Topic: Cleaning up a CB550 rear hub

[cleveland]

I would like to polish the rear hub and get it ready for lacing.  I know I can polish the cover, but how do I get into the small holes?



Also, is the entire hub aluminum?  Can I polish this part too?



What about tearing it down farther then it is in the pics?  Any need to?  Should I re-greese it?  Whats the best way to get as much grease as I can in the right places?

I really should have taken before pics.  This hub looked like it had been sitting at the bottom of a "port-o-john" for half it's life.

If I get this done this weekend, I should have my new rim laced with-in the next couple weeks.  I can't wait! 

[greenjeans]

Yep, that whole thing is aluminum and really polishes up well.
Just an opinion, but on mine, for some contrast, I hit the centers of the hubs with a wire wheel.  Makes
them look really clean, but not as polished.  Makes good contrast with the outsides of the hubs and you
won't have to polish/clean them as much when you're  reassembled and on the road again.   
As for those 2 little plugs - they aren't aluminum, I just dadded some paint in there to make them
look new again.

The part you're pointing at - with the bearing and studs, should just lift out, it's just the rubber "cush drive"
that's in there.  Makes polishing the hub much easier.   Remember that the sprocket covers most of that
area - I didn't go nuts there, just shined it up a bit.

The green arrows are the part that I hit with the wire brush, along with the ridged centers

[cleveland]

As for those 2 little plugs - they aren't aluminum, I just dadded some paint in there to make them
look new again.

What color?

The part you're pointing at - with the bearing and studs, should just lift out, it's just the rubber "cush drive"
that's in there.  Makes polishing the hub much easier.   Remember that the sprocket covers most of that
area - I didn't go nuts there, just shined it up a bit.

Did you just hit it with a rubber mallet from the other side?

The green arrows are the part that I hit with the wire brush, along with the ridged centers

That is a great idea!  Steel or brass?

Thanks for the feedback!!! 

[greenjeans]

If I remember, CBghia has that bike now, I put some wood block in my vise and had to kinda punch it out with the holes
that the rubber bits fit into.  I used a socket extension and a mallet, it came out fairly easily - easier than getting that
retaining ring out to change out the bearings.....I painted those little plugs flat black

I used to have a 8" brass brush that I had fitted on my buffer, but it's worn down to nothing, and they are ridiculously
expensive vs the 8" fine steel wire wheels I get at Sears.