My Spokes Don't Fit Right?

[oic0]

I bought a set of Buchanan spokes that motosport menu options selected for my bike. Been atleast 6 months or more since I bought em. Finally got around to fitting em. They don't fit. Any ideas? The length is right but the bend isn't enough. Have to flex them to get them to match up and comparing them to the stocks they arent bent as far 

Stock vs the new SS ones

Packaging

[RoostDaddy]

i assume you were aware that the inner and outer on some models have a different bend and arent straight pulls.  Being that there is only a pic of one old and one new spoke I'm not sure if they are both the same (inner/outer) or opposites because you didnt say, but they do look different.

[sandblaster]

i assume you were aware that the inner and outer on some models have a different bend and arent straight pulls.  Being that there is only a pic of one old and one new spoke I'm not sure if they are both the same (inner/outer) or opposites because you didnt say, but they do look different.

I was thinking the same thing.
Open the other bag and let's see what all you have there.

[serafin]

I dont believe you have the right spoke set.  Assuming your rebuilding the rear wheel, all the spokes are the same length.

Serafin

[oic0]

They're both open, took out one pair of the old spokes (replacing them as I go around insead of relacing from scratch) and tried one of each in each hole but have to flex it to get it to the nipple. Ill grab em both in something flat tommorow so I can better compare but I'm pretty sure the old spokes had a good bit more bend .

I think the 7 11/16 and 7 9/16 must be the lengths of each of the bags. Just a few threads difference in length.

[Polar-Bus]

Kawasaki OEM rear wheels do not use different length spokes like some other brand wheels. Some Kawasaki front wheels do have different inner/outer spoke sets.  All 36 spokes should be the same length and bend on your KX500.  Do you have OEM kawasaki hubs ?

[oic0]

I think so, unless the previous owner changed it which I doubt. The hub looks just like the one on the microfiche.

[oic0]

*Edit* I got a reply from them. They said its normal and OK to flex them to match the hole. I guess I'll take their word. Little scary though. To make em fit like that we had to bend em in line with the hole and tap em in with a punch.

[Polar-Bus]

*Edit* I got a reply from them. They said its normal and OK to flex them to match the hole. I guess I'll take their word. Little scary though. To make em fit like that we had to bend em in line with the hole and tap em in with a punch.

This is a reason, I always stay with OEM parts. One tip, make absolutely sure there is no spoke threads protruding past the nipple, this wil surely fester puncture tube flats.

[kxpegger]

*Edit* I got a reply from them. They said its normal and OK to flex them to match the hole. I guess I'll take their word. Little scary though. To make em fit like that we had to bend em in line with the hole and tap em in with a punch.

I have a newer KX500AF. There are nine spokes longer than the rest on the 450F rear hubs and they go on the inner brake rotor side of the hub. I've never laced an entire wheel one spoke at a time but I have laced more wheels then I care to count...Nevada desert! It may seem counter intuitive to lace the outer spokes first and then the inners but this prevents binding. I'm sure this holds true for older steel frames as well. If your spoke kit came with an even number of different size spokes the longer ones go in the holes closest to the hub axle housing (inners). On my 450/500 there is only about two threads difference, the same as you mentioned with yours.

[sandblaster]

I think so, unless the previous owner changed it which I doubt. The hub looks just like the one on the microfiche.

If your bike is a 2000 k5 then your hub will be stamped R-1237.
If it is anything different, let me know what it is.

[oic0]

I got them on there. The longer ones do stick through by about two threads :/ . I did it with the ones on the inner ones as inner, and the outside ones as outer (as they go over and under each other). The wheel must have been pretty out of round though as it sticks through much worse in some spots than others. Will duct tape and the tire band be enough to save me from that?
Some of em stick through, some of em are rather shallow, if I could find a rhyme or reason in it I would move em around to compensate. If I need to fix em though I probably need to figure it out before I pay to have em trued. I probably need to loosen em too, I pulled em all in pretty tight because their lack of bend was making them not want to pull flush with the hub.

[maddoggy]

if this were my project, i would purchase new spokes from a reputable company such as kawi or excel. i would replace those questionable ones you bought and go with the proper parts. what if the whole lot of spokes were to fail while out on the first ride? scary thought. what if you were on a long ride and the longer spokes finally punctured the tube 20 miles from the truck? sometimes you just need to step back and admit that a mistake was made and take your lumps, move on and do it right. just my opinion.

[oic0]

I bought these particular ones because most of what I read online said they were the best

[maddoggy]

I bought these particular ones because most of what I read online said they were the best

thats the thing about the internet. you can take about 95% of the info on the net and flush it right down the crapper.