I ran 40 hole 4x pattern on the front wheel of my touring bike. its like doing 3x on a 36 hole wheel.*
40 is not evenly divisible by 3 , so crows foot is out.

I cant help if the spokes you got are the wrong length, order the right ones,
(In bike shop saturated Portland, no problems with sources)


I build one side, then half the other with straight spokes, then bend the last 1/4
to fit and lace the last cross.

*My rear a 48 hole was 5x , like 4X on a 36 hole 1st cross is the nearest spoke
'headed' to the opposite side of the rim.