Hub diameter question re wood spokes

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Mark Gregush
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* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1925 cutdown PU, 1920 Dodge touring, 1948 F2 Ford flat head 6 pickup 3 speed
Location: Portland Or
MTFCA Number: 52564
Board Member Since: 1999

Hub diameter question re wood spokes

Post by Mark Gregush » Tue May 07, 2019 12:02 pm

Last winter I won off Ebay some spoke blanks for my 21" wheels. I have turned the tenons but am at a loss on doing the hole. I am coming up with 2-3/16 on the hub where the spokes sit. I have a jig built to put the spokes in to mark for length that I could use, but 2-3/16" is not a normal hole saw size. I just need to put a curve on the end not take a whole lot off. I could go with 2-1/4" but am unsure if that would leave too much space and would have to shim. I thought about using my osculating sander but would still run into maybe same issue because of stock sanding drum sizes. Any ideas?
I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas! :shock:

1925 Cut down pickup
1920 Dodge touring
1948 Ford F2 pickup


Gene_French
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Re: Hub diameter question re wood spokes

Post by Gene_French » Tue May 07, 2019 5:20 pm

Mark:
I just measured a front hub … diameter is 2.185 to 2.187 … 2 3/16 " diameter … I have machined the radius at the hub end of spokes by using an adjustable boring head in a milling machine … you may be able to make a " fly cutter" type boring tool to accurately machine this surface … on my Dodge brothers 24" wheels I machined the end radius and made the spoke .020" longer than actual "correct" length … this allowed a tight press fit in final assembly … always an optimist ...Gene French

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Topic author
Mark Gregush
Posts: 4957
Joined: Sat Jan 05, 2019 1:57 pm
First Name: Mark
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* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1925 cutdown PU, 1920 Dodge touring, 1948 F2 Ford flat head 6 pickup 3 speed
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Board Member Since: 1999

Re: Hub diameter question re wood spokes

Post by Mark Gregush » Tue May 07, 2019 8:02 pm

Gene;
I thought about using my adjustable hole saw but was afraid that it might do more damage then good. I could try it on one of the spare spokes that are not usable for this project.
I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas! :shock:

1925 Cut down pickup
1920 Dodge touring
1948 Ford F2 pickup


Allan
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Re: Hub diameter question re wood spokes

Post by Allan » Tue May 07, 2019 8:34 pm

Mark, the guru of wheel builders in New Zealand puts the whole rebuilt wheel in a big old lathe and bores the holes to suit. That way the hole is truly central and true to the hub.
What I really liked was that somewhere in the driveline on his set-up, a model T transmission and clutch set was used to engage/disengage the drive.

Allan from down under.


Gene_French
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Re: Hub diameter question re wood spokes

Post by Gene_French » Tue May 07, 2019 10:22 pm

Alan:
when I did the Dodge Brothers wheels I did not have a large enough mill to position the assembled wheel concentric to the spindle to bore all spokes at one time … I would do the boring in that manner now … always an optimist...gene french


Altair
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Re: Hub diameter question re wood spokes

Post by Altair » Tue May 07, 2019 11:27 pm

When I did my hubs I used a Dremel with a small drum sander to finish the hole.

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Mark Gregush
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* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1925 cutdown PU, 1920 Dodge touring, 1948 F2 Ford flat head 6 pickup 3 speed
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Board Member Since: 1999

Re: Hub diameter question re wood spokes

Post by Mark Gregush » Wed May 08, 2019 8:44 am

Thanks for suggestions. I went ahead and set my jig up on the drill press and used an adjustable hole saw. I am going to take the spokes and felloe to the shop and use the press to set the spokes and hubs on one wheel. If they go in straight I will call it good, if not back to the drawing board.
I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas! :shock:

1925 Cut down pickup
1920 Dodge touring
1948 Ford F2 pickup


TBill
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Re: Hub diameter question re wood spokes

Post by TBill » Thu May 09, 2019 5:38 am

I used a cylinder hone wrapped in sandpaper to slightly enlarge the hub bore in the spokes.

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Humblej
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Re: Hub diameter question re wood spokes

Post by Humblej » Thu May 09, 2019 9:04 am

The Ford spoke drawing dated 1925 has a hub hole dia. of 2.183" - 2.188".

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Topic author
Mark Gregush
Posts: 4957
Joined: Sat Jan 05, 2019 1:57 pm
First Name: Mark
Last Name: Gregush
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1925 cutdown PU, 1920 Dodge touring, 1948 F2 Ford flat head 6 pickup 3 speed
Location: Portland Or
MTFCA Number: 52564
Board Member Since: 1999

Re: Hub diameter question re wood spokes

Post by Mark Gregush » Thu May 09, 2019 9:24 am

I know the voices aren't real but damn they have some good ideas! :shock:

1925 Cut down pickup
1920 Dodge touring
1948 Ford F2 pickup


Altair
Posts: 365
Joined: Thu Jan 17, 2019 11:52 am
First Name: David
Last Name: Menzies
* REQUIRED* Type and Year of Model Ts owned: 1926 Touring and 1915 Touring both Canadian models
Location: British Columbia
MTFCA Number: 27825
Board Member Since: 2012

Re: Hub diameter question re wood spokes

Post by Altair » Thu May 09, 2019 12:31 pm

Some models of spokes were alternately tapered and the last spoke went in like a wedge, no press was required, the hub bolts would pull it tight. All the spokes on my Canadian '26 are like that.

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