Bicycle Mechanics - Quick wheel question

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View Full Version : Quick wheel question


BoodBianchi
08-12-09, 09:37 PM
The other day i plucked the middle of the spoke on my wheels. The front seems fine but on the back on the non-sprocket side they all seem loose, they are making a lower pitch. Can I just tighten the spokes on that side until all of them make the same pitch? Do I have to take the tire off? Thanks

EDIT: First 10 seconds drive side wheel, remainder of video is a spoke on the non-drive side. The sound is below...

Spoke Audio Clip (http://www.zshare.net/download/64052027699eb4f4/)


daveizdum
08-13-09, 12:49 AM
This is normal. If both sides were equally tense, the presence of the sprocket would cause the wheel to sit off-center in your frame. The sprocket-side spokes usually have to be more tense to give the wheel a proper "dish."

I'm sure some wheel truing gurus on here will explain further if you need more info.

BoodBianchi
08-13-09, 01:07 AM
I mean they are making some pretty bad sounds. It's like a loose vibration not even a low pitch.


DIYGUY
08-13-09, 07:57 AM
Is that true of all the spokes on the same side? What does the wheel do when you spin it around with the bike off the ground? Is there a pronounced wobble to it? Use the brake pads as a guide and watch to see how much variation there is in the gap as the rim spins past. If the wheel is properly dished and true, you should not see more than 1-2mm of wobble, and even that is very easy to see. Absent any wobble or lack of true concentricity I think your wheel is likely okay. If you have wobble or an out-of-round condition and you feel up to it, truing a wheel is not particularly difficult. See Sheldon for more ...

Retro Grouch
08-13-09, 08:02 AM
I mean they are making some pretty bad sounds. It's like a loose vibration not even a low pitch.

If you think that they are too loose, they probably are.

If you tighten all of the spokes on the wheel the same amount, you will increase the tension without affecting the trueness. Don't go overboard. The right side spokes might not take very much more tension before you start rounding off the nipples.

cbchess
08-13-09, 09:16 AM
take it a shop with a good wheel man (or woman) and get him to show you how to true it. I think this will save you time and a headache later if you start tightening spokes up.

rumrunn6
08-13-09, 03:14 PM
yeah take it to your lbs. nothing like a professional to make you a happy rider for miles and miles