Campagnolo Gran Sport hubs (1950s)

[christripledot]

Hello,

I've just picked up a pair of NOS Gran Sport high-flange hubs. These are the ones with the 3-piece shells, from the old 1950s/60s Gran Sport line, not the '70s Nuovo Gran Sport era.

Anyway, I've sourced a set of axles and cones, and prior to getting them built into wheels, I started to polish the shells. While doing the rear shell, I inadvertantly loosened the drive side flange. It started to spin freely on the barrel. A bit worried, I tried turning it the other way to try and tighten it back up... no dice. It just spins freely (well, with some friction - it's a tight fit) on the barrel. A bit more experimentation and I found it is just a push-fit: I can get the flange on and off with my bare hands.

I don't think anything's broken exactly, but I've a feeling it shouldn't be this loose. Plus, I have no idea how to orient the flange correctly in relation to the non-drive side flange to allow correct spoking.

I'm not a wheelbuilder, so I don't know if this is going to be a problem or not. Has anyone else experienced this (3-piece hub shells coming apart), and is there a fix if necessary? I'd hate it if the hub was toast; it's for a period-correct build...

Thanks for looking,
Chris

 

[Citoyen du monde]

When you build the hub up, the two flanges should be out of synch which means that the holes in one flange should fall between those on the other flange. When you tighten the spokes up the "loose" flange will tighten up and will not be loose so there will not be any problems in use.

 

[christripledot]

That is exactly what I wanted to hear, thank you!

Would it be worth putting a bit of locktite inside contact surface between flange and barrel, immediately before the build?

 

[Citoyen du monde]

That is exactly what I wanted to hear, thank you!

Would it be worth putting a bit of locktite inside contact surface between flange and barrel, immediately before the build?

I wouldn't. You could do what you want.

 

[christripledot]

OK, I'll defer to your better judgment and leave it as is. Thanks again for your advice; it's greatly appreciated!