How to measure the distance from the outsides of your wheel

[Sandblaster]

How to measure the distance from the outsides of your wheel bearings.
Some people really struggle with this so here is how we do it.
In this example I will use a hub but the application is exactly the same as doing a wheel.
I will show you two methods, one using a veneer caliper and the other using a screwdriver and a tape measure.
In the first example with the veneer caliper you will need a quarter or some other small piece of metal that will cover the bearing.

DSCN8424.jpg (96.65 KiB) Viewed 6992 times

Place the quarter on the bearing of either side of the hub.
Make sure that the quarter is not riding up on the edge of the seal.
The quarter must be flat to the bearing face.

DSCN8425.jpg (88.56 KiB) Viewed 6992 times

At this point, get your veneer caliper out and make sure that the jaws are clean and then zero it out.

DSCN8426.jpg (92.64 KiB) Viewed 6992 times

Notice that when you pull the jaws apart a small thin piece of metal coming out the bottom caliper.
We call it a stinger. (Who know what the technical term is).

DSCN8427.jpg (105.13 KiB) Viewed 6992 times

While holding the quarter against the bearing, flip the hub over.
Don't let go of the quarter.

DSCN8428.jpg (93.65 KiB) Viewed 6992 times

Keep holding the quarter and don't let it slip.

DSCN8429.jpg (82.99 KiB) Viewed 6992 times

While holding the quarter insert the stinger at the opposite end and down the center of the hub until the stinger touches the quarter.
You want to keep inserting the caliper until the bottom of the caliper touches the bearing face at the opposite end of the hub from the quarter.
Practice as you may have to do it a few times until you get the hang of it.

DSCN8432.jpg (79.49 KiB) Viewed 6992 times

Then, carefully pull the caliper out and read it.
As you can see, the outside to the outside of the bearing measures 67.8MM.
To convert that to inches, take 67.8 and multiply it by .03937.
If you do it right you will get 2.669".
Of course if you are using veneer calipers you can push the in/mm button and it will convert it for you

DSCN8433.jpg (94.62 KiB) Viewed 6992 times

But let's say that you don't have a caliper to measure.
You can use a screwdriver and a tape measure.
Start with the quarter and hold it flat against the bearing face.

DSCN8434.jpg (86.98 KiB) Viewed 6992 times

Then, holding the quarter in place, flip the hub over.
Once you get the hub flipped over, take the screwdriver, coat hanger wire, welding rod, whatever and insert it down the center of the hub until it touches on the quarter.
At this point you need to either mark the screwdriver at the point where it touches the bearing face opposite of the quarter or you need to hold the place on the screwdriver with your finger.

DSCN8435.jpg (75 KiB) Viewed 6992 times

In this example I used the finger holding method

DSCN8436.jpg (69.6 KiB) Viewed 6992 times

Take the screwdriver and place it by your tape measure and see how long it is.

DSCN8437.jpg (93.09 KiB) Viewed 6992 times

It's hard to tell from the picture but it measures about 2 21/32" or 2.656".
To convert that to mm take 2.656 and divide by .03937 = 67.47" which is close enough for what we are doing.

So there you have it.
Now you can go to our interchange information on our website and see what hubs will work on your bike.
You can find our interchange info here:
http://www.oem-cycle.com/BikeIdentification.shtml

I hope you find this useful.
Thanks!
Sandblaster