Re: Topolino C19 Wheelset: Bikefanclub.com

Just want to add my experience with a set of AC29 Topolinos. I bought them April 2006 and took them with my Calfee to Italy in May. A nipple on the rear wheel broke on the third day of a week long ride in the Dolomites and no one could fix it, so I had to use a borrowed wheel (thanks, Lennard).

Once home, I mailed the wheel back to Topolino at my expense, they fixed it free of charge and shipped it back several weeks later at their expense.

Less than 500 miles later, the front hub bearings became loose. The LBS took the wheel apart and tried to reseat the bearings. However, it turns out the procedure they used was incorrect and the bearings worked loose 40 miles later.

I eventually had a long conversation with Rafe at Topolino who was extremely helpful and very interested in helping me fix my wheel. I learned that the design of the hub depends on the effects of a hub bolt with tapered threads that expands the aluminum hub barrel as you screw it into the barrel so that the barrel is forced outward against the inner race of the bearings. It is this pressure that holds the bearings in place against the inner recess of the hub. The repair requires use of an axle clamp (which Topo will either loan or sell to you) and a torque wrench to achieve the proper expansion of the aluminum barrel.

As long as I had the hub apart, I ordered some replacement ceramic bearings. However, decided not to try fixing the hub myself without the axle clamp and sent it back to Topolino for repairs.

I mailed the front wheel back to Topolino at my expense, they fixed it free, and shipped it back at their expense. The wheel was out for about 4 weeks.

About 200 miles later, the bearings on the rear wheel worked loose. Ditto. The wheel was gone for about 2 weeks.

I have not had any further troubles for the past 650 miles.

I am 6'5" and ride at about 200-207 lbs on a 64.5 cm Tetra Custom with S&S couplers.

I absolutely love the ride and handling of these wheels. They got the wheel structure right, but the hubs seem to be a weak link. Though unconfirmed, I suspect the new for 2007 Carbon Core hubs are an attempt to address the loosening hub bearing problem.

FWIW, the guy whose ravings about the wheels in May 2005 convinced me to order a pair later stopped using his C19s because of repeated hub bearings coming loose - front and rear. He is 6'7" but only weighs about 180 lbs.

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