Wheel Hub Dust Cover Retention

Paul Spencer · Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2016 3:41 pm Post subject: Wheel Hub Dust Cover Retention

I have often seen people using large rubber bands to prevent these unscrewing. Are these made or bought? How do I get some? I have just bought nice old cast (or are they milled from solid - I'm not sure?) covers on eBay to replace the three of mine that are pressed steel, and I don't want to lose them.

Chris Card · Guest

Paul - I believe it is only the nearside ones that unscrew, due to the direction of rotation. I've put mine on with a bit of gasket gue in the threads and they have not come loose - so far! They can, also, still be undone when required.

Chris

Steve Welton · Joined: 17 Oct 2013 Posts: 105

Surely rubber bands are old inner tubes cut across.......... they are in my world!

Robert Craven · Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2016 8:13 pm Post subject:

Paul, I put in some bids for those, but didn't actually need them so stopped well short of you.
In the past I've certainly been told that the rubber bands can be cut from old inner tubes and after losing a hub cap thought of doing it myself. It looks rather "racy" I think. I think normal rubber bands would eventually perish.
The Technical Facts mentions using a grub screw, but I've never quite understood what it means.

John Murch · Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2016 9:05 pm Post subject:

Having lost two hub grease caps in the past, I use rubber bands cut from old inner tubes.
My last replacement cap was bought from the spares scheme, the thread was very tight and it is a bit oversized so that the spinner will not pass it when changing a wheel. Also my spanner is too small to get it indone... Growl....
Chris you must be correct - the caps have not got handed threads and it was nearside front that I lost.

Paul Spencer · Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2016 9:34 pm Post subject:

Thanks guys. I thought they might be cut from inner tube, but I was not sure if they would be Bentley size tubes or something like motorcycle tubes. I recently destroyed an inner tube when it punctured and ripped the valve off - I should have got it back from the tyre place.

John Murch · Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2016 4:29 am Post subject:

Paul, I think the tube I used was an old mountain bike one, cut on the diagonal, when fitting the resulting elastic band, it is at the limit of its stretch. So a motor cycle one cut straight across would be better.
John

E J Grimwade · Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2016 5:14 pm Post subject:

I use a strip of any old thick inner tube, if it's too big just to cut a section, cut a flat length and knot it to size, then you just tuck the knot behind one of the ears on the spinners. It helps to tie the knot under stretch if you can, it takes a couple of trial attempts.
My first set lasted about 8 years then perished. I've never lost a cap but then I've always had bands on.

E J Grimwade · Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2016 5:16 pm Post subject:

I use a strip of any old thick inner tube, if it's too big just to cut a loop make a flat length and knot it to size, then you just tuck the knot behind one of the ears on the spinners. It helps to tie the knot under stretch if you can, it takes a couple of trial attempts.
My first set lasted about 8 years then perished. I've never lost a cap but then I've always had bands on.