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I have a 1995 evo FLSTC that I put new black 16x3 drop centre rims on over the weekend. I had no problems at all following the usual 40 spoke lacing pattern on the front where the inner hub spokes go clockwise, outside hub spokes counter clockwise, flip over and repeat.
The issue came when I tried to lace up the rear hub the same way. I tried lacing it the same way as the front hub about 4 -5 times super careful and I kept ending up with spokes that were too short where some nipples would only be halfway down the threads and the spoke very tight or spokes too long and the nipple threaded so far down that the spoke was poking up through to the outside rim.
I eventually tried lacing the hub so that both sets of the inner 20 spokes were going in the same direction mirrored on both sides and this seemed to work perfectly with the hub lacing up correctly.
Is this whats known as an offset lacing pattern and is this normal for my year softail? I have attached a picture of the type of rear hub I have.
Encountered the same puzzle years ago when I used the 16" directions ( Palmer book) to lace up 18" wheels.
Have no idea if it`s "normal" but it worked so I went with it
Encountered the same puzzle years ago when I used the 16" directions ( Palmer book) to lace up 18" wheels.
Have no idea if it`s "normal" but it worked so I went with it
Thanks for the response. I was actually reading your post about this earlier and it gave me some comfort! I really should have paid closer attention to the lacing pattern on the wheel before dismantling it but stupidly assumed it would be just the same as the front. Ive tried to find pics of my bike with close enough images of the rear wheel to see if it was laced this way before and it does look like it.
Thanks for this but not all hubs are the same on the Evo softails. They changed from 1996 as mine is not a flanged hub. Its the same as the one in the pic earlier and doesnt lace the same way. I tried to lace mine in the same pattern as yours around 5 times and it would not work. I laced it with the inner hubs mirroring each others pattern and it laces up perfectly. I even tore it down again last night just in case I was wrong and missing a trick but it will 100% only lace this way.
^ Same experience here did it multiple times , every 4th spoke would protrude 1/2" beyond the nipple
Drove me crazy
"Flopped " them and lined up perfect
Yea seems to be a bit of a strange one as most other 40 spokes lace up the "normal" way as per the service manual. Hopefully this helps someone else in future who is scratching their head!
The parts manuals show the same hub used from 1986 through 1999.
It could be the previous owner at some point replaced the rear wheel, it looks similar to a year 2000 softail rear hub. However there are hubs for sale online that look like this one and they say to fit softail years 1996-99. Confusing!
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Evo Softail Rear Hub Lacing Pattern - Offset?
