Spoke tension meter

I was curious about these things, I know that spoke tension is important to
keep your wheels true under normal riding condtions. I have seen the Park
tm-1 I think is the model number and this seems like it is the most
economical one on the market. Is this something that the home diy'er should
have in his garage? I have a brand new wheel on the back (actually has about
200 miles on it) and that the spoke tension should be checked after a
certain number of break in miles ( I have read 100 miles is the number) But
to shell out a minimum of $50 for a tool that may or may not be used much is
a bit of a waste. Should spoke tension be checked with a meter on a regular
basis?

Ken

And are there any less expensive meters on the market?

--
For my real email address just remove "-dispose-trash"
More of my mind dribbles at my blog: http://mind-dribble.blogspot.com/
My personal website: http://kcm-home.tripod.com/

Ken wrote:

I have a brand new wheel on the back (actually has about 200 miles on it) and that the spoke tension should be checked after a
certain number of break in miles ( I have read 100 miles is the number)


Wheels don't break in. If a wheel is built correctly, there is no need
to check tension at intervals. If they're poorly built (under
tensioned), spokes may loosen up when ridden.

Art Harris

snip various questions/comments about the usefulness of spoke
tensiometers snip

I have the Park tool and the most useful thing it told me was that the
process defined in Jobst's book works. I took the tool to a set of
wheels I built with "the book" and check the tension - all spokes were
within +/- 10% (Park recommends +/- 20%).

Wheels I have built with the tensiometer are +/- 5%.

The least expensive meter is one you borrow or your ear (search this NG
for "spoke tension note tone").

I think Sheldon says proper tone is A flat or some such.

App

"App" wrote in message
ups.com...
snip various questions/comments about the usefulness of spoke
tensiometers snip

I have the Park tool and the most useful thing it told me was
that the
process defined in Jobst's book works. I took the tool to a
set of
wheels I built with "the book" and check the tension - all
spokes were
within +/- 10% (Park recommends +/- 20%).

Wheels I have built with the tensiometer are +/- 5%.

The least expensive meter is one you borrow or your ear (search
this NG
for "spoke tension note tone").

I think Sheldon says proper tone is A flat or some such.

The Park tool told me that I was building rear wheels at about
20% over recommended tension -- which I needed on standard rims
to keep them true at my weight. That is why I switched to OC
rims. The Park tool is so cheap, that even if it is not
absolutely necessary, it is a worthwhile novelty. Now, the chain
checker is a little spendy for my tastes -- and it always gives
me bad news. -- Jay Beattie.

P.S. Tone depends on spoke length and thickness, so there is no
single optimal tone.

....That is why I switched to OC rims.....

What are OC rims?

nc

On 9 Jun 2005 18:30:11 -0700, "Wasatch5k"
wrote:

....That is why I switched to OC rims.....

What are OC rims?

nc

Dear NC,

See "off center rims" threads in the archives.

Carl Fogel

Ken wrote:

I was curious about these things, I know that spoke tension is important to
keep your wheels true under normal riding condtions. I have seen the Park
tm-1 I think is the model number and this seems like it is the most
economical one on the market. Is this something that the home diy'er should
have in his garage?

Especially for a beginner it can be difficult to tell when the spokes
are at proper tension, so IMHO, it's a very handy tool for anybody who
builds wheels.

I have the Park TM-1 and it's reasonably good. It doesn't give very
consistent readings, though, probably because there's some friction
between the handle and the body and the spring isn't all that stiff.
I think it's still good enough, because it doesn't really matter all
that much if the tensionmeter gives a reading of 95 or 105 kg for a
spoke that is actually at 100 kg.

I usually take a reading from a few spokes to tell when I've reached a
good overall level of tension. For individual spokes I equalise their
tension by tone.

And are there any less expensive meters on the market?

I think the Park TM-1 is a fine investment at $50. I don't think there
are any cheaper alternatives, and better ones cost a LOT more.

-as

Quoting Ken :
I was curious about these things, I know that spoke tension is important to
keep your wheels true under normal riding condtions. I have seen the Park
tm-1 I think is the model number and this seems like it is the most
economical one on the market.

It's also not desperately accurate; but if you're not in the sort of
situation where you're trying to build a heavily dished wheel on a weak
rim to carry heavy loads - caught between too high a tension on one side
and too low on another - it's good enough.
--
David Damerell Distortion Field!
Today is First Chedday, June - a public holiday.

Ken wrote:
I was curious about these things, I know that spoke tension is important to
keep your wheels true under normal riding condtions. I have seen the Park
tm-1 I think is the model number and this seems like it is the most
economical one on the market. Is this something that the home diy'er should
have in his garage? I have a brand new wheel on the back (actually has about
200 miles on it) and that the spoke tension should be checked after a
certain number of break in miles ( I have read 100 miles is the number)

A tensionometer is a good idea and the Park tool is the least expensive
one. Tone and such 'may' work for even tension checking but for
absolute checking a meter is essential.

BUT, wheels don't 'break in'. The tension when built, if done
correxctly and stress relieved and all the wind up out of the spokes,
do NOT change when riding. Nothing streetches, nothing breaksin. If a
new wheel makes all sorts of noise when new, or the tension changes, it
was poorly built.

But
to shell out a minimum of $50 for a tool that may or may not be used much is
a bit of a waste. Should spoke tension be checked with a meter on a regular
basis?

Ken

And are there any less expensive meters on the market?

--
For my real email address just remove "-dispose-trash"
More of my mind dribbles at my blog: http://mind-dribble.blogspot.com/
My personal website: http://kcm-home.tripod.com/

App wrote:
snip various questions/comments about the usefulness of spoke
tensiometers snip

I have the Park tool and the most useful thing it told me was that the
process defined in Jobst's book works. I took the tool to a set of
wheels I built with "the book" and check the tension - all spokes were
within +/- 10% (Park recommends +/- 20%).

Wheels I have built with the tensiometer are +/- 5%.

The least expensive meter is one you borrow or your ear (search this NG
for "spoke tension note tone").

I think Sheldon says proper tone is A flat or some such.


A flat for what spoke gauge?...Spoke gauge makes the pitch different.
Unless you can play the piano or some crappola, tone for tension
doesn't work.

App