10 gauge spokes in 8 gauge holes?

[stu.sharratt]

Evening Gents

I ordered rims & spokes from drags to rebuild my '51 VH500 wheels. My mistake was not noticing that the plated spokes listed for the rear wheel brake side are a longer length & plain 10 gauge, as opposed to the stainless spokes available which are the correct length & 8/10gauge.
It would appear that the idea is to build the wheel with an alternative spoke pattern to accommodate these longer spokes, however I'm not sure I like the idea of fitting 10gauge spokes to the rear hub where it's designed to take the 8gauge section of the 8/10 butted spokes.
Has anyone done it this way? any views or knowledge would help, I'm getting bored of sending stuff back.

Cheers
Stu

[nevhunter]

Butted (on the bend) and 10 gauge would be good. A lot of ARIEL wheels I see are not the butted type. The bend is the weak part ( and the thread near the nipple )but it's a straight pull.. You can shorten the spokes and ROLL the threads again . IF your wheel s are dimpled and drilled properly I wouldn't change the length as that varies the angle it leaves the wheel rim. Nev

[robin.parker]

Stu,
Forgive me if I'm stating the obvious, but you can get butted or even double butted spokes, in whatever lengths you need try Googling, or look at Central Wheel as just one example of a reliable specialist supplier.
Absolutely no disrespect to Drags, but wheels is wheels and spares is spares.
Robin.

[simon.holyfield]

I have butted spokes from Central on the rear of my SQ4. Great products & service.

[nevhunter]

I've never seen double butted spokes on a (fairly) modern Ariel. A lot of veteran bikes (and modern Moto-X), Your original hole sizes will give you some indication. ( Rim and hub) nev

[robin.parker]

Nev,
True, but I was simply trying to point out that plain, butted and double butted are all presently available.
Robin.

[simon.holyfield]

My '51 Square had 8/10 gauge spokes on the rear brake side. Original spec - it's in the parts list as far as I remember. I don't have it to habe at the moment. i cut the originalspokes out myself, since they were 60 years old and very thin in places.

All other spokes are plain 10 gauge.

[nevhunter]

Double butted is the ultimate for the job. The single butted are more used as they can be shortened easily and the wheelbuilder doesn't have to carry as much stock. They just shorten them to length required and roll a new thread. It's better to have the exact length than try to remove the excess after the wheel is built..Nev

[barry.swanson]

...been watching your thread with interest Stu hope you don't mind if I expand it a bit by asking the forum about the use of stainless spokes and rims ...has anyone used them or seen them in use and are they reliable?

[simon.holyfield]

I have stainless spokes on my Bantam... They have been fine, unlike the plated steel nipples which are rusty after two years...