Wheelbuilding Notebook: Common Raleigh Three Speed Wheels

 Rear Wheels

Raleigh Sports Bikes:

Sturmey Archer A, FW or TCW gear hub to Raleigh 26 x1-3/8" Westrick pattern rims (Raleigh Sports style) 40 spokes, cross 4 pattern:  11-1/16" straight gauge spokes. Original would be steel galvanized/coated (they turn dark grey as they age). Modern stainless spokes also work, but a brass spoke washer should be used at the flange with an old hub. At the rim, a bent oval nipple washer should be used at the eyelet. 

 

 Sturmey Archer AW, FW or TCW gear hub to Endrick 26 x1-3/8" 40 spokes, cross 4 pattern: 11-5/32" straight gauge spokes.  Original would be steel galvanized/coated (they turn dark grey as they age). Modern stainless spokes also work, but a brass spoke washer should be used at the flange with an old hub. A flat rim washer can be used if desired.

 

Sturmey Archer AB, AG, FG brake or dyno rear hub to Raleigh 26 x1-3/8" Westrick pattern rims (Raleigh Sports style). 40 hub hub and 40 hole rim. 

• Small flange is cross 4 pattern. Small flange takes 11-1/32" spokes. Original would be steel     galvanized/coated (they turn dark grey as they age). Modern stainless spokes also work, but a brass spoke washer should be used at the flange with an old hub. At the rim, a bent oval nipple washer should be used at the eyelet. 

• Large flange is cross 4 pattern. Large flange also takes takes 11-1/32" spokes. Original would be steel     galvanized/coated (they turn dark grey as they age). Modern stainless spokes also work, but a brass spoke washer should be used at the flange with an old hub. At the rim, a bent oval nipple washer should be used at the eyelet.  

 

Sturmey Archer AB, AG, FG brake or dyno rear hub to Endrick 26 x1-3/8" 40 spokes, cross 4 pattern: 

• Small flange is cross 4 pattern. Small flange takes 11-3/16" spokes. Original would be steel     galvanized/coated (they turn dark grey as they age). Modern stainless spokes also work, but a brass spoke washer should be used at the flange with an old hub. A flat rim washer can be used if desired.

• Large flange is cross 4 pattern. Large flange also takes takes 11-3/16" spokes. Original would be steel     galvanized/coated (they turn dark grey as they age). Modern stainless spokes also work, but a brass spoke washer should be used at the flange with an old hub. A flat rim washer can be used if desired.

 

Raleigh DL-1 Type Bikes

Sturmey Archer A, FW or TCW gear hub to Raleigh 28 x 1-1/2" Westwood pattern rims (Raleigh DL-1 style) 40 spokes, cross 4 pattern:  11-3/4" spokes. Original would be steel     galvanized/coated (they turn dark grey as they age). Modern stainless spokes also work, but a brass spoke washer should be used at the flange with an old hub. At the rim, a bent oval nipple washer should be used at the eyelet. 

 

Sturmey Archer AB, AG, FG brake or dyno rear hub to Raleigh 28 x 1-1/2" Westwood pattern rims (Raleigh DL-1 style) 40 spokes, cross 4 pattern: 11-11/16 spokes. Original would be steel     galvanized/coated (they turn dark grey as they age). Modern stainless spokes also work, but a brass spoke washer should be used at the flange with an old hub. At the rim, a bent oval nipple washer should be used at the eyelet.  

 

Front Wheels

  Raleigh Sports Bikes:

Plain Small Flange Front hub to Raleigh Westrick Sports Rim 26 x 1-3/8". 32 spokes, cross 3 pattern: 11-7/32 spokes.  Original would be steel galvanized/coated (they turn dark grey as they age). Modern stainless spokes also work, but a brass spoke washer should be used at the flange with an old hub. At the rim, a bent oval nipple washer should be used at the eyelet.   

Plain Small Flange Front hub to Endrick Rim 26 x 1-3/8". 32 spokes, cross 3 pattern: 11-7/16" spokes. Original would be steel galvanized/coated (they turn dark grey as they age). Modern stainless spokes also work, but a brass spoke washer should be used at the flange with an old hub. A flat rim washer can be used if desired.

 

 Sturmey Archer GH6 dynohub or AB brake hub to Raleigh 26 x 1-3/8" Westrick pattern rims (Raleigh Sports) 32 spokes.

• Small flange is cross 3 pattern. Takes 11-5/32" spokes. Original would be steel     galvanized/coated (they turn dark grey as they age). Modern stainless spokes also work, but a brass spoke washer should be used at the flange with an old hub. At the rim, a bent oval nipple washer should be used at the eyelet.   
  

•  Large flange is cross 2 pattern. Takes 10-1/8" spokes. Original would be steel     galvanized/coated (they turn dark grey as they age). Modern stainless spokes also work, but a brass spoke washer should be used at the flange with an old hub. At the rim, a bent oval nipple washer should be used at the eyelet.  
  

 

 Sturmey Archer GH6 dynohub or AB brake hub to Endrick 26 x 1-3/8" rims. 32 spokes.

• Small flange is cross 3 pattern. Takes 11-9/32" spokes. Original would be steel     galvanized/coated (they turn dark grey as they age). Modern stainless spokes also work, but a brass spoke washer should be used at the flange with an old hub. A flat rim washer can be used if desired.

• Large flange is cross 2 pattern. Takes 10-1/8" spokes. Original would be steel     galvanized/coated (they turn dark grey as they age). Modern stainless spokes also work, but a brass spoke washer should be used at the flange with an old hub. A flat rim washer can be used if desired.

Raleigh DL-1 Bikes:

 Plain Small Flange Front hub to Raleigh Westwood 28 x 1-1/2" rim. 32 spokes, cross 3 pattern: 11-7/8 spokes.  Original would be steel galvanized/coated (they turn dark grey as they age). Modern stainless spokes also work, but a brass spoke washer should be used at the flange with an old hub. At the rim, a bent oval nipple washer should be used at the eyelet.   

 Sturmey Archer GH6 dynohub or AB brake hub to aleigh Westwood 28 x 1-1/2" rim. 32 spokes.

• Small flange is cross 3 pattern. Takes 11-7/8" spokes. Original would be steel     galvanized/coated (they turn dark grey as they age). Modern stainless spokes also work, but a brass spoke washer should be used at the flange with an old hub. A flat rim washer can be used if desired.

• Large flange is cross 3 pattern. Takes 11-7/16" spokes. Original would be steel     galvanized/coated (they turn dark grey as they age). Modern stainless spokes also work, but a brass spoke washer should be used at the flange with an old hub. A flat rim washer can be used if desired.

Notes:

A note on old versus new spokes: You can build a Raleigh or three speed bike wheel if you have proper-fitting, good condition old spokes. Steel galvanized or coated spokes will work. Modern stainless steel spokes will also work, but you will probably need a brass spoke washer at the hub eyelet if using modern spokes.

A note on eyelet and nipple washers and English rims: Raleigh Westrick and Westwood type rims seem to benefit more from nipple washers than do the flat Endrick rims. Westwood rims especially benefit from bent oval nipple washers, though they can help distribute load on a Westrick Sports rim as well. A flat washer can be used on an Endrick rim, and it is somewhat beneficial. Nipple washers appear to be more beneficial on 1970s era rims, which are of somewhat thinner gauge metal than earlier, pre-1960s rims.

 A note on reproduction rims: Some of these rims, particularly rod brake Westwood type rims are still produced in China, Pakistan, and India. These rims are thinner than the original English rims. Care should be taken when tensioning the wheel. A nipple/rim washer should always be used on these reproductions. 

A note on Spoke Gauges: Raleigh Industries called for the use of 15-gauge (thinner) spokes in the plain, small front hubs. It called for standard 14 gauge (regular) spokes in the rear hubs, dynohubs, brake hubs, etc.