Author Topic: need ideas in changing cb550 rear hub to 36 spokes (Read 3229 times)

francis8766 · « **on:** February 19, 2014, 10:40:21 PM »

Hey guys, is there any way to replace the rear hub of the cb550 to a 36 spoke rear hub? My cb550 needs a new rear rim and i cant find any that has 40 spokes. Almost all the shops thar i checked only have 36 spoke rims. . So my only option now is to change the rear hub to one with 36 spokes. . Are there any alternatives? Is there any easy swap from other bikes? Thanks alot

dave500 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 19, 2014, 11:28:07 PM »

theres plenty of 40 spoke rims available,just not in your shops?

francis8766 · « **Reply #2 on:** February 20, 2014, 12:04:25 AM »

Yup. . Ive checked all over but still i couldnt find one. All of the shops that i visited ran out of 40 spoke rims. I found a lot of 40 spoke rims in ebay but it would cost an additional $150 for shipping and import charges. . A mechanic told to just lace the 36 spoke rims to the 40h hub and just skip the 4 holes but im not sure if it will work properly due to different spoke tensions and length. . Wouldnt it compromise the rim strength if i skip 4 holes?

calj737 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 20, 2014, 02:36:47 AM »

Don't lace a 36 hub to a 40 rim. That's a very bad idea. Anda void that mechanic inn the future... It's a lot easier to locate a new rim than to convert everything over to a new hub just to save some shipping fees.

For instance, you'd likely need different axle spacers to be custom cut, maybe different axle bearings depending on which hub you located, maybe brake mods...

Search ebay for a whole new wheel that is used instead of just a new rim. It may be easier and cheaper to unlace a used unit and re-use just the rim.

francis8766 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 20, 2014, 03:04:05 AM »

Thanks for the advice

bwaller · « **Reply #5 on:** February 20, 2014, 04:23:13 AM »

I have a 36 spoke CB350 twin rear hub on my racebike. (400F is another 36) Cal is right though you need to make new spacers to center the wheel plus sprocket alignment is an issue. You'll have to have a rear sprocket made as well to match CB550 tooth count that mounts to a different hub.

It may be cheaper to pay the shipping charges to buy a 40 hole rim!!!

Grabcon · « **Reply #6 on:** February 20, 2014, 06:38:29 PM »

Contact these guys. They will set you up right.

http://www.woodyswheelworks.com/home.htm

skidooextreme · « **Reply #7 on:** February 21, 2014, 03:53:42 PM »

4into1.com Best customer service i have ever got!

francis8766 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 21, 2014, 10:21:13 PM »

I just checked 4into1 but they only have stock rims. . Is it ok if i put a 130/90 in the rear? If its ok what rim size should i use? I dont want use oversized rear tires as it would compromise the handling of the bike. . Thanks

jonda500 · « **Reply #9 on:** February 22, 2014, 04:02:46 AM »

I think max tyre size for a stock rim is 120/90

SohRon · « **Reply #10 on:** February 23, 2014, 08:24:36 AM »

Check David Silver Spares for rims for the 550. Not cheap, but they'll fit.

francis8766 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 25, 2014, 06:19:28 AM »

Hey guys i found an 18" 40-spoke rear rim made by drag specialties. Do you think it will fit? I also found 16"x3" for hd but the seller told me that they wont fit my bike. . Any feedback guys? Thank you very much

Stoli · « **Reply #12 on:** February 25, 2014, 06:48:59 AM »

This is a 16" Drag Specialties rim (for HD) laced to a CB750 hub. I assume you can do it to a 550 as well. The spokes would be an issue, especially in your case. In my experience, Buchanan's can't seem to get it right the first time unless you ship them the hub and rim, which would be ridiculously expensive from the Philippines. Others have had luck on the first try, so maybe you would as well. I have had several cases where I have had to send the custom spokes back to Buchanan's for shortening or rebending before they would fit.

I can't imagine trying to lace a 36 hole rim on a 40 hole hub.

Edit: I just remembered that the spoke set on the wheel in the pic fit correctly the first time. Probably because it is/was very common for guys to put 16" HD rims on these bikes back in the day and Buchanan's has that particular size combination down.

Stoli · « **Reply #13 on:** February 25, 2014, 07:41:55 AM »

FWIW - I found the 3.00 x 16" DS HD rim at bikertrends.com for $72.00 and free shipping to US. The spokes will cost you much more than that, and then there is the tube and tire.... Since shipping is such a huge factor for you, you'll want to make sure you have all the parts and prices lined up before you order anything. Efforts to save a buck can sometimes go sideways and your end cost can add up to much more than you anticipate. I'm sure many of us have traveled down that path before.

francis8766 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 25, 2014, 09:18:06 AM »

I get what you are saying and thanks for the advice. Ill put that in mind

. I found another rim. Its 18"x 3.5". My rear rim is also 18". Do i still have to change spokes? Sorry for being a ass cheap mo*******cker but i hope you guys understand

this is my first build by the way so ill be posting more questions in the future. .

@ stoli, what rim would you suggest for my 550? Ive already considered the cost of the tire and the tube. My only problem is the rear rim. Thanks in advance for your help

PeWe · « **Reply #15 on:** February 25, 2014, 11:14:29 AM »

Quote from: Stoli on February 25, 2014, 06:48:59 AM

This is a 16" Drag Specialties rim (for HD) laced to a CB750 hub. I assume you can do it to a 550 as well. The spokes would be an issue, especially in your case. In my experience, Buchanan's can't seem to get it right the first time unless you ship them the hub and rim, which would be ridiculously expensive from the Philippines. Others have had luck on the first try, so maybe you would as well. I have had several cases where I have had to send the custom spokes back to Buchanan's for shortening or rebending before they would fit.

I can't imagine trying to lace a 36 hole rim on a 40 hole hub.

Edit: I just remembered that the spoke set on the wheel in the pic fit correctly the first time. Probably because it is/was very common for guys to put 16" HD rims on these bikes back in the day and Buchanan's has that particular size combination down.

That lacing reminds me about a 16" rear rim I had back in the days, it was so cool! But one thing, the spokes were laced in angles causing broken spokes very quick. Angles like yours. 1-2 months 5 spokes had snapped. This was before I tuned the engine.

The photo is not that sharp.

calj737 · « **Reply #16 on:** February 25, 2014, 11:29:41 AM »

18" rim is stock for a 550. But, the width of 3.5" is quite a bit wider than stock. Largest tire I think will fit with 18" is a 120, maybe a 130. The extra width and diameter will be placing the edge of tire in conflict with the swing arm on the brake rod side. Take a few careful measurements first before you plunk a bunch of money down.

You can use stock spokes for 18" as long as hole pattern is equal to your hub.

PeWe · « **Reply #17 on:** February 25, 2014, 12:27:59 PM »

I bought D.I.D rims from CMSNL. Look as good as the ones I bought here 30 years ago. Exactly the same.
Complete with new spokes front + rear.

francis8766 · « **Reply #18 on:** February 25, 2014, 07:30:21 PM »

Thats a nice 750 youve got there. . So from what you guys are saying, the 18"x3.5" rear rim would be easier to install/mount on my stock hub as compared to the 16"x3" due to the bending of the spokes?

Found a couple of rims on ebay. Hope that you guys can give me any feedback from the rims that i listed bellow. Thanks

Landmark 18"x4" 40-spoke rim
Dragspecialties 18"x3.5 40spk
Carpy's 16"x3" 40spk rim

Stoli · « **Reply #19 on:** February 25, 2014, 10:41:34 PM »

Quote from: francis8766 on February 25, 2014, 09:18:06 AM

.... I found another rim. Its 18"x 3.5". My rear rim is also 18". Do i still have to change spokes?

@ stoli, what rim would you suggest for my 550? Ive already considered the cost of the tire and the tube. My only problem is the rear rim. Thanks in advance for your help

Don't assume your old spokes will work just because the rim is the same size. If the rim is the same make and model as your original (DID?), then, they should fit fine but some of HD rims have a "deep drop center" that require shorter spokes even though the outer rim diameter might be the same. So, the answer is to measure the "inside" diameter of the new rim and if it is the same as the old, then the old spokes should be good.

I don't know that I can recommend a rim for you. The Drag Specialty rims seem to vary in quality based on size. For instance, the 16" in the pic is not very good quality. But, what can you expect for $70? On the other hand, I laced up a 19" Drag Specialties for about $90 on the front of that same bike (bought it from the same place) and it is a really nice rim. It has an Excel stamp on it and from what I have gathered, they make really good rims. Obviously Drag Specialties doesn't actually make the rims, they just repackage them and put their name on the box.

Like calj737 mentioned, you will really need to watch the width for your application. Before you go that wide, do some searching for a rim/tire size chart that will show you the smallest tire that will fit on a 3.5" rim and then make sure the width of said tire will fit in your swing arm, and also make sure your chain will have clearance.

Stoli · « **Reply #20 on:** February 25, 2014, 10:48:55 PM »

Quote from: francis8766 on February 25, 2014, 07:30:21 PM

... So from what you guys are saying, the 18"x3.5" rear rim would be easier to install/mount on my stock hub as compared to the 16"x3" due to the bending of the spokes?

Not necessarily. In my experience, the longer the spoke, the easier the lacing goes, but if the spokes have the correct bend, then it really doesn't matter. The problem is that there are "custom" spokes out there that don't bend around the hub correctly and those can be a bear to lace up. And in that case, the 16" would be more of a bear than the 18".

How much does Carpy want for that rim?

francis8766 · « **Reply #21 on:** February 25, 2014, 11:49:49 PM »

Carpy is selling it for $99. . I dunno if it still expensive or cheap but im ok with it. Saw some 16" rims in ebay that are cheaper than carpy's but im not sure if it will fit

Stoli · « **Reply #22 on:** February 26, 2014, 06:40:38 AM »

I'm 99% sure that is the same rim I show above that I got for $70. The price is about right for his mark up and last time I checked, his shipping was pretty high. You can find the same elsewhere for less money. Carpy has some unique stuff, but in general he sells the same stuff you can find on eBay and other vendors for much less.

Keep in mind the spokes for a 16" rim will run you $125+ so if you can find a replacement rim that is the same as the one you have now and reuse your spokes, it might be the way to go even though the rim might cost $100 more than one like Carpy is selling.

francis8766 · « **Reply #23 on:** February 27, 2014, 12:06:35 AM »

Hey. I just finished reading the rebirth of paulages project. Do you guys have any idea regarding the tire size and rim that paul used for his build? Thanks

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Author Topic: need ideas in changing cb550 rear hub to 36 spokes (Read 3229 times)