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Removing and replacing spokes?
Is it a big deal? Any tips? Is there a spoke tightener, like a
cheap simple little wrench that bends slightly when the spokes are tight enough? Otherwise, how is correct tightness determined? A pointer to a decent spoke removal and tightening tool sold online (USA) would be appreciated. Thanks. -- My inline skating unicycle push stick project might require some metalworking on the axle, and that would be much easier if the wheel were removed. |
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#2
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Removing and replacing spokes?
On 3/18/2011 1:21 PM, John Doe wrote:
Is it a big deal? Any tips? Is there a spoke tightener, like a cheap simple little wrench that bends slightly when the spokes are tight enough? Otherwise, how is correct tightness determined? A pointer to a decent spoke removal and tightening tool sold online (USA) would be appreciated. Thanks. The following article should answer most of your questions: http://sheldonbrown.com/wheelbuild.html. -- Tºm Shermªn - 42.435731,-83.985007 I am a vehicular cyclist. |
#3
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Removing and replacing spokes?
On 3/18/2011 1:21 PM, John Doe wrote:
Is it a big deal? Any tips? Is there a spoke tightener, like a cheap simple little wrench that bends slightly when the spokes are tight enough? Otherwise, how is correct tightness determined? A pointer to a decent spoke removal and tightening tool sold online (USA) would be appreciated. Thanks. If you have a wheel built (or buy the parts to build it yourself) it's a good idea to get a few extra spokes. This is because you can replace a broken spoke with the exact same type, and just tighten the replacement until it sounds the same as the others when struck lightly. ----- Also in my experience spoke wrenches tend to chew up nipples. I've had cheap wrenches and better ones, and both have done it. What is a lot safer is to remove the tire, tube & rim strip, and use a flat screwdriver in the spoke butt to build/true the wheel initially, and only use spoke wrenches for adjustments out on the road. Also if you are building a bike wheel that you want to look absolutely perfect, doing it this way entirely avoids any marring on the visible parts of the nipples. |
#4
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Removing and replacing spokes?
On Mar 18, 6:21*pm, John Doe wrote:
Is it a big deal? Any tips? No, it's not a big deal. Tip: Don't bother. The big question is why? The only reason I would possibly replace a set of spokes is if I couldn't otherwise replace the wheel parts but wanted to run a different, possibly thinner gauge spoke. Is there a spoke tightener, like a cheap simple little wrench that bends slightly when the spokes are tight enough? A Spokey. The plastic disc bends a bit, usually before you get to disastrously high spoke tension, but I have not handled a modern one, so this may not apply any more.. Otherwise, how is correct tightness determined? Riding the wheel. Too low a tension and the wheel does not track well over rough road. Too high a tension makes the wheel uncomfortably hard. A pointer to a decent spoke removal and tightening tool sold online (USA) would be appreciated. With good spoke tension any spoke nipple key that fits will serve. There are specific designs which permit excessive spoke tension to be made (or removed) without destroying the nipple, but I feel these are probably best avoided for destroying the nipples is an absolute sign of overtensioning, as is cracking the rim. It's easier and cheaper to replace a nipple than a rim, so stick with the simple slot type tool. Thanks. -- My inline skating unicycle push stick project might require some metalworking on the axle, and that would be much easier if the wheel were removed. |
#5
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Removing and replacing spokes?
On Mar 18, 6:39*pm, Tºm Shermªn™ °_° ""twshermanREMOVE\"@THI
$southslope.net" wrote: On 3/18/2011 1:21 PM, John Doe wrote: Is it a big deal? Any tips? Is there a spoke tightener, like a cheap simple little wrench that bends slightly when the spokes are tight enough? Otherwise, how is correct tightness determined? A pointer to a decent spoke removal and tightening tool sold online (USA) would be appreciated. Thanks. The following article should answer most of your questions: http://sheldonbrown.com/wheelbuild.html. I second that. Other advice: Don't miss the part about lubricating spokes and nipples in that article. That greatly reduces the odds on the spoke wrench tearing up the nipples. Correct tightness is determined by checking to see that the wheel is properly straight and round. No excessive side-to-side bends, no "hops" or "dips." Round. Truing a wheel is not easy for many people. Handle a spoke wrench with care, and take things to a bike shop if you can't figure it out pretty quickly. I had a friend who started with a wheel that was slightly out of true, and ended up with something that looked like a potato chip. Finally, understand that some posters have crazy theories about spokes and wheels, so don't believe everything you read here. It's best to go to sources with good reputations. Sheldon Brown's website is widely known to be one of the best, if not _the_ best. - Frank Krygowski |
#6
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Removing and replacing spokes?
On 3/19/2011 11:32 PM, Frank Krygowski wrote:
[...] Finally, understand that some posters have crazy theories about spokes and wheels, so don't believe everything you read here.[...] Trevor aka "thirty-six" may be correct for his universe, however, but not ours. -- Tºm Shermªn - 42.435731,-83.985007 I am a vehicular cyclist. |
#7
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Removing and replacing spokes?
On Mar 20, 4:32*am, Frank Krygowski wrote:
On Mar 18, 6:39*pm, Tºm Shermªn™ °_° ""twshermanREMOVE\"@THI $southslope.net" wrote: On 3/18/2011 1:21 PM, John Doe wrote: Is it a big deal? Any tips? Is there a spoke tightener, like a cheap simple little wrench that bends slightly when the spokes are tight enough? Otherwise, how is correct tightness determined? A pointer to a decent spoke removal and tightening tool sold online (USA) would be appreciated. Thanks. The following article should answer most of your questions: http://sheldonbrown.com/wheelbuild.html. I second that. Other advice: *Don't miss the part about lubricating spokes and nipples in that article. *That greatly reduces the odds on the spoke wrench tearing up the nipples. Why do you persist in calling a nipple key a spoke wrench? It seems to me you wish to instill that the instrument is meant to "tighten till it breaks and back off half a turn", not for the real purpose of adjusting the effective length of the spoke. Correct tightness is determined by checking to see that the wheel is properly straight and round. *No excessive side-to-side bends, no "hops" or "dips." *Round. Rims tend to come like that, you better leave the wrench alone. Truing a wheel is not easy for many people. *Handle a spoke wrench There ya go again. There is no truing to make things difficult if spokes are at good tension. Bent rims need straightening or scrapping. Wobbly builds remain wobbly builds. with care, and take things to a bike shop if you can't figure it out pretty quickly. *I had a friend who started with a wheel that was slightly out of true, and ended up with something that looked like a potato chip. Not surprising with your advice. Drop the spoke wrench and use a nipple key. Finally, understand that some posters have crazy theories about spokes and wheels, so don't believe everything you read here. *It's best to go to sources with good reputations. *Sheldon Brown's website is widely known to be one of the best, if not _the_ best. It is incomplete for wheel knowledge. - Frank Krygowski |
#8
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Removing and replacing spokes?
On Mar 18, 12:21*pm, John Doe wrote:
Is it a big deal? Any tips? Is there a spoke tightener, like a cheap simple little wrench that bends slightly when the spokes are tight enough? Otherwise, how is correct tightness determined? A pointer to a decent spoke removal and tightening tool sold online (USA) would be appreciated. Thanks. -- My inline skating unicycle push stick project might require some metalworking on the axle, and that would be much easier if the wheel were removed. If you are breaking spokes, the rim is deformed, the spokes are probably OK. Need to replace the rim. Park, VAR, Pedros all make decent spoke wrenches. Correct tension is determined by a tensionmeter. |
#9
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Removing and replacing spokes?
On Mar 22, 7:07*am, thirty-six wrote:
Why do you persist in calling a nipple key a spoke wrench? For the same reason you persist in calling a spoke wrench a nipple key. - Frank Krygowski |
#10
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Removing and replacing spokes?
On Mar 18, 1:21*pm, John Doe wrote:
Is it a big deal? Any tips? Is there a spoke tightener, like a cheap simple little wrench that bends slightly when the spokes are tight enough? Otherwise, how is correct tightness determined? A pointer to a decent spoke removal and tightening tool sold online (USA) would be appreciated. A five buck universal wrench is great for beginners, since you probably don't know your nipple size. A tensionometer is nice to have, as is a truing stand. That said, I've built wheels using a bike frame, rubber band, pencil, and my ear that are as good as ones I've built with the proper shop tools. |
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