I have a front hub (non disc) that does not have any offset on the spoke holes. The right flange holes are directly opposite the left flange holes. I checked many times in a few ways.


I built the wheel up anyways and if you look from the outside of the rim, the pattern is: two normal length spokes, the two spokes that are about 2mm past the nipple, and that repeats. The long spokes are still below the part of the rim were they would not puncture the tube.

Is this OK?
Any ideas what I did wrong?
Aren't all hubs offset on spoke holes?


I am not an accomplished rim builder. I have built about 10 wheels in my life and the last one was a few years ago, but I have never had this problem.

Yes, it'll be fine. There's no torque on front hubs so the twist with respect to the right & left flanges won't matter, except for the effect on spoke length, which you say is within bounds.

The only thing you did wrong is to build it instead of returning the hub as defective.

Yes, all hubs are supposed to have offset spoke holes, but it seems that not all actually do.

The wheel is absolutely fine as it is, so don't sweat it, but next time check more carefully, and if you truly cannot see the 1/2 hole offset in the spoke holes, return the hub, or save it as a conversation piece.

Thanks.

Have you ever seen a hub that was not offset?

Any idea about what percent of the industry production isn't offset?

Yes, but only on hubs where the shell is made in 3 pieces (flanges pressed on the center section). I've never seen it on a one piece machined aluminum shell.

Well that is interesting because this is a dynohub. I am guessing this may fall into the pressed together category.

I have to take a closer look at it.

As FB says, it's no biggie.

But it's interesting to note that since one side of the wheel is slightly more trailing and the other is slightly more leading, and this is a dynohub, the slight resistance it creates will move the rim an imperceptibly small amount to one side...

A fun little detail.

I've encountered a couple of gearhubs with one flange on a spline. Shimano Alfine 8 speed is one of those (Non drive side). Sachs S7 coaster brake (steel shell) is another(Drive side.). With these hubs, it could conceivably be possible to remove the flange and re-install it with the wrong spoke hole orientation.
Th OP didn't mention which dynohub he has, but this may be a possibility.

In both cases, I discovered this by accident while setting spoke head washers.
Here's the Alfine, showing the separation of the flange. I got on the horn to Shimano as soon as I noticed this happening, and was told not to worry, that flange is removeable.

It is done purposely on some Zero (Formula) wheel sets where the rim uses parallel hole drilling. (Holes will eventually crack on these rims...)

=8-)