rec.sport.unicycling · Public discussion

Eight spline KH style hub

showard · 2004-06-14T05:10:19+00:00

Of the various kinds of unicycle hubs that are now available I like the KH 8 spline the best. The way the cranks attach with a pinch bolt makes a lot of sense to me. For a long time I've had an idea for an 8 splined KH style hub that I wanted to build. I'm finally caught up enough with all the things in my life besides unicycles that I had a chance to work on two of them this weekend. This design isn't original - it's similar to the Muniac's "Drastic Lightfoot" hub in that aluminum flanges press on to the axle. In this design, the flanges press on to the axle over top of the same 8 splines that the cranks attach to. I machined the splines in the axle long enough to make it happen. This results in the bearings riding on the splines as well but I don't think it's a problem. I should also say that I remember Kris Holm describing a hub similar to this. Like they say: "a picture is worth 1000 words" so I've created a gallery and taken photos of the hubs in various stages of construction. The gallery is located here: http://gallery.unicyclist.com/KH_style_hub Some time ago I bought several "drive side" Shimano bike cranks - cheap. Today I converted a couple of them to 8 spline just as a test ... I don't think they'll work very well since there's not enough material for a proper pinch bolt but I wanted to try my 8 spline broach to see how well it works. My plan is to convert a set of Kooka cranks to the pinch 8 spline style. Also, I've ordered a pair of actual KH cranks to try with the hub. I don't have a picture yet but this evening I laced up one of the hubs with an Alex DX32 rim. Looks pretty good but I've had things that look good fail miserably! Steve Howard +----------------------------------------------------------------+ | Attachment filename: khk small.jpg | |Download attachment: http://www.unicyclist.com/attachment/216574| +----------------------------------------------------------------+ -- showard - ------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ showard's Profile: http://www.unicyclist.com/profile/452 View this thread: http://www.unicyclist.com/thread/33167

Started by showard · 14 June 2004 · Last activity 16 June 2004 · 11 posts · 571 views

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01 / Original postEight spline KH style hubshoward · 14 Jun 2004 02 / This pagePosts 1–11Page 1 of 1 · chronological order 03 / Latest replyPost #11doofe · 16 Jun 2004

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Original section: rec.sport.unicycling
Published: 14 June 2004
Last activity: 16 June 2004
Original author: showard
Posts: 11
Discussion status: Public discussion
Total views: 571
Views / 30 days: 0
Topics: Disc brakes Spoke tension Wheel building

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Original post
showard
Archived post

14 June 2004, 05:10 UTC #1

Of the various kinds of unicycle hubs that are now available I like the
KH 8 spline the best. The way the cranks attach with a pinch bolt makes
a lot of sense to me.
For a long time I've had an idea for an 8 splined KH style hub that I
wanted to build. I'm finally caught up enough with all the things in my
life besides unicycles that I had a chance to work on two of them this
weekend.
This design isn't original - it's similar to the Muniac's "Drastic
Lightfoot" hub in that aluminum flanges press on to the axle. In this
design, the flanges press on to the axle over top of the same 8 splines
that the cranks attach to. I machined the splines in the axle long
enough to make it happen. This results in the bearings riding on the
splines as well but I don't think it's a problem. I should also say
that I remember Kris Holm describing a hub similar to this.
Like they say: "a picture is worth 1000 words" so I've created a gallery
and taken photos of the hubs in various stages of construction. The
gallery is located here:
http://gallery.unicyclist.com/KH_style_hub
Some time ago I bought several "drive side" Shimano bike cranks - cheap.
Today I converted a couple of them to 8 spline just as a test ... I
don't think they'll work very well since there's not enough material for
a proper pinch bolt but I wanted to try my 8 spline broach to see how
well it works. My plan is to convert a set of Kooka cranks to the pinch
8 spline style. Also, I've ordered a pair of actual KH cranks to try
with the hub.
I don't have a picture yet but this evening I laced up one of the hubs
with an Alex DX32 rim. Looks pretty good but I've had things that look
good fail miserably!
Steve Howard
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| Attachment filename: khk small.jpg |
|Download attachment: http://www.unicyclist.com/attachment/216574|
+----------------------------------------------------------------+
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TheObieOne3226
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14 June 2004, 05:21 UTC #2

That looks great. I really like the idea with the removeable flanges. I
assume they are simply held on with spacers and spoke tension and no
adhesive.
Anyways keep up the good work and good luck.
--
TheObieOne3226 - Extreme Halfb*ker
Yeah. Shut up kid!
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elmer
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14 June 2004, 05:27 UTC #3

Hi, Steve!
This looks intriguing! It would appear to be quite a solid connection
to the wheel once laced up. I too like the pinch-bolt style of crank.
How about titanium? Good work, and good luck with development! Dan
--
elmer - uniimpaired
"At 40 life begins...to show."
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gbarnes
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14 June 2004, 05:53 UTC #4

*drool*
Nice work, Steve.
Do you anticipate problems with the flanges being square and not angled
in? Angling the flanges obviously complicates machining.
--
gbarnes - www.gb4mfg.com
George C. Barnes IV
GB4 Manufacturing, L.L.C.
http://www.gb4mfg.com/
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GizmoDuck
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14 June 2004, 10:18 UTC #5

Wow Steve,
That is BEEAUUTIFULLL!!!!
I like the removable flanges. Perhaps it means you can machine an
extra/upgrade flange that will allow a disc brake to bolt onto? (*hint*)
:p
Ken
--
GizmoDuck - New Zealands fastest unicyclist
o-kO
"Give a man dead fish, and he feed himself for lunch, teach man to catch
fish, and he feed himself for life. Teach man to wheel ride, and he
make friends everywhere, and even have lunch at their place."
Ancient Chinese saying
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daino149
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14 June 2004, 10:34 UTC #6

People seem to like the removable flanges. I just like that they look
like flowers 😄
Awesome job. I hope they work as well as they look.
Daniel
--
daino149 - How's it going, Texas?
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Bugman - if you are a little left of them, it would seem like they are
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showard
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15 June 2004, 04:49 UTC #7

I have one of the new hubs assembled and swapped out with my current
hub/crank setup. For over a year my MUni setup has been a home made
Profile type 48 spline hub with 170mm GT branded Profile cranks. This
setup has been just fine with the exception of some slight looseness in
one crank if I don't tighten the retaining bolts before riding. A
problem not unlike other Profile hubs seem to have. The first thing I
noticed about the new hub and cranks was the lighter weight ...
probably due to the aluminum Shimano cranks more than anything.
This evening I did several 1 foot drops plus a couple 2 footers and
nothing broke! Everything seems solid - even the lame Shimano cranks so
I'll just ride it now and see what happens.
The flanges on this new hub are removable but I'm sure it would require
a press since I pressed them on using Loctite. I didn't intend on them
coming off again but maybe that's not a bad idea? I definately plan on
making a hub with a disc brake mount as Ken suggested. I think it will
be a wide one for a Coker. A titanium axle is a definite possibility
too.
Like GB said, the flanges are square - not tappered in. I don't know if
that's an issue or not but I've noticed that all my aluminum bike hubs
are square too. The spokes seem to just wear into the aluminum where
they contact the outer diameter of the flange. Oddly enough, the
scalloping on the outside diameter of these flanges improve the way the
spokes lay (see a photo I just added to the gallery) against them. I
wish I could say that the scallops are a design feature but in reality
they were put there just to be different. But I'll take an "accidental"
design feature any day!
SH
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john_childs
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15 June 2004, 06:04 UTC #8

Nice! I like the way it looks laced up. Those scallops are
brilliant.
Did you weigh the hub before putting the cranks on and building the
wheel? It certainly has less material than the KH or Profile because
the aluminum hub body is trimmed down to a minimum so the weight should
be less.
--
john_childs - Guinness Mojo
john_childs (at) hotmail (dot) com
Gallery: '' (http://www.unicyclist.com/gallery/john_childs)
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showard
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16 June 2004, 04:43 UTC #9

I weighed the bare hub at 404 grams ... or .89 pounds. That's not
including bearings or retaining bolts.
A new set of KH cranks came in the mail today. I was relieved to find
that the KH cranks fit on the hub perfectly. The hub and nice new shiny
black KH cranks look good together. The cranks are the old style with
"nubs" - but not for long.
My next task (after de-nubbing the KH cranks) is modifying a pair of
Kooka cranks to the 8 spline setup.
SH
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vivalargo
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16 June 2004, 04:55 UTC #10

Looks more like fine art than machine work. Gorgeous. If you ever get
them to where you like them, you've got a sale.
JL
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vivalargo
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doofe
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16 June 2004, 05:19 UTC #11

If you ever need someone to test out the other hub, gimme a set of
cranks, and lace it up. I will be more than happy to abuse the hell out
of them. Im a REALLY sketchy rider, and I would really put those things
to the test. Im not saying this so much as an offhand comment, but more
of a concrete offer. and if they hold up after awhile, I would gladly
pay ALOT for them. but seriously, I will test the hub for you. you need
someone who lands like an elephant, not a smooth rider who lands
everything perfect.
--
doofe - I put the "F U!" in FUn!
Death Metal + Punk + Hardcore + Funky facial hair + One wheel = Doofe
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