Ironhead 21 rim lacing to 72 drum brake hub

[cycledelic]

Hey,
Im just got the spoke set i ordered from bucannan. Trying to lace a 72 drum hub to a later model 21x2.15 chrome hd rim (43662-80b)

Whats the trick? its doing my head in. Im following the factory manual (but i think this is the problem)
Do they lace up the same?

[piniongear]

Originally Posted by cycledelic

Hey,
Im just got the spoke set i ordered from bucannan. Trying to lace a 72 drum hub to a later model 21x2.15 chrome hd rim (43662-80b)

Whats the trick? its doing my head in. Im following the factory manual (but i think this is the problem)
Do they lace up the same?

Yes, the build of a 19 inch wheel and a 21 inch are the same.
What is giving you trouble?

There are 10 spokes on each side having short necks.
There are 10 spokes on each side having long necks.
You put the short neck spokes in first and follow with the long neck spokes.

Then rotate the short necks counter clockwise Pointing toward the front.
The long neck spokes point toward the rear.

The long neck spokes are inside towards the center of the hub) and each of these crosses 3 other spokes.

I do not want to confuse you further, so let us know where you are having problems.
pg

[piniongear]

Let me make one correction to what I just said........
I was thinking of a rear wheel and told you the spoke crosses 3 other spokes. Wrong.

On a front wheel the spoke crosses 2 other spokes.
All the other info is the same.
pg

[cycledelic]

I get one side on ok then flip it over and i am either to short for the adjoining holes or to long. Im sure its simple and im just missing something. Here are some pics to see if you can see where im going wrong.

[piniongear]

Cycledelic,
The wheel looks pretty good and it is difficult to see any error.
When a short spoke goes in the hub it gets directed clockwise looking at it with the brake drum up.
Then on the hub to advance to 2nd hole and insert a short spoke and it gets directed clockwise.
Etc, Etc around the hub for all 10 spokes having a short neck.

Now, lets return to that first spoke you put in the hub......
There will be a hole in the rim directed towards the direction this spoke points to. Insert the spoke in the rim hole and run a nipple on it a few turns.

Now go to the next short neck spoke. You will have skipped one hole in the hub to get to this spoke.
This spoke goes into the 4th hole in the rim from the first spoke you put into the rim. Just look at the rim where that first spoke went and then count 1,2,3,and 4 is where the next spoke goes.

The long neck spokes go in the same way but pointing in the opposite direction.

Sorry this sounds so confusing, but it is difficult for me to describe.
The 40 total spokes you are dealing with will wind up as 10 groups of spokes, each group containing 4 spokes each. @ on the left and 2 on the right.
Here is a pic of what I am talking about. I like to put tape around each group and then number them 1 through 10.
This really helps me when I get to the part requiring truing of the wheel...................



If I can help in any way feel free to ask.
pg

[piniongear]

It may help me if you could take a pic of the entire wheel showing the rim holes and all of the spokes you have put in so far.

When you get to the last few spokes it sometimes takes loosening the nipples all the way (but still holding the nipple to the spoke) and rotating the hub to straighten all of the spokes out.

If you just cannot get those final spokes to go in then I suspect there is something wrong.

But the pattern of the spokes should all look the same. Same size 'X's where the spokes cross and the same number of rim holes between like spokes coming from the hub.
pg

[cycledelic]

I cracked it. the problem was once one side was in ok. the other side was a spoke out, so i moved all the spokes around one hole in the hub and it all lined up. in the manual it says to start with a short spoke to the right of the long spoke on the opposite side. was doing that but must have be looking from the wrong side. Kind of confusing. Anyway thanks for your help! now the rear wheel easy last!

[piniongear]

Good job and well done!

The rear wheel will have a 3 cross pattern, but is done in the same way as the front.
Post a pic when you get that one built.
pg

[piniongear]

To anyone who may be following this thread.........
Notice how the 10 groups of 4 spokes each stand out.
If you are truing up your own wheel all you have to do is work in a group of 4 spokes, then move ahead to the next group of 4. This gives you exact control of where the rim is moving to and makes the wheel building that much easier.
pg