Topic: Trouble installing Buchanan spokes.

[Gorms]

Just got the stock thickness stainless steel spokes from Buchanan's and test fit them.  The ones that lace from the inside (insertesd from the outside) go in fine.  The ones that lace from the outside of the rim won't.  The bend at the bottom of the spoke (bend is sharper on the outter spokes) gets hung up in the hole in the hub and wont rotate through.  I could just hammer it in but the spoke puts a dent in the side of the hole on the ouside of the hub.  I just polished my wheels and they look great.  I dont really want to dent the holes.  Suggestions?

[Industrial Cafe]

they all go on the inside?

i did that on my rear wheel    and it looks great

[Gorms]

There are definately two different spokes for inside and out.  They even came it different packages.  One has a tighter and longer bend to get around the outside of the hub.  I like the look as well.  If need be I will force them through and put the dent where the spoke would cover it when it lays against the lip of the hub.

[nokrome]

i had the same problem but only on the rear hub,
  ended up sending them back and they sent me different ones that worked

[Industrial Cafe]

you got some pics?

mine came the same way, 2 separate bags, and a definite bend in one setmy set was designed so you can put them all on the inside, so there's no spokes crossing the outside of the hub.

i forgot to ask- is the bend about 1/3rd the way up the spoke?

[Industrial Cafe]

I could be misunderstanding what you're talking about. in regards to the placement of your bend.

 but if you look in this pic, you can see the ones in the "inner" position have a bend in them to go around the "outer" spoke.

[Gorms]

No, I am referring to the L-shaped bend at the very bottom of the spokes. The bend that all spokes must have.  These spokes are all straight and look exactly like the originals. The outside spokes have a tighter bend here because they have to angle back into the center of the rim since they start on the outside of the hub.  Again, this is just like the original outter spokes.  They look like they will fit fine as soon as I force this 90 degree bend through the holes in the hub.  I will post a picture tomorrow.  Hopefully I wont have to send them back like someone said.  What did the replacements look like?

[Industrial Cafe]

oh, oh.... duh
i wasn't thinking of that, sry
maybe drill the holes a tad larger?
i dunno... my 2 cents

[MCRider]

Industrial, is your wheel a 16"? They are all insiders / cross 1 on the 16".

17 and 18" are traditional inside / outside cross 2 or 3. And yes sometimes the outsiders need a little forcing, But your thumb ought to be able to do it. Any more than that, needs new spokes like nokrome did.

I'm surprised that a stock gauge spoke would be a problem. I had the heavier ones and could push them in with my hands. They did leave a nick in a relatively unnoticable place in the hole, but i was disappointed.

[Gorms]

Come to think of it, I dont think Buchanan would have anything to replace mine with.  They sell thicker guage spokes and original guage.  I did not feel like drilling out my nipple holes in the rim for the larger nipples that come with the heavier guage spokes.  I would think that the poster that had to send his back got the heavy spokes and got the original as replacements.  I'll probably just end up banging them through.  Rims come back from the powdercoaters tomorrow so I give them another try.

[MCRider]

Come to think of it, I dont think Buchanan would have anything to replace mine with.  They sell thicker guage spokes and original guage.  I did not feel like drilling out my nipple holes in the rim for the larger nipples that come with the heavier guage spokes.  I would think that the poster that had to send his back got the heavy spokes and got the original as replacements.  I'll probably just end up banging them through.  Rims come back from the powdercoaters tomorrow so I give them another try.

maybe they'd give you a slightly different bend. Anyway, you could file the hub hole just a skosh at the spot where they interfere. That spot is not any place involved with holding the spoke in the hole, if i rememeber. Anyway, good luck.

[Gorms]

OK I will try that.  If I have to file or dent the edge of the holes, I'll try to do it so that the spoke lies on top of it so it cannot be seen.

[Industrial Cafe]

Industrial, is your wheel a 16"? They are all insiders / cross 1 on the 16".

17 and 18" are traditional inside / outside cross 2 or 3. And yes sometimes the outsiders need a little forcing, But your thumb ought to be able to do it. Any more than that, needs new spokes like nokrome did.

I'm surprised that a stock gauge spoke would be a problem. I had the heavier ones and could push them in with my hands. They did leave a nick in a relatively unnoticable place in the hole, but i was disappointed.

yeah, unfortunately it's a 16 (tired of it)
and I didn't know that little piece of gold.  *They are all insiders / cross 1 on the 16".*

[rhinoracer]

I ordered the heavier ones, you definitely need to force them to fit into the stock 18" wheel, some required more force than others. Some even got curved. According to Buchanans they will straighten once you tighten them.

[Gorms]

I called Buchanan and they said they have had some trouble fitting the spokes to Honda hubs as they can vary in thickness.  I sent them back along with a few original spokes and they are sending me new ones made with the right bend in them. Got the front hub laces up though and it looks great!