long (apart from the oversize axles, of course, and the superior bearings). Also a reason why they were so expensive, and still didn't turn a profit.
When you disassemble the hubs, be very careful not to distort the "washers." New ones of the bowl-shaped type aren't available, and you won't be able to bend them back perfectly. And distorted washers mean friction where there should be none!
Also, to get the drive-side bearing off the axle, you have to sacrifice the washers there. And new ones aren't available... So try to rescue that bearing. Usually, cleaning and regreasing solves the problem - our PBP tandem has a very well-used 1946 or so Maxi-Car rear hub with bearings that have seen many miles (a slight groove has appeared on the races), but still spins smooth.
--
Jan Heine, Seattle
Editor/Publisher
Vintage Bicycle Quarterly
http://www.mindspring.com/