So I pulled the laces from a set of, never used, 16"x3" Slim wheels I picked up and laced them into the rear hub and recently acquired 16"x5" hoop I plan to replace my back wheel with. My question is this, what is the tolerance with both hop and off centerness? I have got the centers to under .010" +/-, but the hop I can only get to as close to .030" +/-. Is that good or should I take it to a pro and have them dial it in? Also, I noticed that when I was lacing the wheel, that the laces went into the rim in the opposite direction based on the hole angles on the rim, does this make a difference as long as they all lace correctly and into the rim correctly?

 

My 99 service manual says +-.040" lateral and +-.030" radial. I kept at it until I was +-.015" lateral & radial. I'm kinda insane sometimes, tho.

I've read so many conflicting oinions on custom wheel assembly spoke lacing that I just gave up trying to find a "definitive" way. H-D themselves has changed over the years. I'm of the opinion that the rim dimple angle should drive the spoke direction. If you nipples exit the dimples parallel to the dimple direction, you should be fine.

 

Are you sure that shouldn't be .080 for the tire and .030 axial (lateral) rim runout (along with .030 Radial runout)?

I grabbed Sportster Manual (general principles) and in the tire section they mention the tire, but also the rim.

 

I just read it quickly, but in my 99 manual I didn't see anything other than a min/max offset dimension for lateral. Now that you make me think about, though, it would be +-.040" because the difference between min/max was .080". Sorry. I wasn't thinking. Good catch.

 

I need to look at a few things with my stand. I think I have a bent bar, ever so slightly. Also the bar has some play side to side while on the rollers. I first need to find a way to keep the bar from moving side to side. Once that is done, I can put my dial indicator on the bar and tapered bearing inserts to make sure I have limited hop being caused by the stand itself.


Lacing the wheel is good practice, I want to take it back apart so I can get the hub powder coated. I have the manual, to get the specs on truing, it's the offset I need to also figure out. I would think that going from a stock rim (which should be 4.5" I believe) and going to the 5" I should only have to adjust the offset out .25", does that sound right. Once I have the rim all complete, and trued, I plan to put it on the bike and use the swing arm to make sure it is centered and adjust as needed. Make sure I have good clearance for the belt (with the added width of the 180 tire).