Spoke length - will this work?

moschika · 2 Weeks Ago

so i'm looking to build a wheelset and have 3 different spoke lengths, all within 2mm of each other. For the front, i have 293.3; left rear - 293.9; right rear - 291.9. how "big" of a difference is this? i'm wondering if there is one size in here that would work for all 3. the front and left rear are within 1mm! if i bought 293's or 294's, would they work for both? and would that be too long for the right rear? or should i get 292's and i'll be fine for the front and left rear?

btw, these figures are from Sheldon Brown's site.

Mike T. · 2 Weeks Ago

Two things -

Spokes should be within +/- 1mm.
Most spoke vendors stock only even length spokes.

So assuming that those two things are givens, spokes need to be rounded up or down within (preferably) 1mm and to the closest even number.

For the 293.9 I'd go with 294.
For the 293.3 I'd go with 294
For the 291.9 I'd go with 292.

kbiker3111 · 2 Weeks Ago

You can always buy 294's, start building the rear and see if it works. Usually a spoke as about a cm of threads on it and you don't need all of them. (but you need more than a couple!) What kind of spokes are you using?

IME, though, you're going to need both sizes.

kytyree · 2 Weeks Ago

When you say you got the lengths from Sheldon Brown's website did you use Damon Rinard's calculator?

Without knowing what kind of spokes (or nipples) you are using or for certain how you calculated the lengths above, I'll say there is a chance I might have gone for spokes shorter than that.

rruff · 2 Weeks Ago

Unless you have actually measured your rim and allowed for spoke stretch, then you will run a pretty decent chance of bottoming out the threads if you ever round *up* on a DS or front spoke.

Having spokes that are a wee bit short shouldn't be a problem if you are using brass nipples.

moschika · 2 Weeks Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by kytyree

When you say you got the lengths from Sheldon Brown's website did you use Damon Rinard's calculator?

Without knowing what kind of spokes (or nipples) you are using or for certain how you calculated the lengths above, I'll say there is a chance I might have gone for spokes shorter than that.

i just downloaded the excel sheet that's posted there. i plugged in the numbers listed for the hubs and rims and these were the lengths it spit out. this is a vintage set using Mavic ModE2 700c 36h rims with Normandy HF hubs.

I was trying to get an idea of what size spokes I would need to look for. some of the spoke sets i've seen on ebay come with nipples. i'm looking to do this relatively inexpensively.

wankski · 2 Weeks Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike T.

Two things -

Spokes should be within +/- 1mm.
Most spoke vendors stock only even length spokes.

So assuming that those two things are givens, spokes need to be rounded up or down within (preferably) 1mm and to the closest even number.

For the 293.9 I'd go with 294.
For the 293.3 I'd go with 294
For the 291.9 I'd go with 292.

you can buy 14mm nipples for the 292s couldn't you? should be the DS

sapim do odd lengths IIRC, i'd get 291 DS and 293 everything else.

Mike T. · 2 Weeks Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by wankski

sapim do odd lengths.

They might make them but not everyone stocks them; nor is it necessary.

vortechcoupe · 2 Weeks Ago

need to know what spokes your using. revos or lasers will stretch some, more so on the rear drive side. Use the dt swiss calculator.

Also, someone correct me if i'm wrong but 12 or 14mm nipples have the same length/height threads. Just the tips are longer. Either nipple on the outside (part with the slot) has to be the same length.