Wheel rims

[modelman]

Many thanks to all replies, Hmm, although i'm not after a 'show' bike, I think i'll bite the bullet & go once again for the Central-Wheels option, I've used them before & know what to expect!
However, I have just ordered replacement silencers from the Thai guys as mine although sound, have a few dents.
My first go at wheel-building here, got them within 5 thou!
The only thing I DIDN'T do was the renovation of the clocks, I made both side panels as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLXrV_ap31Y

[LOUD MOUSE]

Is what I see is the nipples are not straight in line with the angle of the spoke?
If so it is the hole in the rim not being the correct angle for the hub diameter which causes the spoke to bend.
If that's correct you better keep a close watch of those spokes! ............lm

I just laced up a front and rear rim with spokes from Thailand. These were not perfect but better than the last ones I did. The chrome is very bright on the rims but they don't spend enough time buffing before plating so you get these very fine scratches. From a foot or two away you can't see then. You can probably see them in the close photos. On the other hand the spokes were far better that the last ones I received. The chrome was great. Once tires are mounted and they are mounted on the bike they look very bright and the fine scratches are not noticed unless you get real close.

Hope these pics help. Note I put the paint brush in the pic so you could see the reflection.

[Geoff Hastings]

Many thanks to all replies, Hmm, although i'm not after a 'show' bike, I think i'll bite the bullet & go once again for the Central-Wheels option, I've used them before & know what to expect!
However, I have just ordered replacement silencers from the Thai guys as mine although sound, have a few dents.
My first go at wheel-building here, got them within 5 thou!
The only thing I DIDN'T do was the renovation of the clocks, I made both side panels as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLXrV_ap31Y

Beautiful job on the Triumph, I'm intrigued as to how you made the side panels. I nearly had to go down that road with my CA77 but fortunately got hold of a left panel before I started. Did you use an English wheel or beat them by hand?

[Geoff Hastings]

Is what I see is the nipples are not straight in line with the angle of the spoke?
If so it is the hole in the rim not being the correct angle for the hub diameter which causes the spoke to bend.
If that's correct you better keep a close watch of those spokes! .......

LM this is what the spoke manufacture says
.....PLEASE NOTE ...

Lengths of bend will be supplied as near to requested size as possible. It must be remembered that stainless steel does not bend as tightly as galvanised material, so not all requested bends are attainable.

It's not the threaded end of the spoke but the hub end where the slight difference occurs, there will obviously be some bedding in so a check on the spoke tension would be advisable.

I just laced up a front and rear rim with spokes from Thailand. These were not perfect but better than the last ones I did. The chrome is very bright on the rims but they don't spend enough time buffing before plating so you get these very fine scratches. From a foot or two away you can't see then. You can probably see them in the close photos. On the other hand the spokes were far better that the last ones I received. The chrome was great. Once tires are mounted and they are mounted on the bike they look very bright and the fine scratches are not noticed unless you get real close.

Hope these pics help. Note I put the paint brush in the pic so you could see the reflection.

[cadman]

If I remember correctly the position of the holes in the rim were not too bad. The problem was on some spokes the distance from the bend to the short end of the spoke was too short. That made it necessary to bend the spoke slightly (it didn't lat flat the hub) to fit into the nipple. I would assume that the spokes are fabricated by an automatic machine so I don't know how some would be different. I did notice that when sorting out the 90° spokes from the ones with the 75° bend some looked very close to each other. It is also possible there were some irregularities in the hub - it was a fairly rough casting.

[modelman]

Many thanks to all replies, Hmm, although i'm not after a 'show' bike, I think i'll bite the bullet & go once again for the Central-Wheels option, I've used them before & know what to expect!
However, I have just ordered replacement silencers from the Thai guys as mine although sound, have a few dents.
My first go at wheel-building here, got them within 5 thou!
The only thing I DIDN'T do was the renovation of the clocks, I made both side panels as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLXrV_ap31Y

Beautiful job on the Triumph, I'm intrigued as to how you made the side panels. I nearly had to go down that road with my CA77 but fortunately got hold of a left panel before I started. Did you use an English wheel or beat them by hand?

I carved hard foam plugs then vac-formed them from 3mm acrylic, I,m going to do the same with the carb-covers for the CA77.
I could have just as easily made them from GRP, but vaccing is much easier & quicker as no mold-making is required.
Being 3mm, they are very stiff & 'sound' like metal if you tap them!