Maillard Helicomatic hub tool

[T4tomo]

Bit left field, but has anyone got the above lockring tool.

I have a broken spoke, which is non-drive side, so can easily be repaired, but was considering getting new spokes all-round as they are all the originals as far as i can tell, but that would involve removal of the cassette, which needs the specialist tool.

Ebay has some reproduction ones in the US, or a nice original in Italy, complete with a set of NOS hubs for £250!

The other option is a ring round some old school bike shops / wheel builders in Hertfordshire, who might have one in their tool box.
Image below for reference. i come with a bottle opener which is nice!

.

 

[Specialeyes]

I've got one - as mentioned in this thread (I was more interested in why an old toolkit would include a mirror).

Not sure how sharp the splines are, but it's of more use to you than to me! PM me your address and I'll happily pop it in the post. 👍

 

[T4tomo]

PM'd / conversation-ed i hope.

many thanks.

 

[GuyBoden]

I couldn't get the correct tool, so I took maillard hub off with these type of pliers. They work, but you had to line up the grooves and use very little pressure.

 

[BalkanExpress]

Héliomatics do not have the best of reputations, I had one which pinged spokes on a regular basis until I had a wheel rebuild and then no further breakages. This suggests the issue was the quality of the original build rather than the hub itself.

 

[T4tomo]

A bit like Betamax and VHS, the Freehub became standard, and whilst a work of art, the helical splines add a layer of unnecessary complexity, but it was a step forward from freewheels, but the freehub solved the same problem. and probably more reliably.

I'm reasonably sure mine has managed 44 years before breaking a spoke, and then as a result of a pothole, so I'll take that. Hopefully with Specialeyes' tool, it will be back to its former glory. given the bike came with them, I'm defo keeping them for originality.

Guy, hopefully I can avoid resorting to mole grips (they were one of my Dads favourite tools, but he was farmer!), as you say need to be very careful to avoid bolloxing the lock ring.

bit of history here

 

[weareHKR]

I couldn't get the correct tool, so I took maillard hub off with these type of pliers. They work, but you had to line up the grooves and use very little pressure.

View attachment 582664

Every Mechanic/Engineer should have a nice pair of Mole Grips, a brilliant tool!
EDIT: used in the correct manner...

 

[Dogtrousers]

These things sat in the gap between my two involvements in cycling, during which I experimented with various things like being a runner and an overweight toper - sometimes both at the same time - before seeing the light and coming back all mamily.

Anyway , last night I watched this video, which is quite interesting, if you are into this sort of thing.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obtABDKJREQ

I'm not so sure about his pronunciation of "Maillard"

 

[weareHKR]

Anyway , last night I watched this video, which is quite interesting, if you are into this sort of thing.

Great Vid thanks for sharing...

I'm not so sure about his pronunciation of "Maillard"

That's exactly as I would pronounce it...

 

[GuyBoden]

I had the helicomatic hub on my mint 1980's gold Record Sprint, I sold it in 2018, everything was original, including the tyres, the wheel rims were still black not yet worn by the brake blocks. The problem was that it was too nice/mint to ride, even if it was a cheap bike.

Here a pic for my memories:

 

[T4tomo]

that looks /ed lovely. the gold guard brake levers and cables are a great touch

 

[midlife]

The early ones from 1978 had even more gold!

 

[T4tomo]

Worked a treat, cheers Specialeyes

 

[Specialeyes]

Woohoo!

 

[T4tomo]

Woohoo!

Came off remarkably easily. Had given it a spray of GT85 a day or two before, but needed very little pressure, the tool gripped perfectly. Very easy, considering it may well have been on there since 1987.

Much much easier than getting a screw on freewheel off an old bike.