true story , my front wheel cones

[mimitabby]

You would not believe the crazy things I do sometimes.
I wanted my wheel fixed so I took it to a very clever mechanic in Burien. He's old and wise, and he doesn't charge a lot like the fancy shop downtown.
He happily accepted the job, but when he took the wheel apart, he discovered it needed new cones which he doesn't have in stock
and he didn't want to order just that part because it would be
expensive to special order.
So he called me and told me to come get the old part and take it somewhere else where THEY could order it because they work on that kind of bike (note to self, next time, take it to someone who works on that kind of bike) so I
drove back to Burien and picked up the part and then, hours before the big
storm hit last thursday, i drove the bad parts to the bike shop
which is downtown (and expensive) that works on Bianchi bikes. THe mechanic looked at the stupid things, couldn't find them in his catalog and made a bunch of long distance calls and finally ordered the part using the process of elimination. he said it should be in around christmas. nope, I wasn't going downtown CHristmas week, i'm not crazy!

I called there today, and asked if my parts were in. whoever answered
said, we have some of these cones, can you bring your old ones so we can see if it's the right ones? I started to get upset about that because I
already brought them the old ones once before and didn't want to face the prospect of yet another wasted trip downtown and paying for parking, etc.
So I went in when he told me they LOOKED like they were the ones that
were just ordered and they were for a front wheel, so they were probably mine. So I headed downtown, paid for parking again, and went into the shop (and looked at Bianchis, Rivendells and other cool bikes)
The guy looked and looked at my old parts. They didn't match the new ones, or any of the ones in stock. (SIGH) great, MY bike has alien parts maybe from the planet neptune. Finally the guy says; wait, these aren't Campagnolo parts, they are Shimano.

(then what were they doing in a Campagnolo wheel? : answer: breaking
because they didn't fit!)
So the guy downtown said EVERYTHING in that wheel has to be replaced
now, not just these little cones. SO he gave me a bunch of washers
and a new axle and even some steel ball bearings all in a little cute bag.
CHING CHING (cash register noise) I"ll have you know each ball bearing
cost me ten cents!
Unfortunately, the other parts cost more than that. He pointed out that every single Campagnolo part has its name inscribed on it "Campi" or Campagnolo. even the little cones, even the little axle. I was very impressed.

SO next I drove back to Burien and gave the original wise & Experiened
mechanic the little bag. TOMORROW i have to go back there, but my
wheel will be done.
Next time, skip the experienced & wise mechanic in Burien and just go with the guys downtown. I would have paid less for parking.

[kelownagirl]

Aaaahhhhhh!

I'm amazed that you put this under "humor". What a patient woman you are!

[mimitabby]

squawk! I'm not patient at all!!!!
I am learning the ropes.

[DebW]

The guy looked and looked at my old parts. They didn't match the new ones, or any of the ones in stock. (SIGH) great, MY bike has alien parts maybe from the planet neptune. Finally the guy says; wait, these aren't Campagnolo parts, they are Shimano.

(then what were they doing in a Campagnolo wheel? : answer: breaking
because they didn't fit!)
So the guy downtown said EVERYTHING in that wheel has to be replaced
now, not just these little cones. SO he gave me a bunch of washers
and a new axle and even some steel ball bearings all in a little cute bag.
CHING CHING (cash register noise) I"ll have you know each ball bearing
cost me ten cents!
Unfortunately, the other parts cost more than that. He pointed out that every single Campagnolo part has its name inscribed on it "Campi" or Campagnolo. even the little cones, even the little axle. I was very impressed.

And they always say "Brev." or "Patent" too. Campy must patent every cup, cone, and locknut. In 1975, a ball bearing only cost $0.02. A spoke cost $0.10.

A Shimano cone wouldn't fit on a Campy axle, so someone replaced the axle so they could use the wrong cones. Sheesh. Did you get 3/16 inch or 7/32 inch bearings? Record hubs always took 7/32 in both front and rear hubs, but just about every other hub takes 3/16 in the front and 1/4 in the rear. Just wondering what Campy used on your Veloce hubs.

I hope your hub saga is finally at an end. And you will be joyfully riding your Bianchi with both it's wheels very soon.

[mimitabby]

And they always say "Brev." or "Patent" too. Campy must patent every cup, cone, and locknut. In 1975, a ball bearing only cost $0.02. A spoke cost $0.10.

A Shimano cone wouldn't fit on a Campy axle, so someone replaced the axle so they could use the wrong cones. Sheesh. Did you get 3/16 inch or 7/32 inch bearings? Record hubs always took 7/32 in both front and rear hubs, but just about every other hub takes 3/16 in the front and 1/4 in the rear. Just wondering what Campy used on your Veloce hubs.

I hope your hub saga is finally at an end. And you will be joyfully riding your Bianchi with both it's wheels very soon.

The guy at the Bike shop said something like they NEVER sold axles, there was no price for them on the price list!
I didn't measure the ball bearings, but they looked more like 3/16 to me.
remember, it's the front. I am hoping this saga is at an end too. I was hoping you'd see this post because you were the most helpful person of all.

[DebW]

The guy at the Bike shop said something like they NEVER sold axles, there was no price for them on the price list!
I didn't measure the ball bearings, but they looked more like 3/16 to me.
remember, it's the front. I am hoping this saga is at an end too. I was hoping you'd see this post because you were the most helpful person of all.

Can't recall ever needing to replace a front axle. But rear ones used to bend pretty easily on freewheel hubs, so they were big sellers.