Bicycle Mechanics - Anyone have experience with TRS-80R pro truing station?

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Bottomfeeder
12-25-06, 03:25 PM
Merry Christmas everyone. My wife got tired of hearing me go on about how I can muddle through putting the whole bike together with the exception of building a wheel set. So she bought me a truing stand for Christmas and challenged me to master the art. I think I'll keep her at least another ten years.

So I'm ready to order some spokes and take the plunge. But I wanted to get a yay or nay from some of you veteran wheel builders on the suitability of the stand she bought for me. So has anyone heard of the TRS-80R truing stand by Ultimate Biycle Support? It's a single arm model. She read a few reviews on it and liked it enough to order it through Performance. But she wouldn't be insulted if a knowlegable builder recomended exchanging it for a better stand.

So what say you? Thanks in advance.

DanO

Noam Zane
12-25-06, 03:57 PM
Single armed stands seem like a half-assed, cobjob approach. I prefer the stability that a tradition truing stand provides during a wheel build up.
Dr.Deltron
12-25-06, 04:06 PM
Merry Christmas everyone.

So what say you? Thanks in advance.
Merry Christmas to you too!

I was going to say you also need a dishing tool, but the I went to Performance to check out the stand you got. It says you don't need one, just flip the wheel.
Overall, I'd say you should do pretty well with the stand you got. At least the first 50 wheels.

I use the Park Tool TS-2 and a Campy dishing tool. Unfortunetly, the Campy tool isn't much good for smaller wheels though. But my TS-2 has been wonderful for the last 18 years!

As a tip, when buiding a wheel, thread the nipples on until there is 1 or 2 threads showing on each spoke. Then tighten each nipple 1/2 turn untill all the spokes have a bit of tension. At that point start working on trueness and roundness. Loose spokes are easier to work than tighter ones. Once the wheel is pretty true/round, tighten all spokes 1/2 turn. Retrue/round the wheel. Repeat until all spokes are pretty snug. Then go in 1/4 turn increments until spokes are up to tension. Retrue the wheel after 50-100 miles of riding.

Enjoy & Happy Holidays!

Dr. D