Spoke lengths on classic Raleighs?
04-20-22, 12:36 PM
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Spoke lengths on classic Raleighs?
I’m gearing up to swap over the steel rims on my Rudge Aero Special for a pair of Modell 58 rims with the right drilling, 40/32. I haven’t decided yet if I’ll do them 3x or 4x, but I may recall a bit of lore to keep aware of, if it’s not just my imagination!!
The potential lore is that the 40/32 is not just for durability of the wheels, but to make sure all the spokes are the length. Is this real or my imagination?
The potential lore is that the 40/32 is not just for durability of the wheels, but to make sure all the spokes are the length. Is this real or my imagination?
04-20-22, 12:53 PM
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Have you run the hub and rim dimensions through a spoke calculator?
04-20-22, 12:58 PM
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Not yet, but that would not tell me what Raleigh did or didn't intend. It would of course tell me the best design to use today. And if my spokes are a rebuild set (the bike is 69 years old), it has nothing to do with what original might have been.
In that case, the person who chose the replacement spokes could have been a newbie. OTOH, the wheels are in pretty good condition.
In that case, the person who chose the replacement spokes could have been a newbie. OTOH, the wheels are in pretty good condition.
04-20-22, 12:59 PM
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If I were going to do wheel work on them anyway, I'd be tempted to remove a spoke from each wheel and mythbust it myself.
BTW, if you plan to reuse the old spokes, I really like taping the new rims to the old wheels and transferring the spoke ends one at a time without unlacing the hubs.
BTW, if you plan to reuse the old spokes, I really like taping the new rims to the old wheels and transferring the spoke ends one at a time without unlacing the hubs.
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04-20-22, 01:02 PM
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I’m gearing up to swap over the steel rims on my Rudge Aero Special for a pair of Modell 58 rims with the right drilling, 40/32. I haven’t decided yet if I’ll do them 3x or 4x, but I may recall a bit of lore to keep aware of, if it’s not just my imagination!!
The potential lore is that the 40/32 is not just for durability of the wheels, but to make sure all the spokes are the [SAME] length. Is this real or my imagination?
The potential lore is that the 40/32 is not just for durability of the wheels, but to make sure all the spokes are the [SAME] length. Is this real or my imagination?
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04-20-22, 06:13 PM
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If I were going to do wheel work on them anyway, I'd be tempted to remove a spoke from each wheel and mythbust it myself.
BTW, if you plan to reuse the old spokes, I really like taping the new rims to the old wheels and transferring the spoke ends one at a time without unlacing the hubs.
BTW, if you plan to reuse the old spokes, I really like taping the new rims to the old wheels and transferring the spoke ends one at a time without unlacing the hubs.
04-20-22, 07:16 PM
#7
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I have built maybe three wheels for English bikes, my experience is that 40 hole 4 cross, and 32 hole 3 cross take the same spoke length, but don’t take my word use a spoke calculator.
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04-20-22, 07:41 PM
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I don’t know if it’s due to lacing pattern or steel rims or 40 spokes, but I’ve had several rear wheels from Raleigh Sports with a missing spoke that were still perfectly true. Impressive!
04-21-22, 01:34 PM
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Cast iron rims ftw!
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04-24-22, 04:18 PM
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Well, I’ve measured the existing spokes without taking down the wheels so its imprecise but they do all appear to be 305 mm. I still need to measure the ERDs for the new rims and then see what I need. On the Witcomb the steel rims and alloy replacements sized out within 1 mm of each other`And I didn’t buy any new ones. For this bike (being for me to ride!) I want butted spokes.
04-24-22, 04:24 PM
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Well, I’ve measured the existing spokes without taking down the wheels so its imprecise but they do all appear to be 305 mm. I still need to measure the ERDs for the new rims and then see what I need. On the Witcomb the steel rims and alloy replacements sized out within 1 mm of each other`And I didn’t buy any new ones. For this bike (being for me to ride!) I want butted spokes.
