Which hubs?

These are the hubs

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Sorry for the thread hijack, but......

I started a low budget - fixed build a few months ago, which has now grown into a beast which keeps me awake at night with cries of feed me! feed me!

One of my first (sensible) buys was a pair of ambrossio track hubs, which I got really cheap. Having got carried away, everything I have collected since then has been pretty high end. I am now toying with the idea of rebuilding the hubs with quality track nuts, and ceramic cartridge bearings (£17 per cartridge). I must admitt I have no real belief that this will give a noticable improvment in performance. I just love the idea of building a steel track bike which looks vintage, yet incorparates new technology (it appeals to my inner geek).

My questions are - should/can I replace the spindles?

                      - is this the very definition of 'polishing a turd'?

1 formula hubs don't look vintage.
2 yes its polishing a turd, the hub body and flange are important, as they transmit forces.
3 do it any way.

Cheers,
I was'nt really aware of how important the hub body was. BTW Sheldon Brown (or at least his shop 'harris cyclery') described the hubs as being inspired by campy sheriff stars. Personally I dont think they even come close. The fact of the matter is that I am now curious, and it sounds like plain fun.

do it and photo every step and post back with results!! :)

Sorry for the thread hijack, but......

I started a low budget - fixed build a few months ago, which has now grown into a beast which keeps me awake at night with cries of feed me! feed me!

One of my first (sensible) buys was a pair of ambrossio track hubs, which I got really cheap. Having got carried away, everything I have collected since then has been pretty high end. I am now toying with the idea of rebuilding the hubs with quality track nuts, and ceramic cartridge bearings (£17 per cartridge). I must admitt I have no real belief that this will give a noticable improvment in performance. I just love the idea of building a steel track bike which looks vintage, yet incorparates new technology (it appeals to my inner geek).

My questions are - should/can I replace the spindles?

                      - is this the very definition of 'polishing a turd'?

Yes.

Sell the hubs on and use the money you would have spent on bearings, tracknuts and spare locknuts on a better quality hub.

don't listen to kowalski!

Probably do it whever its worth it or not as....

A. I already have 80 spokes of the correct length, which I would also have to sell on.

B. I live in Norway and have to import stuff (meaning postage costs + customs fees). Also, as poteintal buyers of the hubs who would most likley be outside of Norway, I would have to cover postage to make it a worthwhile buy.

C. it being a pain to get hold of bits means having extra bearings laying around is no bad thing.

D. While fretting about buying a campy record pista (due to its unsealed nature) a month ago, I accidently won a ceramic bearing BB of the same dimensions on Ebay. So It feels right to do the hubs too (Kneecaps next for easy down hill spinning).

E.I'm just plain stupid, curious, and love taking things apart.

Ok that's cool, your going for 'sleeper' hubs. They look like nothing but are packed with kevlar/kryptonite fusion nanotechnology.

Get a patent and sell it to Giant or something ;)