Can Araya 7b's be relaced with newer, lighter gauge spokes ?

[bobafett]

Got some used araya 7b's I want to have relaced to put on a rider and was wondering if I have to restore the old heavy gauge spokes or will newer light gauge spokes work just fine ?

I'm just wondering how well the nipples will fit the holes !   

 

[bobafett]

Further investigation has lead to a YES 

Apparantly you just need "nipple washers"  sounds nice ! 

[MartyC]

7b's on a rider 

[bobafett]

7b's on a rider 

Yeah - they're not exactly what you'd call mint 

[gt0733]

my 7b's were successfully laced to these lovely 1st gen bullseye hubs with no problems. i don't recall my wheel lacer saying anything about nipple washers, although there's nothing wrong with washing nipples 

[bobafett]

Nice 

I guess it depends on the width of the nipple base whether or not you need the washers 

[Mattdub]

Some early 7B's and other makes were drilled for heavy gauge spokes . I've a few sets of 7B's but all drilled for normal spokes , but I've also got the Weinmann 7B like rims and one is 2.125 & drilled for heavy gauge  .

 

[bobafett]

Matt - you've hit the nail on the head there mate - I never even gave it a thought 

The rider 7b's have been up in the loft for a year and the nice ones with the heavy gauge spokes are down in the "build room" I just assumed they would both be the same but I digged the rider ones out of the loft and they've got normal spokes even though both sets are early ones with no size stamp on the rim 

They both have shimano high flange hubs but the hubs on the heavy gauge jobbies are drilled larger for the heavy gauge spokes - you live and learn hey 

I was surprised how much weight the heavy gauge spokes add 

I weighed the front wheel of both sets without tyres :

With heavy gauge - 1100g 

with normal spokes - 850g 

What a difference - glad the rider ones are the lighter ones