MTFCA Forum

Last winter I won off Ebay some spoke blanks for my 21" wheels. I have turned the tenons but am at a loss on doing the hole. I am coming up with 2-3/16 on the hub where the spokes sit. I have a jig built to put the spokes in to mark for length that I could use, but 2-3/16" is not a normal hole saw size. I just need to put a curve on the end not take a whole lot off. I could go with 2-1/4" but am unsure if that would leave too much space and would have to shim. I thought about using my osculating sander but would still run into maybe same issue because of stock sanding drum sizes. Any ideas?

Mark:
I just measured a front hub … diameter is 2.185 to 2.187 … 2 3/16 " diameter … I have machined the radius at the hub end of spokes by using an adjustable boring head in a milling machine … you may be able to make a " fly cutter" type boring tool to accurately machine this surface … on my Dodge brothers 24" wheels I machined the end radius and made the spoke .020" longer than actual "correct" length … this allowed a tight press fit in final assembly … always an optimist ...Gene French

Gene;
I thought about using my adjustable hole saw but was afraid that it might do more damage then good. I could try it on one of the spare spokes that are not usable for this project.

Mark, the guru of wheel builders in New Zealand puts the whole rebuilt wheel in a big old lathe and bores the holes to suit. That way the hole is truly central and true to the hub.
What I really liked was that somewhere in the driveline on his set-up, a model T transmission and clutch set was used to engage/disengage the drive.

Allan from down under.

Alan:
when I did the Dodge Brothers wheels I did not have a large enough mill to position the assembled wheel concentric to the spindle to bore all spokes at one time … I would do the boring in that manner now … always an optimist...gene french

When I did my hubs I used a Dremel with a small drum sander to finish the hole.

Thanks for suggestions. I went ahead and set my jig up on the drill press and used an adjustable hole saw. I am going to take the spokes and felloe to the shop and use the press to set the spokes and hubs on one wheel. If they go in straight I will call it good, if not back to the drawing board.

I used a cylinder hone wrapped in sandpaper to slightly enlarge the hub bore in the spokes.

The Ford spoke drawing dated 1925 has a hub hole dia. of 2.183" - 2.188".

Some models of spokes were alternately tapered and the last spoke went in like a wedge, no press was required, the hub bolts would pull it tight. All the spokes on my Canadian '26 are like that.