Singlespeed & Fixed Gear - Wheelbuilding question

Hello Folks...

I'm in the process of building my 3rd wheel. The first 2 came out OK but I had my LBS check them out before I used them. My question is, how do you know when you've tightened the spokes enough? I'm actually concerned that I may be tightening too much.

Unfortunately, I disassembled the first 2 wheels for the hubs. Other wheels I have around here are machine built with alot of miles and feel really loose to me. Any suggestions or tricks would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks..

jimv

Sorry, I won't be much help here but I use the good ole 'pluck and squeeze' method to the point where I 'think' I've got the spoke tensions right. Don't ask me how I know...... I don't..... I go by instinct..... so far, none of my wheelsets have failed, including tandem wheels.

George

There is a guage, rather expspensive, that will tell you if you have the spokes right, but the squeeze and pluck will be your best bet. After building several wheels myself it is the method I use. It only comes from trial and error, so far, with my LBS's help I've been successful.

Just grab each pair at the last cross (nearest to rim) and squeeze. If they move more than 2mm or so you'll need to tighten them up a bit. When you get it true, go round and pluck them all, and as long as they all have a good solid ring to them you should be ok. If you hear any rattles you're in trouble.

The park tool Spoke tensionmeter (tensionometer?)
goes for about $50 on e-bay.
If you're building alot of wheels seems like it would be
a good investment.
I had LBS double check my first sets. The other thing
I do is the pluck test (pluck like guitar string) and compare the wheel I'm building's sound to the sound of
a wheel I know is tensioned correctly.
Marty

When you use the pluck method how do you factor in the gauge of the spoke???

Does a 14ga. spoke that has the same "pluck" as a 15 ga. spoke have the same tension???

I tried to compare "plucks" to built wheels but I just don't have enough experince to tell a difference.

I bought a Park spoke tensionometer. I have only built a few wheels but I would not have a clue of their tension without it.

Does a 14ga. spoke that has the same "pluck" as a 15 ga. spoke have the same tension???

No. Like guitar strings, a 14 ga spoke will produce a lower sounding pluck than a 15 ga of identical tension.

George

No. Like guitar strings, a 14 ga spoke will produce a lower sounding pluck than a 15 ga of identical tension.

George

In other words, avoid Drop D tuning on your bike.

On 700c wheels, 3-cross, I tune 15 straight ga spokes to an 'A' note......similar to the 5th string ('A' string) on a guitar. That gives me roughly 10 pounds of tension per spoke.......I think....???????

George

So when does this become dueling spokes?

(squeel like a rear brake!! squeel boy, squeel!!!)

When you use the pluck method how do you factor in the gauge of the spoke???



Hi Folks...

First I'd like to thank everyone for the wheel building advice. As for pluck info, I found a site that discusses tuning by ear. I think someone else mentioned it too. The link was at sheldon brown's wheelbuilding page: http://www.sheldonbrown.com/wheelbuild.html

The link led to: http://www.bikexprt.com/bicycle/tension.htm

Both are really worth reading. Anyway, I finished the wheel and had my LBS check it out. All was fine so my girlfriend and I went for a 30 mile ride today....excellent.

Thanks again to everyone...

jimv

I found this site that is informational for a newbie (i.e. myself) who has never even trued a wheel. I think it would be a cool trade to learn.

http://pasadenacyclery.com/site/page.cfm?PageID=237

Keep up the good information.