Topic: Side effects of using oversize Buchanan S/S spokes.

[Gonzowerke]

Way back in 2000, I replaced my rusty rear spokes. The guy on the phone at Buchanan's recommended going to one size larger S/S spokes, due to increased strength and corrosion resistance. Fast forward to today, when I broke the rim down to powdercoat the rim and paint the hub, and this is the damage I found from the spokes. The outside spokes left grooves, and the inside spokes left the holes oval. I know S/S is harder than aluminum, but damn!

[70CB750]

I have the same groove on my hub- it was laced to 16" with spokes that were not SS for sure. I think every spoke will imprint in aluminum.

[MCRider]

Just curious, did you build the wheel in question?

In any event, you're experience is unfortunate and possibly not representative.  I've had several wheels with OS spoke kits from Bucky's. Grooves in the hubs were no worse than stock.

I'll be interested in others experiences.

To get the grooves you encountered someone had to really muscle the spoke into the hole in the rim, putting the spoke in a heavy bind.

[MCRider]

PS: You won't be able to get rid of that groove without sanding more than you may be coomfortable with. Sanding will clean it up quite a bit though.

[lone*X]

Even the stock spokes imprint the hub to some degree.  Just consider the imprinting as guide lines for the re-spoke job.  Now your guaranteed to get the spokes going to the correct rim holes and can't go wrong re-lacing the wheel.     The new spokes (or your stainless if you still want to use them) will cover the imprinting.   No real harm done. 

[luap]

buchana just screwed up some custom spokes for me, 550 hub takes straight 8 guage max, stock spokes seem to be 8 guage at the flare to 10 guage, they sent me 6 guage  at the flare to 8 guage straight, ended up machining the hub to accept the 6 guage
the stock spoke kits on buchans website for the 16' 17' laced to harley wheels will have a bend of 10 degrees. looks like thats what might have happend

[MCRider]

Yeah the angle of the dangle and its depth may be in error. I think what we may be running up against is a changing of the guard. New techs coming on board that are younger than our bikes, not giving them the attention needed.

But upon assembly, it should be clear that if you have to manhandle the spokes into the hub, then really bend them against the flange to get it in the rim, you've got the wrong spokes, or they were poorly made.

I laced my most recent within the last year or so. I had to open a few holes in the hubs just a skosh, but other than that they wrapped and went into the rims with barely a whimper.

[Gonzowerke]

Just curious, did you build the wheel in question?

In any event, you're experience is unfortunate and possibly not representative.  I've had several wheels with OS spoke kits from Bucky's. Grooves in the hubs were no worse than stock.

I'll be interested in others experiences.

To get the grooves you encountered someone had to really muscle the spoke into the hole in the rim, putting the spoke in a heavy bind.

Yes, I laced it, but handed off the truing to a Honda dealer, thinking they would be better than I at it, as I suck, and have no patience. When I broke it down, I found some spokes were cut off at the nipple, meaning they were screwed in further than the other to get it round/true. As far as the bends go, I remember they came in two bags, one labeled inside, the other outside. The difference is the outside ones had a 90 degree bend at the hub end, the inside had a lesser bend, about 75 or 80 degrees.

[MCRider]

Its common to have to trim the threads down on some spokes, this is usually done after truing, when some threads will poke out of the nipple and are then ground off. usually 10 out of 40, sometimes less sometimes more.

There have been threads here on the issue.

As to the rest, too hard to guess what went on from a distance. Just to say, my personal experience with 5 wheels, has not been yours.