550 F2 started!

[Laverdaroo]

For bottom of trough measurements as you mention Ken…..


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[Oddjob]

What's the width from outside edge to outside edge?

I can see the rim stamped with 40, which clearly means 40 spoke version, you sure there's nothing else stamped on the rim, most likely it the same sort of place.

They look like an 18 and a 19 to me. Most likely 1.85 rim size.

Finally got back in the garage after a week or so off.

Did your collets, just tidying em up ready to be done, need to be polished next.

Before.



After.

[Oddjob]

Just thought. What's the problem with the spokes, looking at those rims the standards spokes will be too long.

[Laverdaroo]

The standard spokes are too long, that’s what raised  an eyebrow to start with.

There’s deffo nothing else on em I’ll measure again tonight when I get in.


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[K2-K6]

I'd be very tempted to paint those rim interior areas to prevent further corrosion. There appears to be some occlusion in corrosion areas too. Worthwhile carefully inspecting after building for any disturbance around the spoke Wells to make sure non have been affected and will subsequently hold good tension.

Prime with etch, then something like gloss grey to give neutral finish.

[Oddjob]

Of course the spokes are too long, the spoke holes sit much higher than the standard rim ones do, as soon as I saw those pics I wondered if they used shorter spokes, the outside can’t change size because you need to fit a standard size tyre on it so with the spoke holes sitting much higher in, due to that deep dish effect the rim has, it has to use it’s own type of spoke. Could mean you’ve got the right rims but the wrong spokes.

[Oddjob]

I didn't realise you'd had them professionally polished Roo until I re-read your post on them. It's possible that they polished off the markings showing what the rim size was, especially if it was just lightly stamped or even printed on the rim.

If you still have the old steel rims you could try this. Place upright on a flat surface, get a small spirit level and place it on the highest point of the spoke hole, across the wheel, level the bubble and measure what the distance is from the lower edge to the flat surface. Do the same with the new alloy rims, the difference is how much shorter the new spokes should be.

You could also try lacing the front wheel with the rear wheel spokes, as they are 1" shorter they may fit. If they do at least you only need to buy or alter one set of spokes, depends on how much shorter they have to be.

You could also re-thread the spokes yourself, find out the size and pitch and just run the thread down the spoke more, cut off any excess spoke after fitting and trueing etc.

[Laverdaroo]

These are the wheels that came on the bike and the only wheels I have Ken!

That’s the problem……..

I’ve not measured wheels of this dirt before and never had anything to do with spiked wheels before re-lacing the 400, they were standard though so it was an easy search, buy and re-lace.

Apart from that faint 40 which as you say is for the number of spokes…..there are NO MARKS ON THESE AT ALL!

Two more photos front first and then the rear. Basically they are not right so I’ll have to get some more I reckon, serves me right for not doing my homework.



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[Laverdaroo]

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[Laverdaroo]

I'd be very tempted to paint those rim interior areas to prevent further corrosion. There appears to be some occlusion in corrosion areas too. Worthwhile carefully inspecting after building for any disturbance around the spoke Wells to make sure non have been affected and will subsequently hold good tension.

Prime with etch, then something like gloss grey to give neutral finish.

I very much doubt they'll get used in all honesty as they're not right and looking back at the picture of the bike when I bought it I remember saying the wheels were odd and the bike sat funny, see for yourself. I think its gong to be a remortgage and a new set of rims tbh! A real shame as I really like these they look fantastic!

I wanted it rolling before crimbo so I could get the VFR on the ramp to get the back end swapped but it looks like another couple of evenings grovelling on the floor to do it as this isn't going to get done for ages now I think and without the rims I cant move it.


Least it gives me a bit of time to try and sort some replacements, and save up! ....

See what I mean?..............

[Laverdaroo]

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[Oddjob]

I really wish you'd stop being so negative Roo, they fitted before, they can be made to fit again. You keep saying they won't fit but you never say why, the only thing you've said is that the spokes didn't fit. You don't describe why they don't fit, are they too short or too long? Do you still have any of the original spokes around, I presume you've bought new ones, a simple side by side comparison will show where the problem lies.

Looking at the pics of the bike the problem seems to be the front forks are not the correct length, far too much of the stanchion showing between the top of the fork slider and the bottom yoke, it makes the bike look hump backed, the back looks fine TBH although I also suspect the rear shocks are over long, it's probably why the side stand is too short, elevated by the forks at the front and the rear shocks at the back. Must a been a doddle to put on the main stand as it would hardly need to lift the bike if at all.

Looking at the width of 70mm from side to side, not 2.15 rims as those are 90mm, I'll see if I can find an original rim from somewhere, I had a few but threw them away, I suspect they are 1.85. Anyone with a set of original rims should be able to give you a definitive side to side measurement, must be loads of members with bare rims lying around.

I appreciate you're having a hard time at the moment but take a moment, look at the problem, don't let it defeat you, work out what's wrong and fix it, if you can't think of a solution, explain what's wrong in detail and I'm 100% sure someone on here will have the answer, it's why we are all here, to help others get their bikes on the road and keep them there.

[K2-K6]

As Ken says, worth double checking throughout to see what is out of kilter, they can't be too far away from solving it.

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Your rear could be a WM3 on that illustration.

I though the rim profiles were standard in WM designated elements, even with the large external wall flanges on that type.  The spojes can still be positioned in tbe same place to use normal length spokes.
Worth check the spokes you have against std length. Diameter of rim across nipple seats for this against std. Possibly loosely build wheel with nipples all turned to be flat with spoke ends to define if and by how much the length is out.

http://www.luytenimport.be/lsp-rims-morad-alloy some more info here, interesting that they appear to have bought Akront kit to produce these now in Spain.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I can identify with Roo being negative - sometimes a rebuid can overwhelm you - self doubt creeps in & all you see is problems not any solutions. This can be made worse if you have any work pressures.

FWIW Roo I've found taking a break - just spending a few days leaving the bike alone or just doing something else that is easy helps.
Have you a spare wheel(s) that you can fit in place to move the bike around even if its not the correct one - then sort out the VFR?

[Matt_Harrington]

Ted, wise words! Probably why I have numerous projects on the go, so I can flit from one to the other! 
Matt