Bicycle Mechanics - spoke pattern for 40h hi-lo rear hub

I'm having a set of indestructable post-apocolypse wheels (40h maxi-car hubs, 26" velocity aeroheat rims, 14/15 wheelsmith spokes) built. I originally had the parts sent unbuilt from yellow-jersey, who kindly calculated spoke lengths for me (the equation at the back of jobst's book has like 10 variables!). When I went to build the wheels though I realized I was in a bit over my head and decided to have them built at the lbs. They got the front wheel together, but the rear hub has high-low flanges, and they say that you cannt use a cross-four patter on a small flange. I believe this is becaus ethe spokes overlap. What spoking pattern should be used in this situation? Maxi-car would not have made the hubs if they were unbuildable.

(p.s. I also am awaiting a reply from andy muzi at yellow-jersey, so a definitive answer is forthcoming, but I still want to hear what you all think)

Should work just fine with 4X - like most 40 and 44 hole wheels. 3X cross should work as well...either side.

=8-)

I believe this is becaus ethe spokes overlap. What spoking pattern should be used in this situation? Maxi-car would not have made the hubs if they were unbuildable.


4X on small flanges can cause a spoke to cross over the adjacent spoke's head. This makes it difficult to replace a spoke, but it's by no means "unbuildable". I'd still go 3X on both sides- you won't notice the difference.

4X on small flanges can cause a spoke to cross over the adjacent spoke's head.
True, but I highly doubt that would be the case with 40h hubs.

OP: Did you buy the spokes in the length for 4x? If so, build with that.

True, but I highly doubt that would be the case with 40h hubs.


Yes, but... 4X 40h on 26" rim?

BTW: if you frequent Open Road Bicycles on Sierra Madre, tell Steve that "Big Jeff" says Hi...

The 4 cross pattern on a low flange hub can cause one spoke to cross the head of the adjacent spoke which can cause stress risers that can lead to spoke breakage.

Buildable...yes.

Good... no.

A 3 cross wheel will be plenty strong if it is properly built.

My 36-hole 26" MTB rear wheel was built (at the factory) 4x using low flange Deore hubs. There's just a little bit of spoke head overlap but it's been no problem to remove and replace broken spokes (just a couple in 22+ years). There may no spoke head overlap at all with 40 4x spokes and low flange.

My 36-hole 26" MTB rear wheel was built (at the factory) 4x using low flange Deore hubs. There's just a little bit of spoke head overlap but it's been no problem to remove and replace broken spokes (just a couple in 22+ years). There may no spoke head overlap at all with 40 4x spokes and low flange.

The only factory mtb wheels I have seen with 4x patterns are mid eighties Kuwaharas but they use a high flange Sansin hub.

I have two customers who have been riding their bikes for 20 years and have yet to break a spoke or have any need to get their wheels trued.

Both are at a point where they have almost worn out the stock Araya RM20 wheels so at some point I will be rebuilding these for them.

My Kuwahara has a 36 spoke 4 cross on a Formula track hub (rear) and there are no crossover issues.

Not every low flange hub will have issues but if there is spoke overlap, then a 3 cross wheel should be built.