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Technical & Reference Section => Tech and Restoration => Topic started by: graeme on August 13, 2009, 12:33 PM

Title: wheel trueing and tension
Post by: graeme on August 13, 2009, 12:33 PM

I built a pair of wheels for a rider. They seemed to come together ok.

Ive trued them the best i can, there not too bad, maybe 1mm out.

I dont seem to be able to get them any better so i was going to get our local shop to true them.

From what ive read though, you have to true them, then ride for a bit to settle everything, then true again.

So, i was going to use them for a few hours first, but what sort of tension should i have in the spokes? I guess thats a hard thing to say without some kind of 'tension machine', but can anyone give me any idea?

or, should i just get them done at the shop now?

Thanks.

Title: Re: wheel trueing and tension
Post by: Bigplinky on August 14, 2009, 08:24 PM

All I can suggest is go to a decent shop and feel how tight the spokes are on a set of wheels that are ready to go i.e. press together the pair of spokes that cross over between the rim and the crossing point. I normally tighten then to about 8/10th of fully tight (the nipples) if that makes any sense but depends on the size of your spoke key.

Hope that helps

Andy

Title: Re: wheel trueing and tension
Post by: graeme on August 14, 2009, 09:25 PM

thanks.

If i get them trued at the shop before i start riding them, will they need re-trueing pretty quickly after, once they have been ridden a hour or 2?

Title: Re: wheel trueing and tension
Post by: Dark Diggler on August 14, 2009, 10:55 PM

machine built wheels need re trueing, decent hand built wheels do not

Title: Re: wheel trueing and tension
Post by: graeme on August 14, 2009, 10:57 PM

cool.

May as well run em straight down the shop then :)