16 bladed spokes on 32 hole hub

Front and rear hubs are not interchangeable. Rims- yes. Hubs-No

You wouldn't necessarily just be able to re-lace it with old spokes you had laying around, spoke lengths change for different rim/hub combinations. 

Yes you can lace a 16-spoke pattern into a 32-hole hub (most of the time... there's rim limitations etc. that can make this impossible, but that is rare).

The biggest question is why would you want to do that... obviously the hub is not designed for it, the rim won't be designed for it... You will have a much weaker wheel. If anything, I would purchase a low count rim and hub and try this, but I wouldn't with a standard box 32 and 32 hub.

OK, just to clarify the whole deal... most importantly- Why?  Like I said, Just because.  I have the stuff.  its not for a competative bike... just a fun project.

I have 2 rear wheels, that are nice, medium depth rims with aero spokes.  There are some hairline cracks near the nipples, so Im pretty sure they got over-tightened prior to being in my possesion.  I also have a Weinman front wheel.  The wheel is OK but the bearings are shot.  I can re-pack them, sure.... just trying to goof around with what I have.

Rear hubs have 130 mm width, front hubs 110 mm width (IIRC).  So no, not interchangable.

I'd overhaul those bearings unless you have a truing stand, a tensiometer, and a way to cut or get the correct length spokes.  That's not just a super straight-forward swap.

DP.  Sorry.


Edited by Sprint_DA 2010-08-13 8:20 AM

Is it doable? Sure. I've got a Hed Jet around my garage that does exactly what you're asking -- puts a spoke in every other hub hole. Not ideal, as there's more likelihood that the hub flange will just unzip on you (and is the reason that no hub maker will warrant such a wheel). I assume you're talking about a radial laced wheel?

Can a rear hub be used on a front wheel? Yes and no. It has to (1) be an old thread-on hub to begin with, and (2) respaced so that the hub flanges are centered on the axle. Still, it'll look goofy. And there may be problems still with the locknut spacing (110mm, you may not have enough room). The flange spacing will be different from a standard front hub (narrower), and what was the drive side won't have the same angle as the non-drive side. Still, it's "doable".

Bladed spokes usually have a hook end rather than a bead end. Make sure that you put the ends into the hub from the centerline, rather than the outside, and such that the spoke side is on the chamfered hole edge (use the inbound-spoke holes).

Have fun with it. Take your time getting the tension up. I hope you have a truing stand. Radial lacing is actually more difficult to build than a 3-cross or 2-cross pattern.