Hubcaps

[phillie]

I'm looking for info. on the hubcaps I have seen on some bikes. If they are called that. Any info would be helpful I am thinkin about trying to find some for my bike. Here is a link to one I took a picture of.

Thanks

Pic of Hubcap

[46EL]

It would be interesting to find out details about these style Hubcaps. I have used them on bikes before and have a few different sets hanging on the wall. Some appear to be stainless and some are chrome plated brass. They have different dimensions as far as the center circle on the non brake side? Did H-D offer these as an accessory? Any thoughts? 46el

[Rubone]

They are all period aftermarket items. H-D never marketed one themselves. H-D did sell wheel trim rings but never full covers. Many different companies made them, and early publications have lots of ads showing them for sale. The various hole sizes are to fit different size brake drums such as Springer, Glide, and Indian types.
Robbie

[Glenn]

panbackup 007small.JPGpanbackup 005sm.JPG here is a picture of my 50 with caps

[phillie]

If anyone could point me to some for sale I would be grateful. I want to put them on my 47 chief. preferably something I can paint. Thanks!

[phillie]

oh and thanks for the input so far!

[Underdoggie]

I dont know the company name but I have seen these for sale at Davenport and they are brand new ones. I can tell you they are a pain to take on and off. You can not get the front tire and wheel off with it in place. It has to come apart first.

[droptopford]

Didn't see any need to start a new thread so I'm reviving this old (14yrs) one. Just wanted to say amen to what Underdoggie said. I've had a set of hubcaps (like the ones in post #4) hanging on the wall for 25+ years. They were installed and run by a previous owner. When I saw the way the spokes had deteriorated, I decided they'd be better hanging on the wall and I put the funky wheel(s) in storage.

Now, all these years later, I want to run the ugly wheel while I do some repairs and get some new tires on a set of my decent wheels. I figured I'd run the hubcap/wheel-cover to hide the old moldy spokes. Well, the spokes are now hidden and the cover does look pretty spiffy but holy crap, what a p.i.t.a! Super tight squeeze getting the wheel and tire back onto the drum with the left-side cover in place. Had to let all the air out of the tire to make it happen. I got ahead of myself trying to line up the little holes on both sides to get the mounting studs fished through. Finally got that done and realized I now have no access to the grease fittings. And no possible way to check the lug screws without pulling the axel out and taking off the right side cover.

They'll be going back on the wall when I get my other wheels set up. But if anyone out there is still interested, you can find them brand new on eBay from V-Twin I believe

https://www.ebay.com/itm/26674666811...YNGBQESNR48AG4

[PRG]

Howdy sir,

Well, U certainly chose the most challenging machine and location to install them: a skirted Chief front wheel. Whereas they can easily be tossed on an HD, these pose a challenge on an Indian. My final solution as opposed to even attempting to mount the left side cap with the lugs cinched up in the drum was to drill a plug out of that cap at the position of the lugs, get the entire assembly loosely wrestled into place, tire flat, and then rotating that cap to insert/tighten each lug. Finally cinching up the tie screws between both plates. Lowe’s sells stainless caps with spring mounting ears to hide this drilling. Built this machine in 97, glutton for mounting punishment, have them front and rear. Only front on my 41Fl, love the look.

https://petergz.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Indian/1948-Indian-Chief/i-mv9L3pq

[exeric]

Clark, what bike are you talking about? I have a set of wheel covers that I have never mounted and the problems you brought up sound alarmingly real. I've thought about putting them on my '51FL but they may just go on the garage wall. The part you mentioned that really bothers me is the rusty spokes behind the covers. Uncovered, the spokes can get plenty of air to dry out. After riding on a typical Florida rainy day, things could get pretty muggy inside those wheel covers. Thanks for bringing that up.

[droptopford]

Hi Eric. The bike I just put the hubcaps on is my '57 FLH. IIRC, I bought that bike in 1997. The wheel that had the hubcap on it was somewhat of a mess with surface rust on the center section around the spoke nipples and the (at one time) cad plated spokes pretty corroded as well. I found a pretty nice set of wheels at Wauseon and have been running them ever since.

I don't know how long the previous owner had been running the wheel cover. I suppose it's possible they were put on to hide an already sketchy wheel, but t doubt it. The bike had been adorned by him with lots of extra dress-up pieces. Chrome covers on everything along with chrome ball/rails on bubble bags, speedo cover, etc. I think he just liked that kind of stuff and put it on, along with the wheel covers without considering the consequences.

From what I've seen, the salt air down there in the Bikini State can be pretty corrosive. If the metal chain-link fence that runs along a friend's beach-front property in Ponte Vedra is any indication, it's a killer. Anything that isn't rinsed off regularly with fresh water is gonna take a beating..

But... I gotta say, now that they're all mounted up. they do look pretty cool, they're just not very practical IMO. PRG says "they can easily be tossed on an HD, these pose a challenge on an Indian". They do look great on his Chief but I think his idea of "easily" is different than mine.