MTFCA Forum

I have new wood spokes for our 1926 Touring. I am trying to get them into the fellow but it is taking great force to get them in the proper place. There are a couple of spaces between the spokes at the center. How do I get them rotated to fit flat against each other? They seem to need rotation a little. They are near the end of the travel and it seems to be great force to bring them to level.

How do I rotate the offending spokes? Will they rotate on their own when they are in place:

Thanks for any help.
Nick

Note that the base of each spoke has a chamfer on one side. Are you sure that the chamfer of each spoke is facing the fillet on the hub? That chamfer is there to provide clearance for the fillet. If the spoke is rotated the wrong way, the sharp edge of the base of the spoke will hit the fillet and possibly prevent the spoke from seating on the center of the hub.

Nick,

Here is the link for a set of plans to a Spoke Press for assembling Model T Ford Wheels and Instructions. http://funprojects.com/pdf/WheelpressA2.pdf

WOOD SPOKE WHEEL ASSEMBLY PRESS INSTRUCTIONS

1. Lay metal felloe (outside face DOWN) on rubber padded ring.

2. Install 5/8-11 nut & washer then HUB (outside face DOWN) followed by washer & 5/8-11 nut. (Use 3/4-10 nut as a spacer to keep the 5/8 nut out of outer hub hole & plumbing union adapter on the inside of front hub only.)

3. Secure the hub at a “starting” height of approximately 8 3/16" between the spoke surface of the hub and top surface of plywood.

4. Install spokes in circular fashion (outside face DOWN) - last spoke inserted at the notch. (If the last spoke will not fit - raise the hub slightly. If spokes are loose and fall then lower the hub. KEEP THE HUB TIGHT!!

5. After all spokes are installed, begin to move the hub downward by loosening the lower nut then tightening the upper nut. (Wiggle each spoke & pull the hub end of the spoke up to position each spoke BEFORE the final push.

6. When all spokes are in position (no more wiggle is possible) loosen bottom nut all the way & tighten top nut to “HOME” the spokes.

Best of luck,
Dom

I ran into the same problem you’re having when I was rebuilding my rear wheels a few years ago. I varnished mine before assembly and thought I was careful to keep the finish off the tapered sides. I didn’t. Those tapers need to be smooth and flat so they can slide past each other as you’re pressing them in. Either way, you’ll need to raise them up and start over. Continually check alignment as you’re pressing them. Once you get past a certain point you’re not going to be able to rotate them any more.