Front Pressed Steel Hub, I'm confused!

[Steven.Carter]

My W/NG has a pressed steel front hub with steel shoes, but I was wondering, is this correct for a 1940 bike? My mate Alan has a late 1944 with a cast hub with alloy shoes. Should we swap?

Thanks. Steve

[Paul Slootheer]

Hello Steven,
My W/NG is from 1940... Will take a look and make some pictures so you can compare.
Regards, Paul

[Steven.Carter]

Cheers Paul, I'm thinking that yours will be a cast hub.
Steve

[Paul Slootheer]

Draganfly mention sheet metal hubs and cast iron ones. This is what they say about this:
In early 1941 the brake drum material was changed to cast iron from sheet steel and early in 1942 the steel brake shoes were substituted for the light alloy ones, so that more Spitfires could be produced.
I did some furher ''research'' (website Andy Tiernan > sold bikes) to find out that all of his bikes which are dated from somewhere in 1940 did have cast iron hubs.
Steven I think it's important to find out by the contract sheets if your machine is a early or late 1940 machine or even early 1941 one.
These are pictures are from my W/NG front hub. The frame number fits in the sequence between november 1940 and march 1941.

[Steven.Carter]

Paul
I'm seeing my mate Alan tonight, I'll show him your pictures and see what he thinks.
Steve

[nevhunter]

I have a steel hub. It came with alloy shoes, and front speedo drive. The backplate is slightly different as are the drive gears for the speedo.. Wheel bearings and axle the same as is drum diameter. Any comments? Nev

[Steven.Carter]

Thanks Paul, Nev.

Myself and my mate Alan were convinced that we had each others front wheel, so that a simple swap would mean then we'd have the correct hubs. Your front hub Paul is a pressed steel hub and yours is an early one like my bike so it seems we should stay as we were.
Funny thing is he'd already started the swap and fixed a couple of problems I had with my brake plate. So I'm not complaining.

I suppose we'd allowed ourselves to be confused by later bikes having pressed steel primary and timing cases so consequently thought it should have pressed steel hubs as well.
Just goes to show, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing

I've a couple of minor problems with my gearbox also, maybe I'll suggest another swap!!!

[Paul Slootheer]

Steven I had the impression that the brake part was made of cast iron. Did you mean the rest is made from sheet metal and therefore is called ''sheet metal'' hub or is the drum part actualy also sheet metal?
Cheers Paul

[Steven.Carter]

Not sure Paul, I'll check that out with Alan,

[Steven.Carter]

Sorry Paul. I confused you, yours is definitely cast iron as I can see your cast number on the hub. It seems that these are fitted after 1941. But I'd expect that whenever these bikes came in for repair they'd sick on any wheel that fitted.

Steve