Andrew, 40h hub to a 32h rim only requires two spoke lengths and I know of several people who have done this with 40h Sturmey Archer hubs. Not worth it for an AW as there are plenty of 36h shells about. But for an AM, ACS, FC etc. well worth it. I was going to write a spoke calculator for it but lucked into a (way too expensive, with shipping from Holland) pair of 27" 32/40 alloy vintage rims for my FM and front Airlite.
http://sheldonbrown.com/
IIRC a 40-36 takes several different lengths.
At 3/12/2010 11:38 AM -0800, andrew gura wrote:
>In light of the recent posts about the transition from 32x40 hole rims to
>36x36 hole rims, I am wondering if there are any safe ways to lace a 40 hole
>hub to a 32 hole rim. Or even lacing a set of 32x40 hole hubs to a set of
>36x36 hole rims?
>
>Or are these practices strictly advised against?
>
>I've definitely heard of it being done but I know that it is not a common
>thing and that it requires some careful spoke measuring.
>
>I'm asking this, of course, because I have a lovely set of airlite 40x32
>hubs and I am facing the fact that finding some mavic ma2's in 32x40 is
>pretty challenging.
>
>However, if you happen to have a nice set of silver-colored 32x40h clincher
>rims, please feel free to drop me a line!
Mark Stonich;
BikeSmith Design & Fabrication
5349 Elliot Ave S. Minneapolis, Minnesota 55417 USA
Ph. (612) 824-2372 http://bikesmithdesign.com
http://mnhpva.org