Author Topic: Help Please. 8” single sided front wheel spokes.  (Read 895 times)

Offline Steveba10

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I’ve bought rims and spokes for my A10 Plunger.

The QD rear wheel was built easily, tensioned well and ran true checked with a pair of clock gauges.
So very pleased.

My 8” single sided hub front wheel has not gone well.

The spokes supplied to me are labelled  “WW37028 BSA A,B,M Group. Single Sided Hubs. 19””
The long spokes have a 45 Deg bend about 1/2” or maybe 15mm from the hub end.

I have laced these long spokes but they do not sit well nor can any tension be made.

From memory, the metal man’s taken them, the old spokes had a near 90Deg bend very close to the hub end.
I have posted pictures below of the old spokes assembled and another of my attempt to lace the longer spokes.

Could you please look at a single sided 8” braked Plunger front wheel and tell me I’ve got it wrong or —-
Do you think perhaps the spokes supplied have been mis-packaged?
Do you think my wheel is something different to my description?

I’ve tried to e-mail the supplier “Britishbikebits” but their website ‘contact us’ does not work this evening.
I’ll have to wait until tomorrow to phone them.

Any help will be much appreciated.
Thank you.

Offline Steveba10

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Re: Help Please. 8” single sided front wheel spokes.
« Reply #1 on: 24.09. 2020 23:34 »
I’ve added a better picture of my attempt to lace these spokes.
Steve.

Offline muskrat

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Re: Help Please. 8” single sided front wheel spokes.
« Reply #2 on: 25.09. 2020 03:26 »
G'day Steve.
Looking at the two pics you haven't laced anything like the original. The long spokes cross each other 3 times. yours only cross once!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sBE8mvwkrA  This video looks like they cross 4 times *????*
Cheers
'51 A7 plunger, '57 A7SS racer now a A10CR, '78 XT500, '83 CB1100F, 88 HD FXST, 2000 CBR929RR ex Honda Australia Superbike .
Australia
Muskys Plunger A7

Offline Steveba10

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Re: Help Please. 8” single sided front wheel spokes.
« Reply #3 on: 25.09. 2020 07:25 »
Hi Muskrat.
Thank you for replying.
After numerous tries my photo shows the only way the spokes I’ve been supplied will sit.

If I try to lace like my original photo the 45Deg bends 1/2” from the hub end of the spokes prevents this.

From memory I think the original spokes had a near 90Deg bend near the hub end
I am hoping someone may be able to confirm this for me.

The Devon Rim video lacing of the long spokes appear to be 90Deg near the end of the long spoke.
I’d just like it verified.
Thank again,
Steve.

Online JulianS

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Re: Help Please. 8” single sided front wheel spokes.
« Reply #4 on: 25.09. 2020 10:55 »
I dont think those spokes are fit for purpose.

When there is a bend it should be very close to the spoke end, with the bend 1/2 inch away they will never tension properly or give the wheel proper rigidity. They probably wont lie properly either.

The WW part number means it comes from a wassell catalogue.......................

I would return and get your money back and get a proper set from a wheel specialist.

Online Rex

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Re: Help Please. 8” single sided front wheel spokes.
« Reply #5 on: 25.09. 2020 11:34 »
That may well be the case, but those spokes are a mile off being correctly laced. Looking at the nipples exiting the rim you haven't got the positioning right as the rim dimple angles are wrong for the spoke direction.
Any spoke where the dimple is trying to point the spoke in the wrong direction is in the wrong rim position/hole. They shouldn't be stressed or bent when installed.
A tip for the future is never to bin the old spokes until the wheel has been rebuilt, then you can check the length, head angle and dia with the new spokes.

Offline RDfella

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Re: Help Please. 8” single sided front wheel spokes.
« Reply #6 on: 25.09. 2020 13:17 »
Another thing not helping you is the rim and hub are resting level. You need to support the rim on wood so it's central to the hub or spoke length will be all over the place.
'49 B31, '49 M21, '53 DOT, '58 Flash, '62 Flash special, '00 Firestorm, Weslake sprint bike.

Offline Swarfcut

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Re: Help Please. 8” single sided front wheel spokes.
« Reply #7 on: 25.09. 2020 13:39 »
    Steve.   Just did a quick search  in the Forum "Spoke Length". Up comes a fine selection of problems folks have had with parts sourced from Wassell.   Looks as if there is something wrong with the identity and packaging of these products. Many people don't complain when things go wrong, so the seller in all innocence thinks what is being sold is OK.

 Wassell supply many retail dealers, and these problems will be found throughout the distribution chain. You really need to clued up as to the spoke form and make sure this is what you get.

 Plenty of close up pictures of the correct spoke end bend on the web. The Devon Rim viddy shows how to do it, and its always a whole lot easier with spokes and nipples that have good clean threads that match!

 Clean up your poor purchase and send them back. My recommendation would be to deal with a specialist wheel/spoke supplier.

 Swarfy.

Online morris

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Re: Help Please. 8” single sided front wheel spokes.
« Reply #8 on: 25.09. 2020 14:20 »
Definitely wrong spokes. That bend shouldn’t be there where it is.
OTH, they might work but your pattern ain’t right. Try to get that fixed first.
Below pictures from my half width hub.
Spokes and rims from CWC; https://www.central-wheel.co.uk/
Very good service!
'58 BSA A 10 SA
'52 BSA A 10 Plunger
'55 MORRIS ISIS
The world looks better from a motorbike
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Offline metalflake11

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Re: Help Please. 8” single sided front wheel spokes.
« Reply #9 on: 25.09. 2020 15:13 »
It would appear the spokes are not coming away from the hub at the correct angle. As you have tried to correct this and have been prevented from doing so by the nipples, they are no good.

This is not the view of the forum, the owner, the moderators, or the members, but in my personal opinion I would mould something out of putty to put on my bike before fitting a Wassel part. That would include pistons, shells, cams and followers, carbs etc etc.

Cheap and nasty, ill fitting, not fit for purpose tat!

Just my personal opinion.
England N.W
1960 A10
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Online RichardL

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Re: Help Please. 8” single sided front wheel spokes.
« Reply #10 on: 25.09. 2020 15:23 »
I think it's worth mentioning that improper spoke types and/or wheel lacing are life-threatening flaws.

Richard L.

Offline Steveba10

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Re: Help Please. 8” single sided front wheel spokes.
« Reply #11 on: 25.09. 2020 19:06 »
Thank you for all your replies, I’ve learnt a lot.

I did recover two of the old spokes and luckily they were a long and a short from my front wheel.
I have placed them side by side for a comparison photograph below.
A careful look at the picture shows that although superficially they appear the same there are sufficient differences that prevent the correct lacing being placed easily.
I was wrong in thinking the long spokes had a 90Deg bend.

So given the spokes were close to the original and all the vendors confirming they were the correct ones for my application I tried again and did manage with persuasion and a degree of bending to lace the wheel.
Nothing like the ease shown in the Devon video though.

I used plenty of copper-slip on the threads and achieved tension. But I’m not happy, only having one life I don’t want to throw it away just because of inferior spokes.
They are going back.

It’s disappointing as the spokes from the same source for my rear QD wheel fitted easily and perfectly.

So thank you all again, I’ll avoid Wassell in the future like the plague, social distancing will not be enough.
I now appreciate the need to avoid parts listed commencing “WW”
I avoided their regulator thanks to this forum and bought a DVR2, I didn’t realise Wassell were so invasive in the parts industry.
Steve.

Offline RDfella

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Re: Help Please. 8” single sided front wheel spokes.
« Reply #12 on: 25.09. 2020 19:40 »
Those old spokes also appear to be butted - ie thicker at the hub end. Otherwise the spokes you bought weren't crazily wrong, just badly made (bent in the wrong place). The shorter ones appear OK, though gauge would need to be checked. I don't always follow original gauge - if spokes originally are butted, say 8 / 10 I often opt for a plain 9. A shade weaker at the hub end but stronger at the nipple (the place spokes usually break).
'49 B31, '49 M21, '53 DOT, '58 Flash, '62 Flash special, '00 Firestorm, Weslake sprint bike.

Online Rex

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Re: Help Please. 8” single sided front wheel spokes.
« Reply #13 on: 25.09. 2020 21:31 »
What strange person bent up those longer spokes? Never yet seen a hub flange about 10mm thick that those would fit!

ironhead

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Re: Help Please. 8” single sided front wheel spokes.
« Reply #14 on: 25.09. 2020 22:29 »
The spokes in question are for the conical front hub ( and rear ) (71' 72' ) . They are the only wheels that use that type of bend. As usual, mis-labeled  package from sellers who don't know their bikes.   *problem*