Spoke tension, according to Brandt

[devious56]

I ran across this on bike forums.............

TimArchy04-23-08, 06:33 PM

Sta-tru are the standard cheep replacement wheels that shops sell. All machine made. The shop should adjust them before they send them out b/c they all need to be trued an have the cones adjusted when they come out of the box.

If they are good components, they should be good wheels. Just make sure a wheelbuilder checks them over before you ride them.

I Googled Sta-Tru and looked at more than a dozen sites, for what it's worth, they are said to be hand built in the USA, have an office in Calif., and from the folks that use them.... they are good, inexpensive (cheap) wheels, that should be gone thru before putting them on a bicycle.

Take if for what it's worth.

David

And Phatt, I'm with you.

[manx]

I read Elso’s certifiable, disconnected ramblings. I hereby do solemnly swear I will never read another Elso post. He is a disaster.


The good thing from that exercise is a need to have you check over my catrike road and Stratus wheels. Are you game? I would also like your opinion on the Stratus wheels for tour use. Let me know if you are willing. I detect no signs that there should be a rush. But remember, I’m pretty darn deaf.


Today when you rode down that long hill, I heard you before I saw you. Woosh!!!!!!!!!!!  Hmm, wonder how a Capreo would work on the Stratus? What is your smallest chainring?


http://www.jetset.com.tw/product.php?type=1&start=12


Model CH-E220

[motoidaho]

Bruce, got any pics to illustrate your wheel building procedures?  Sounds like a blog post to me.  Bob

[trikebldr]

The only pics that would help would be the one's in Jobst Brandt's book on pages 86-94 of how to lace a 3-cross wheel pattern. I use those pics every time. Otherwise, there isn't anything informative or exciting about watching somebody continually spinning a wheel and twisting some nipples. Oooo! That sorta sounded painful, didn't it?

Wheel building or truing isn't something you can just be told how to do. It also doesn't happen in a single lesson. The best way to learn is to get a cheap wheel off of Amazon for under $20 to practice on. Then, tear it apart and rebuild it several times, using Elso tension (loose) until you learn how to get the wheel straight, then add a bit more tension in steps, keeping the wheel straight. If you are serious about doing your own wheels, then do like Jimali did and take classs at your local bike shop through the Park Tools program. Or, just go spend some time watching your local bike shop's wheelsmith, and ask him a thousand questions until he gets so pissed he either throws you out, or hands you the spoke wrench and says, "Do it yourself, wise-ass!".

As far as being a blog post, there is a reason why Jobst wrote that book! A million words aren't enough to teach how to build or true wheels!

[jimali]

I was half way through your message and ready to add the Park Tools note when you mentioned it.
I do also suggest this class.  It won't make you a wheelbuilder but it'll give you the fundementals, and enough theory to understand the fundamentals. Here's the link where you can see the classes offered and plug in your zip code to see who offers them near you. 
http://www.parktool.com/clinics_training/parktoolschool.asp

[TrikerTom]

Build one wheel and you will know that you will never do it for a living.

[Wraith Rider]

Build one wheel and you will know that you will never do it for a living.

I built my own touring and racing wheels from the early 80s until 2002 or so  when fancy laced wheels started appearing at reasonable prices.  I've pretty much given it up.

[bjaardker]

This thread has brought into sharp focus that:

• I haven't been paying nearly enough attention to the spokes on my trike
• I really don't know what normal maintenance I should be doing on my trike regularly
• I'm going to be spending a lot of $$ on tools in the near future 

[John Rooker]

This thread has brought into sharp focus that:

• I haven't been paying nearly enough attention to the spokes on my trike
• I really don't know what normal maintenance I should be doing on my trike regularly
• I'm going to be spending a lot of $$ on tools in the near future 

This is precisely why this Forum exists. 

[bjaardker]

So I'm starting to focus on my spokes now, and I realized...I have no clue what I'm doing.

I found one spoke that was so loose I'm surprised it hasn't poked through and given me a flat. I suspect that's also where I was getting the spoke ping from when I was turning.

Outside of that though, I'm not sure where to go with this. How do you know if the spokes are tight enough, or too tight, or toulouse? My wheels appear to be running true to the naked eye without a truing stand, so should I just be leaving well enough alone?

The only thing that has me concerned is the widely varying pitches I get when I pluck the spokes, 1 or 2 whole tones apart at times.

All of this is quite new to me. But I figure if I can figure out chain lengthening, brake adjustments, deraileur adjustments, tire replacement, cassette replacement, and deraileur pulley replacement, why not add spoke adjustment?

[devious56]

Attack this slowly, and with patience.  IF your wheels are true, and the spokes ping differently, you can tighten the offending ones, but, a trueing stand, or some method of keeping an eye on the trueness is necessary.  You can run a heavy wire from your frame to the rim as a feeler or tell tale and keep your eye on that as you work your way around the rim.  And don't make more than a 1/4 turn at a time.  As you are making these adjustments, keep going back to what you have done to make sure you aren't making matters worse. 

It really isn't difficult, just frustrating and nerve wracking.  Some people understand the mechanics of spoke adjustment, and how tightening or loosening a spoke effects the wheel, and takes to this like a duck takes to water.  Some never do............................. Bruce will jump in here and tell you what book to buy, and suggest picking up a junk wheel or two to practice with, and that's not a bad idea.

Good luck to you.


David

[TrikerTom]

If the wheel's been running true and you just had one spoke back out, just cinch it up and go on your way.  If it keeps happening, you might need to get educated.  If you feel that all the spokes are a bit wanky, you could go for the general tightening of -all- the spokes.  A makeshift pointer is as easy as a few sticks and rubber bands.

Here was my setup for PhattKatt:

[devious56]

Perfect!  Thanks for showing that Tom, much better than my description.

David

[Hipster]

Over time I followed the progression Tom mentions:

Tightened offending spoke while on the trike or bike (could not stand that tinking sound) Grin

When through the whole wheel while on the trike or bike going for tightness determined by spoke tone (tuning fork method) but not worrying over much about side wobble or roundness ... I just did not want the wheel failing while riding at this juncture!

At this point in my wrenching education the snow was piling up & the temp well below zero so I started reading on the internet & purchasing books which I devoured ... (links to examples below

Park's Calvin Jones:
http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=81
http://www.parktool.com/products/detail.asp?cat=19&item=BBB-2

Harris Cyclery's (The late) Sheldon Brown:
Scroll down to Tensioning & Truing - http://www.sheldonbrown.com/wheelbuild.html

Bicycle Tutor's Alex Ramon (video):
http://www.trikedoctor.com/index.php?action=post;topic=941.60;num_replies=72

The Art of Wheelbuilding by Gred Schraner:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/0964983532/ref=dp_image_text_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books

The Bicycle Wheel by Jobst Brandt:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/0960723668/ref=dp_image_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books

The Professional Guide to Wheel Buildingby Roger Musson
http://www.wheelpro.co.uk/wheelbuilding/book.php

Here is my setup (Though I do have 20mm inserts for Cat wheels when on the stand):

Spoke tension, according to Brandt

[ThaiExpedition]

I watched others true my wheels for some time and thought "I could do that."  Then I tried.  I found that I got the wheel straight but had pulled it funny and it was no longer round.  It took a patient Thai man to show me how to get both things achieved.  Since then, I have found that I love wheel truing.  It is time-consuming but relaxing task.  If you find someone to help you out or read the books then enjoy something else that you can do for yourself.