spoke patterns

jellywrestler

Well Known and Active Forum User
Non-VOC Member
hi folks,
i'm a little confused about the spoking patterns to use on my c series rapide.
i went to 19 front and 18 inch rear after much soul searching and interested to know what the correct pattern is and the spoke lengths required.

cheers
from new zealand
 

VinParts

Well Known and Active Forum User
Non-VOC Member
Spoke Patterns.

The Vincent uses cross four and you need 8swg x 85/8" for the front and 8swg x 85/16" for the rear.

Cheers,
Russell Kemp
 

Andrew Rackstraw

New Forum User
Non-VOC Member
Spoke length

Hi Rachel - Tell your bloke 'He will loose points in a concours if he didn,t have a three cross over pattern' and tell him to buy his stainless spokes from a 'Vincent' spares shop and he will get the required length - Your neighbor
 

VinParts

Well Known and Active Forum User
Non-VOC Member
Spoke lacing.

Cross three? I think NOT. Look in Know Thy Beast, All pre and post war models had wheels laced in a 'four-cross' pattern, ie with spokes crossing each other 4 times from spoke flange to rim.

Russell (your 'Vincent' spares shop):D
 

Comet

Well Known and Active Forum User
VOC Member
Quite right, it should be a four cross pattern. Points against you if you have 3 cross.
 

Phil Mahood

VOC Hon. Computer Officer
VOC Member
Cross 4

Yup, it has to be Cross 4 pattern. I've laced up many sets. My guess is that, between correct spoke lengths, and the drill pattern on any "standard" rim, Cross 3 would be impossible. By the way, spokes and rims from Russell have laced up correctly, no hassles.
 
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jellywrestler

Well Known and Active Forum User
Non-VOC Member
thanks folks. after much soul searching i've figured that what i thought was the 3 cross over system is in fact 4 as i wasn't counting the two spokes crossing over each side of the spoke flange just the ones out in thin air...
since feburary in little old new zealand i've carefully studied the wheels on around fifteen bikes and been confused by the 3-4 pattern and spoke lengths.
thanks also ron, i did try to order spokes from you a few weeks back but june told me one set is out of stock and no delivery date hence making my own in the end. the drilling will be down tonight.
 

A_HRD

Well Known and Active Forum User
VOC Member
Spoke Glitches

Hopefully, jellywrestler, you haven't laced-up your wheels yet. There's a couple of potential glitches you might wish to be aware of. :eek:

1. On the 'Cross 4' spoke pattern (the Vincent std) there is a conflict between certain of the spokes and the head (at the bent end) of the adjacent one. This usually only occurs with the 8 gauge spokes (about 0.158 dia) or of course 8/10 butted. The effect is to bend the spokes passing over the outside face of the spoke-flange; (it doesn't affect the inside ones). This occurs probably because the "head" at the bent end of replacement spokes has increased in size over the years from 1/4 to 9/32 approx. This is hard to explain so I'm going to try and insert a picture.....

[You didn't manage to upload your photo - Ed!]

The fix is to take each spoke in turn and hold it up looking at the head with the rest of the spoke pointing up vertically. (Only 20 of each wheel-set need the following treatment). At the 10 o'clock point on the head you need to remove about 20-30 thou of metal from the head circumference in the form of a flat. This will provide sufficient clearance for the adjacent spoke to pass by without being bent and stressed. I found that the easiest way to do it was to carefully touch the side of the head against my belt sander fitted with a smooth worn belt; but be careful!

2. The next glitch is with some (not all) pattern brake drums which have a little too much material on the back. Instead of fitting flush up against the spoke flange, the drum contacts the 8-gauge spokes first - just by a few thou. When you tighten the drum down with the nylocs, this condition is likely to crack the inner drum flange- as well as stress the spokes. Anyone can check their wheels for this problem with the wheels still in the bike; just put a 5 thou feeler gauge between drum and spokes to ensure there is clearance. If you have the problem there are 2 simple fixes: A. Machine away material from the back of the drum. B. Insert a thin shim between the spoke-flange and the drum (I'm currently having some made in SS - with 10 holes so they'll fit Shadow rears as well).

Ducking for cover now..... :p
 
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