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Hand built wheels
For once, I actually used my own hands! I proved that any klutz can put wheels together and make them work. Ingredients: CXP33 rims (silver - to match the bike) 32h Ultegra hubs 14/15/14 dt spokes brass nipples Tools Spoke key, flat blade screwdriver, Minoura rim trainer (in place of truing stand), some light household oil. I just followed the directions at www.sheldonbrown.com Getting the dishing right is easy if you have a wheel that is already ok. Set the bike with the good wheel in the rim trainer so that one side is lined up on one of the (opened) rollers. Next, swap out with the new wheel and start truing the wheel in situ using the rim trainer's roller and the bike's rear brake as the dishing guide. The tricky bit was figuring out how tight to make the spokes - "As tight as they will go without damaging the rim" is not very helpful for a first timer. A tensiometer would have taken the fun out of it, as well as costing lots of money. Sheldon's site suggested two ways - 1. the nipple gets hard to turn (not very precise); 2. Guess around an A (440Hz) for the pitch when the spokes are plucked. A primary school recorder is an excellent tool for comparison as it is much more portable than a piano. Combine the two ideas and you get a pretty tight wheel. Follow the instructions on stress relieving spokes and voila! Fresh wheels that are lighter than my Shimano 535s and much easier to fix. Hopefully, they'll be more reliable too. I'm slow, so it took me about 3 hours of work for each wheel (F and R). If you haven't had a go at it, try it next time you want a new wheel. If you have, then I can already hear the "I told you so"s Cheers, Ritch -- ritcho |
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#2
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Hand built wheels
"ritcho" wrote in message ... For once, I actually used my own hands! I proved that any klutz can put wheels together and make them work. Ingredients: CXP33 rims (silver - to match the bike) 32h Ultegra hubs 14/15/14 dt spokes brass nipples Tools Spoke key, flat blade screwdriver, Minoura rim trainer (in place of truing stand), some light household oil. I just followed the directions at www.sheldonbrown.com Getting the dishing right is easy if you have a wheel that is already ok. Set the bike with the good wheel in the rim trainer so that one side is lined up on one of the (opened) rollers. Next, swap out with the new wheel and start truing the wheel in situ using the rim trainer's roller and the bike's rear brake as the dishing guide. The tricky bit was figuring out how tight to make the spokes - "As tight as they will go without damaging the rim" is not very helpful for a first timer. A tensiometer would have taken the fun out of it, as well as costing lots of money. Sheldon's site suggested two ways - 1. the nipple gets hard to turn (not very precise); 2. Guess around an A (440Hz) for the pitch when the spokes are plucked. A primary school recorder is an excellent tool for comparison as it is much more portable than a piano. Combine the two ideas and you get a pretty tight wheel. Follow the instructions on stress relieving spokes and voila! Fresh wheels that are lighter than my Shimano 535s and much easier to fix. Hopefully, they'll be more reliable too. I'm slow, so it took me about 3 hours of work for each wheel (F and R). If you haven't had a go at it, try it next time you want a new wheel. If you have, then I can already hear the "I told you so"s Cheers, Ritch -- ritcho Congrats Ritcho, You have now graduated in the Dark Art of wheel building. I did a similar set in silver with Open Pros to match the bike. Now enjoy the ride, it a great feeling on your own wheels. Well done. Kevin |
#3
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Hand built wheels
ritcho wrote:
Tools Spoke key, flat blade screwdriver, Minoura rim trainer (in place of truing stand), some light household oil. Given that I don't have a rim trainer or a truing stand I was wondering if anyone has come up with any interestign solutions on the cheap. I was thinking of getting imaginitive with an old set of forks and trying to fashion something around them. DaveB |
#4
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Hand built wheels
Good stuff, Richo. Now ya know the secret handshake, and you can
flame people for wussing out and getting machine built wheels. Cheers, Suzy |
#5
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Hand built wheels
ritcho Wrote: For once, I actually used my own hands! I proved that any klutz can put wheels together and make them work. Ingredients: CXP33 rims (silver - to match the bike) 32h Ultegra hubs 14/15/14 dt spokes brass nipples Tools Spoke key, flat blade screwdriver, Minoura rim trainer (in place of truing stand), some light household oil. I just followed the directions at www.sheldonbrown.com Getting the dishing right is easy if you have a wheel that is already ok. Set the bike with the good wheel in the rim trainer so that one side is lined up on one of the (opened) rollers. Next, swap out with the new wheel and start truing the wheel in situ using the rim trainer's roller and the bike's rear brake as the dishing guide. The tricky bit was figuring out how tight to make the spokes - "As tight as they will go without damaging the rim" is not very helpful for a first timer. A tensiometer would have taken the fun out of it, as well as costing lots of money. Sheldon's site suggested two ways - 1. the nipple gets hard to turn (not very precise); 2. Guess around an A (440Hz) for the pitch when the spokes are plucked. A primary school recorder is an excellent tool for comparison as it is much more portable than a piano. Combine the two ideas and you get a pretty tight wheel. Follow the instructions on stress relieving spokes and voila! Fresh wheels that are lighter than my Shimano 535s and much easier to fix. Hopefully, they'll be more reliable too. I'm slow, so it took me about 3 hours of work for each wheel (F and R). If you haven't had a go at it, try it next time you want a new wheel. If you have, then I can already hear the "I told you so"s Cheers, Ritch nice work! i am inspired! I am currently running 540's on my banger and am far from happy but the lure of wheels built to my own specs is tantalising. so...where do i get a cheap trueing jig from?? -- byron27 |
#6
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Hand built wheels
DaveB wrote in message ...
Given that I don't have a rim trainer or a truing stand I was wondering if anyone has come up with any interestign solutions on the cheap. I was thinking of getting imaginitive with an old set of forks and trying to fashion something around them. The first wheel I ever built (thinks fondly back to the eighties) was trued in the bike that it was intended for. I turned the bike upside down, and taped a piece of chalk to the seat stay. Worked well, if a little awkward. Regards, Suzy |
#7
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Hand built wheels
"Suzy Jackson" wrote in message om... DaveB wrote in message ... Given that I don't have a rim trainer or a truing stand I was wondering if anyone has come up with any interestign solutions on the cheap. I was thinking of getting imaginitive with an old set of forks and trying to fashion something around them. The first wheel I ever built (thinks fondly back to the eighties) was trued in the bike that it was intended for. I turned the bike upside down, and taped a piece of chalk to the seat stay. Worked well, if a little awkward. Regards, Suzy Same here. I flipped the bike over and trued the wheel, however, I used a 6" steel rule and a couple of rubber bands to hold it in place. I am still riding the wheel without any trouble. Mind you I have since invested in a wheel jig so that I can true the wheels inside the house. I probably need a beer fridge in the garage. Kevin |
#8
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Hand built wheels
DaveB wrote in message Given that I don't have a rim trainer or a truing stand I was wondering
if anyone has come up with any interestign solutions on the cheap. I was thinking of getting imaginitive with an old set of forks and trying to fashion something around them. DaveB Upside down bike, Rubber band on the brakes to bring them close to the wheel as you true up, using the light between the pads and rim on either side to true against. A light background helps. A peg on the seatstay for the radial. Twist it so it touches the rim and makes a noise on the high spots. Dish comes naturally when sighting down the frame. Bottle of something and some good music. Joy of Joys the dark art is not so dark!.. actually I think it's a well kept secret by those who want to keep the silly ones returning to the bike shop for a true up at more than the cost of a good boottle of trueing brew. I've built many wheels and salvaged old ones this way. Perhaps Id appeciate a trueing stand, but they are far too expensive. Tom |
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