So I recently damaged my front zipp firecrest 404 going over a pothole (rim is damaged but hub/spokes, etc are good). Long story short I replaced it by buying a used set of Zipps so I now have 3 rear wheels but only one front. So I want to convert one of the rear zipps to be a front wheel (I know it will have a few extra spokes but I think that extra weight is minimal)
Is it possible to essentially replace the rear hub from one of my rear zipps and put in the front hub from my damaged wheel? If so should any decent mechanic be able to do it or should I contact zipp to see if they provide this service?
Assuming the hub and the rim have the same spoke count, you absolutely can rebuild the rim on the front hub. Any decent wheel builder can do it for you.
Only if the spoke count is the same. Otherwise youll need to find a new front hub.
I did this with some DT wheels. My Canyon Speedmax came with 62/80mm wheels. Swapped the hubs so I’d have a 80mm front, sold the 62mm as a rear wheel, and got a disc for the rear.
so I now have 3 rear wheels but only one front. So I want to convert one of the rear zipps to be a front wheel (I know it will have a few extra spokes but I think that extra weight is minimal)
I do not understand. If you broke your front wheel, you bought another pair of wheels, I think you end up with only two rear wheels and one front wheel???
To the question as such: I think it answered itself already: a front hub has less holes than a rear rim, so I guess it is not possible.
Good point, I guess I would need a new hub, the spoke count isnt the same. If I buy it, how much of a job is it to swap hubs on a wheel, a major task or not so bad.
As far as my wheel count, I started out with two rears (a 404 and an 808) and one front (a 404) which I would swap from bike to bike. The 808 rear was permanently on my Tri bike and the 404 rear was permanently on my road bike. The front 404 would be moved from bike to bike. When I damaged my front 404 I was left with two rears and zero front. Bought a set of 404 wheels and ended up with three rears (one 808 and two 404s) and one front (404). Initially I thought of selling one of the rear 404s and looking for a used front 404 but not many people are selling individual wheels (thats why i bought a used set instead of just a used front initially). So now I am thinking instead of selling my rear 404, if I can convert it to a front I can have two sets of wheels for my bikes and not have to swap fronts. It seems like this can be done but I would need to buy a front hub and have someone swap it out.
Yes, you can. You’ll want a hub that matches the spoke count that has been drilled in the rim, and the correct spoke length for the combination that you selected. The rest is fairly easy if you have the knowledge and tools to build the the wheel.
Yes, you can. You’ll want a hub that matches the spoke count that has been drilled in the rim, and the correct spoke length for the combination that you selected. The rest is fairly easy if you have the knowledge and tools to build the the wheel.
Agreed.
To OP: Just want to point out that while easy, once learned, it is still time intensive.
It took 4 hours with a pro team mechanic tutoring me to get the basics down and feel competent and confident.
Now, on my own, it’s still 3-4 hours to build a wheel up from scratch and feel confident that I’ve done it well. I’m an inefficient home mechanic with mix of pro-, enthusiast-, and entry-level tools. If I had loads of spare time, I’d probably do it for fun sometimes. Kind of cathartic. For now, it’s to the shop if it needs doing.
just ordered the dt350 hub with 24 holes. so the only down side is a few more spokes. i am assuming that the spokes currently on the zipp hub can be reused in the dtswiss. is that a safe assumption or will i need new spokes too?
just ordered the dt350 hub with 24 holes. so the only down side is a few more spokes. i am assuming that the spokes currently on the zipp hub can be reused in the dtswiss. is that a safe assumption or will i need new spokes too?
dt350 = j bend spokes, I think.
oh oh, does that mean that they are not compatible or can the spokes be bent to fit in. Or does it mean I need new spokes or a different hub?
If I’m correct (check with others), you’ll need new spokes or a different hub. j bend are very different from straight pull spokes and are not inter-compatible.
Even if the spokes did fit you would be much wiser to replace the spokes. They have a finite life, and untensioning them and retensioning is a good way to accelerate that. Which means you may well struggle to get even tension, and even if you did then you’d possibly be replacing a spoke or two soon.
Use something like #1 Wheel Building SPOKE CALCULATOR Now Online | PROWHEELBUILDER | Prowheelbuilder.com to work out if the lengths are the same, after you’ve checked it the hubs use same spoke type.
Edit to add - No, you can’t bend teh spoke to work. Even if it was the right length.
Get new spokes, and I’d personally also replace the nipples too. If you’re going to do a job, do it properly.
just ordered the dt350 hub with 24 holes. so the only down side is a few more spokes. i am assuming that the spokes currently on the zipp hub can be reused in the dtswiss. is that a safe assumption or will i need new spokes too?
You need new spokes that are the correct type (J-bend or straight pull) and the correct length.
just ordered the dt350 hub with 24 holes. so the only down side is a few more spokes. i am assuming that the spokes currently on the zipp hub can be reused in the dtswiss. is that a safe assumption or will i need new spokes too?
Even if the spokes on the rear Zipp hub are of the same type as needed for the DTSwiss, they won’t be the right length.
Pro Tip: ask your wheelbuilder for recommendations, and have them order the spokes for you (assuming they don’t have them in stock).
