It seems at some time in its live my 7" front hub was modified – instead of the spindle, spindle sleeve, spacers etc of the 7" hub with steel backplate (upper diagram), it has the spindle and sleeve of the later 8" hub (lower diagram). At first I thought I might actually have a 8" hub, but measuring, it is indeed a 7" one. The drum has a diameter of about 178mm or 7".
Has anyone seen something like this? Was this a combination I am not aware of or likely to be a modification done at some time during the bike's life?
Cheers
Gui
The 7 inch hub normally has a left hand threaded spindle that pulls out much like the 8 inch. The spindle is thinner on the nearside with a sleeve in the fork leg. The offside leg has a lug welded to it for the cable adjuster. Both legs can be used fo fit an 8 inch brake. Remove the sleeve to fit the 8 inch spindle.
The later 7 inch half width hub, on the C25 B44 models from 1967 and the WDB40 used the same type of 7 inch half width hub but with a different spindle assembly. Yours may be this type. Below from the 1967 B44 parts book.
Quote from: JulianS on 19 Jan, 2022, 10:08
The later 7 inch half width hub, on the C25 B44 models from 1967 and the WDB40 used the same type of 7 inch half width hub but with a different spindle assembly. Yours may be this type. Below from the 1967 B44 parts book.
Julian, that seems to be indeed what I have.
Idie, my offside fork does have the welded lug. And interestingly the bearing lock ring on the offside is not a LH thread, which it should be on the 7" hub.