01/20/2025
So far, this winter has been busy, actually this effort started several years ago (long story for later) but this current effort started in September. If you don't know already, Joe Fed is a pretty awesome guy and amazing engineer.
Ater buying a Bambu Labs XC1 Carbon 3D Printer and then seeing several of Joe's projects, I decided to close the loop on wire wheels for a 1922 740 roadster I am building. I bought wheels and hubs without all the due diligence required and got rough wheels and hubs that were essentially beyond repair due to cracks and being severely mangled.
Using the hubs for a pattern, I started drawing a rear hub for 3D printing and eventual production on a CNC mill. After my first few iterations, I knew I needed some more expertise and asked Joe to help and did he ever!
Joe was able to help scan the original hubs and make a 3D model. From the scan, the hub was redesigned to accept single row tapered roller bearings like the original but using modern readily available part numbers. We then did Finite Element Analysis of the original design under several load cases. We added material wherever the original had high stresses. This new design has significantly lower stress than the original and will be made of 4130 steel which is much stronger than the original cast iron.
I test fit everything with my 3D printed parts and all looks good. Bearings fit and are aligned, wheels mount properly, and we are now ready for production. Joe and I are making a set of these hubs for each of our 740s and thought we would see if anyone else wants a set.
We also are considering making hub caps. (I acquired a set of NOS hub caps, originally destined for a Stutz car but with the logo changed, will now be a #5 Buffalo Wire Wheel hub cap for my Stanley).
If you are interested, we would be able to provide completed front and rear hubs. (including the front wheel bearings, the wheel stud drive pins, all assembled and ready to go. These are #5 Buffalo or Houk quick change hubs (which were the same company and are interchangeable).
These are tapered axle rear hubs and tapered front spindles. The bearings were selected to fit the spindles on our 740s which are NOT the same as the 735 series front axles. We will not be making the wire wheels at this time (hopefully a later project).
It isn't in the current plan, but if there was enough interest, we could modify the design to fit square axle cars as well as use a different bearing to allow fitment to the 735. Let us know if you are seriously interested.
If others are interested in a set of the hubs, you can join us on this production run. When the time comes to place the order we would want a deposit of half. Right now we are just gauging interest but want to go to production by the end of February. The total cost will depend on the number of hubs we have the CNC company make.
Currently we are only making 4 car sets. 2 for me, one for Joe, and one for another friend. At this volume, a vehicle set of 4 hubs, 24 studs, 2 new inner bearings, and 2 new outer bearings will be about $3,750. If we increase volume, the costs drop depending on the number we produce and we will lower the price appropriately as the quantity increases. If we can get 10 vehicle sets into production at once it would be closer to $2,750 per vehicle set - definitely savings in volume!
Please message myself or Joe with questions or to get onto this order. YOU HAVE TO VERIFY YOUR SPINDLE DIAMETERS AND REAR AXLE TAPER to ensure this design will work on your Stanley. These are designed for Houk or Buffalo #5 wire wheels with 6 studs. These are specifically for a 740 series Stanley but we all know there are anomalies in some of the cars.
