A few years back I got extremely lucky and bought a 90's GT Karakoram for $100 that had a wheel set with these hubs laced to Mavic M 231 CD rims. I eventually sold the bike and kept the wheel set. I disassembled the wheel set and I am hoping to build a new set with these.
The hubs are both 32H TI Front and Ti Cassette from 1994-2001 and 1992-1995 respectively, confirmed by White Industries, and they also told me that the freehub body is not available from them and I would need to purchase a used, good condition replacement if needed, but I am not concerned with the cassette wear on the freehub. I have already replaced all 4 bearings on the rear hub, purchased from WI, and I have more on the way for the front, and I also managed to find replacement pawl springs as the old (I'm assuming original) springs were very worn out.
My concern is the age of these hubs, as they are the first hubs they ever manufactured, as well as is the gouges that can be seen in the hub flanges from the spokes. I have built 6 wheelsets myself, including one with modern White Industries hubs, but previously I have only used new hubs. Should I be concerned with the damage in the flanges on both of these hubs, considering they are 30+ year old aluminum/titanium? Or would you send it and build a wheel set with these? I am planning on only using them for commuting and light gravel riding on a 1995 Trek 970.
Edit: Bonus question, if anyone knows of a good reliable way to polish the hub shells without damaging them I would love to hear it.
by carlew
3 Comments
Full send. Those are gorgeous.
Agreed on the full send.
W/r/t polishing, you’ll want some kind of polishing paste; I’ve had good experiences with Mother’s Mag & Aluminum.
Feel free to pass em along brother!