can I use a pre MKIII front rim on my MKIII?

can I use a pre MKIII front rim on my MKIII?

Well that's the question, can I take a disk brake, pre-MKIII rim and hub take it apart and lace that good rim to my current hub?
I don't see why not but thought I would ask

mark99 said:

can I use a pre MKIII front rim on my MKIII?

Well that's the question, can I take a disk brake, pre-MKIII rim and hub take it apart and lace that good rim to my current hub?
I don't see why not but thought I would ask

Click to expand...

Yes.

FYI, if you use your MK III hub, have the disc on the "primary" side of the motorcycle. If you use a pre-MK III hub, have the disc on the "timing" side of the motorcycle. Something to do with the lockring being left hand or right hand, can't remember which ... and ya sure don't want that unscrewing. :shock: Cheers.

Thanks,
Would I 'turn it over' so the side of the rim that had the disk remains the side with the disk, meaning is there and angle difference to the spoke holes?

also, and this is just a curiosity question, the spokes on the pre-MKIII wheel I bought to are thicker than the MKIII, .158 vs. .145
Is that common? they look original as in old cad platting

nortriubuell said:

FYI, if you use your MK III hub, have the disc on the "primary" side of the motorcycle. If you use a pre-MK III hub, have the disc on the "timing" side of the motorcycle. Something to do with the lockring being left hand or right hand, can't remember which ... and ya sure don't want that unscrewing.

Click to expand...

The MkIII front hub has a circlip bearing retainer instead of a threaded lockring, so the MkIII hub can be used either way.

mark99 said:

Would I 'turn it over' so the side of the rim that had the disk remains the side with the disk, meaning is there and angle difference to the spoke holes?

Click to expand...

The spoke pattern of the MkIII front wheel was also changed when the assembly was reversed so you would have to lace it to the pre-MkIII spoke pattern.
What are the Dunlop "MC" rim numbers? Pre-MkIII front disc rim is normally MC275, MkIII front rim is normally MC288

I stand corrected (thanks L.A.B) ... L.A.B. is VERY knowledgeable, and it's wise to follow his Norton advice. Cheers ...

I wanted to look at the rims before replying and I got a bit side tracked
My bike is a 75 MK3, I think fairly original but I don't know its entire history
I bought a pre MK3 wheel with the plane of using it or the rim

The rim on the bike is stamped MC 275 the rim on the pre Mk3 I have is also marked MC 275
I can see they are laced differently
If I flip the pre MK3 over so the disk is on the same side, an outside spoke on the top points back, same if I flip it over
On the MK3 an upper outside spoke points forward
This means if you start at the hub the nipple end would be forward on the MK3
I measured the length of an outside spoke, from the hub hole center line to the end of the dimple, on the pre MK3 it is about 7.8 inches and on the MK3 it is about 8.2 inches, noticeably longer
Interestingly, the spokes on the pre MK3 that I have are also a little thicker

Why can't I use the spokes from the MK3 and lace it up the same way, the way it was on the MK3?
Are the holes in the rim at different angles? I see the forward vs. back on the spokes, but can't it be rotated?
I will go have another look at it

Or maybe I will just have to get an after market rim

Thanks for the advice

mark99 said:

The rim on the bike is stamped MC 275 the rim on the pre Mk3 I have is also marked MC 275

Click to expand...

Is the hub on the bike the Mk3 type with the circlip retainer? A Mk3 hub can usually be identified by the groove in the face opposite the disc.

mark99 said:

I can see they are laced differently
If I flip the pre MK3 over so the disk is on the same side, an outside spoke on the top points back, same if I flip it over
On the MK3 an upper outside spoke points forward
This means if you start at the hub the nipple end would be forward on the MK3
I measured the length of an outside spoke, from the hub hole center line to the end of the dimple, on the pre MK3 it is about 7.8 inches and on the MK3 it is about 8.2 inches, noticeably longer
Why can't I use the spokes from the MK3 and lace it up the same way, the way it was on the MK3?

Click to expand...

Well maybe you can? As both rims are MC275 then it should be possible to lace the replacement the same as the original.
There must have been a reason why the rim was changed to a 288, I do not have a 275 rim so cannot compare the two.

yes the hub on my bike looks like the one in the picture you attached with the 'ridge'
The spare, pre MK3 is smooth in that area

I have an original parts book, it didn't come with the bike, I bought it recently
On the cover it says:
Replacement Parts Catalog for 1975
Commencing at Engine No. 325001, Frame No. F125001
Commando 850 Mk. III
Electric Start
Publication Number 00-5756
In side it says Copyright 1075

On the front wheel page it shows the clip, 06-2090
and the rim as 06-1951
Someone wrote next to it MC288

Maybe they started with the MC275 and switched and by chance I got a parts book that matched my bike?

mark99 said:

On the front wheel page it shows the clip, 06-2090
and the rim as 06-1951
Someone wrote next to it MC288

Click to expand...

Yes, the rim is the same part number. 06-6119 is the Mk3 rear rim, sorry.

So it should be possible to reverse the replacement rim and use the Mk3 spoke pattern.

OK thanks, that is a relief
It does make me wonder what the difference between a MC275 and MC288 is