Spoke size

[pato08]

Merry Christmas to all.

Just looking the wheels for re furb. and have noticed the spoke sizes are diffferent. front is 0.161 inch (4.04mm) and the rear is 0.128 inch (3.26mm)
This bike is the last of the plunger series (1957).
My questions are, did they put larger spokes on the front of bike for side car reasons ?
and, as the spokes are in good condition is it worth reusing them, say chrome plate ? or can you still get them in those specs.
I'm in Australia for those who don't know.

Pato

[Beezageezauk]

Hi Pato,

On checking out the BSA Service Sheet number 714 which goes up to 1956 (no different to 1957 I think) and for the A10 Plunger Models it states:-

Front wheel  left side   Butted 8/10 gauge  20 off     part number   67-5606     8 7/8 in long
Front wheel  right side       10 gauge         20 off                          67-5544     5 15/16 in long*

Rear wheel  left side          10 gauge         20 off                          65-6303     7 17/32 in long*
Rear wheel  right side        10 gauge         20 off                          65-6302     7 29/32 in long*

My copy is difficult to read even by using a magnifying glass so * denotes that these figures are not necessarily correct.

Hope this helps and All The Best for 2013.

Beezageezauk.

[iansoady]

The butted spokes may have been replaced at some time by plain ones with the larger (8 gauge) diameter. Quite often the spokes on the brake side are slightly heavier which may explain the 2 sizes beezageeza mentions.

I don't think chrome plating is a good idea as the thread would probably get damaged - either buffed away or clogged up. I'd go for new ones which are readily available in the UK (Black Cat Wheels  supplied mine and I was very happy with them - Central Wheel are another good source).

[pato08]

Thanks Beezageezauk and Ian

I plan to restore it as per original, I know it only had two owners, one rode it and made some repairs, and the other rode it then stripped it down (minus a few bits).
It still has a set of Avon - MK11 3.25/3.5 -19 tyres fitted front and rear