26" Rambler - Spoke length?

Submitted by OldRambler on Thu, 04/01/2021 - 10:08

Hello everyone - I'm new here...

and I'm looking for some help to rebuild an @ mid-70's Rambler for my missus.

After gleaning everything I can find on the net (including discovering this cool site) I've come up empty in trying

to find the length of the rear spokes for this bike.

From what I can determine the rim is an EA3, and the rear hub is a Shimano 333.

I saw that member T-Mar posted a chart for somebody looking for the spoke length of an 18" rim, but am wondering

if such a chart exists for a 26" rim, or if someone "just knows".

Thanks

 

 

7 Comments

Submitted by DUOMATIC on Thu, 04/01/2021 - 12:47.

Just remove a spoke

Put the 90 degree bend on the end of a ruler

Read the measurement in mm

That is your spoke length

 

Remember to use the same length nipples too

Either 12 or 16mm

 

 

 

Submitted by OldRambler on Thu, 04/01/2021 - 15:37.

Yes, thanks I will do that.

The bike is out at the house right now and I'm in town today and was hoping to pick some up after work.

 

Submitted by jdwillia on Thu, 04/01/2021 - 17:03.

My guess is 11 1/8" or about 284 mm for a 3X wheel.

John Williamson

Submitted by OldRambler on Thu, 04/08/2021 - 12:34.

For anyone interested, the spoke length for 26" CCM bikes is 272 mm and width is 2 mm. For the two I replaced I was able to use the existing nipples and did not need to remove the tire & tube from the rim but did have to take the wheel off the bike in order to be able to thread the new spokes onto the hub.

Submitted by jdwillia on Thu, 04/08/2021 - 22:34.

While 272 mm is the right length for your bike, it can not be said that it is the right length for all CCM bikes with 26" wheels. Spoke lengths will vary according to the actual rim bead diameter. CCM made many bikes with 26" wheels over the years. Rims used were 26 X 1 1/4, 26 X 1 3/8, and 26 X 1 1/2.

John Williamson

Submitted by T-Mar on Fri, 04/09/2021 - 07:54.

Furthermore, spoke length can also vary based on the brand and model of hub. Not all hubs have the same flange size and spacing, both of which affect spoke length. When you get into wheels equipped with freewheels, the spoke length even varies between the drive and non-drive side, due to wheel dishing. CCM spec'd a number of different 26" rims and hubs over the years and I've seen CCM 26" wheels with spokes lengths that have varied from 10-1/4" to 11". 

Submitted by OldRambler on Wed, 04/21/2021 - 15:18.

Good information guys.  While I did specify the EA3 rim, I was unaware of the variables with different years.