Spoke thread?

[Johnny4428]

This has probably cropped up before but what is the thread on my spokes? I know that sounds like how long is a piece of string! Thing is I have probably 4 sets of spokes that were wrongly sent for my C90’s number of years ago, just cheap so not worth sending back at the time. Now I would like to shorten them and re thread them to fit a 14” wheel off a QT50. I couldn’t get my metric or imperial thread gauge to marry up to the thread. Anybody else encountered this?

[Orcade-Ian]

Johnny,
Spoke threads are often rolled not cut, which means they end up a slightly bigger diameter than the spoke shank.  Cutting a thread into the shank would be weaker than a rolled thread.  Not sure if Alex has a thread rolling rig but worth asking him. 

Ian

[Johnny4428]

Of course that figures Ian. Never thought of Alex. Nice one! Thanks.

[Bryanj]

Its not metric to the best of my knowledge but an old british standard and as said rolled not cut

[Orcade-Ian]

By coincidence, I'm putting a new rim on the front of the orangutang (550F1) - one of those awful DID jobs from DS with that side script, so I have just plated the spokes and nipples.  Checking the 550 spokes they are as near as damn it 4BA - but not right.  BA is a threadform usually used on brass electrical fittings and had a metric based pitch - no idea why.  So I have no idea what this thread is exactly - British Standard bottle top, lawn mower and chastity belt thread as my old metalwork teacher called any thread he couldn't identify.
Ian

I've put the horrid side script on the left of the bike on both wheels, so at least it's not as visible when on the side stand!

[K2-K6]

56 TPI equal to 0.454mm (0.45357) in possibly a Witworth thread form of included angle 55 deg seems to be somewhat in the ball-park for thread type 

Whitworth quite a possible form as date of record likely fed into bicycle std manufacture, with pitch rather than ultimate other decider to give characteristic tensioning effect that's consistent for X number degree of tightening turn to load the spokes.

Thread pitch desirable regardless of spoke gauge would seem logical to wheel building, and so giving likely hybrid to the thread form used, even today.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

By coincidence, I'm putting a new rim on the front of the orangutang (550F1) - one of those awful DID jobs from DS with that side script, so I have just plated the spokes and nipples.  Checking the 550 spokes they are as near as damn it 4BA - but not right.  BA is a threadform usually used on brass electrical fittings and had a metric based pitch - no idea why.  So I have no idea what this thread is exactly - British Standard bottle top, lawn mower and chastity belt thread as my old metalwork teacher called any thread he couldn't identify.
Ian

I've put the horrid side script on the left of the bike on both wheels, so at least it's not as visible when on the side stand!

Ian,  I've never seen the DS sourced DID sidesript rims - are they really that noticable?

[Orcade-Ian]

Hi Ted,
I bought DID from DS, two options for the front OEM replacement and DID original (search me!) I went for the cheaper option and only the cheaper option was available for the rear.  They are nowhere near the quality of the originals, they have a 'kick' at the weld - almost impossible to true out and the normally flat area between the outer edge and the centre spoke well is not flat but has a bit of a variable hump.  I am being super critical as nothing is more than 1/2mm out and the tyre will take care of all that.  The worst part is the side script.

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Totally unnecessary - what was wrong with the discreet logo of times gone by?

You might just be able to see the non flat bit but difficult to get the light right

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Surely Mother Honda couldn't have insisted that DID didn't make them as original?

BTW, the supposed original, (read much more expensive) front rim also has the side script!

Ian

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Blimey that's not so much branding - more like wallpaper!

[taysidedragon]

Maybe regulations have changed since the Seventies and the rim size has to be stamped on the side.
Other makes put them there too. ☹