BikingGrad80

I have a quick question on Stress relieving. I know you are supposed to "grab pairs of parallel spokes and squeeze them together hard." Does that mean parallel spokes on the same side of the hub and squeeze them towards each other , ie squeeze parallel to the rim, or parallel spoke on opposite sides of the wheel and squeeze them towards each other,ie squeeze parallel to the axle?

waldowales

This will upset the purists, but I run around the whole wheel tapping the spokes with a rubber hammer! Seems to work for me, YMMV.

operator

Er what?

Anyways. Squeeze parallel spokes on the same side of the hub towards each other. As hard as you humanly can.

San Rensho 

Lay the wheel on the ground, step on one side of rim, with the other foot, apply pressure slowly to the other side of the wheel until the rim just starts to flex. Be gentle. You will hear pings and pops.

Rotate wheel 90 degress and repeat.

Flip wheel over and repeat above.

Retrue wheel.

Repeat the truing and stressing until you can stand on the wheel and it doesn't go out of true. A wheel stressed like this will last for years of normal riding without re-truing.

kenhill3

A bit (potentially) heavy-handed (footed) but sounds like it would work fine. Wouldn't you want to spin it 90deg. three more times or one more 180deg.? Something like that?

Repeating till it doesn't go out of true, like you said, that's the key and the telling truth of successful stress relieving.

San Rensho 

Yeah, I tend to stress, spin the wheel a bit, stress, and repeat about 3-4 times on each side, so I guess this comes out to about 90 degrees.

The whole key is to apply force firmly but slowly until the rim just starts to flex laterally.

I tried the squeezing method and it didn't work very well and left my hands very sore.

BikingGrad80

I am a bit heavy I'd worry about damaging the wheel. I prefer the squeeze method I got pretty strong hands.

BikingGrad80

besides if you lie the wheel on the ground like that wouldn't you damage the ends of the axle?

kenhill3

Here's a copy of another post I made about the method I use for stress relieving:

+1 on stressing/stress relieving. I don't do it on the ground like San Rensho, I have a wooden stool in the shop with a hole for the axle in the middle of the seat, same thing - I apply gentle pressure, then turn 90deg. and so on, then flip wheel over and do the other side. While it's in the stand I also go around the wheel and squeeze spokes together real hard (at least until they're digging into your hands good).

Also for stress relieving, when you're doing a new wheel build, use the plastic handle end of a screwdriver and, while in the stand, push on the spoke crossings all around.

Sidenote: I once met a husband and wife team who built wheels as a living, wheelbuilding was ALL they did. Well, I work as a carpenter and I have rough calloused hands, but these folks' were totally unbelievable.

kenhill3

Do it on a piece of plywood or carpet or whatever.

San Rensho 

Nope, you are applying very little force to the axle. If you are worried, put a thick magazine under the axle.

If you are timid about my method, use kenhill's. Both our methods are essentially the same and mimick the forces put on a wheel when you actually ride.

operator

You quickly learn to use leather gloves while doing this.

melville

The goal here is to improve (shorten) the path the spoke takes from the hub to the rim. With a good fit between hub and spoke, there will be a bend near the hub. When the wheel is untensioned, the rubber hammer trick above is a good one, but just bending with thumb pressure should do it. Next best is the parallel spoke squeeze, suitable for tensioned wheels and for finishing after the untensioned bend. The "lay it on its side" method is at best an indirect method, as it involves the rim and axle, and there is unnecessary risk to the hub and rim. It does look impressive to the customer, especially if you get a good 'ploink' from the wheel.

Yes on the leather gloves, especially when building with aero spokes! I had wicked callouses when I worked in the biz, and if I had a busy week of wheel builds my forearms would be on fire.

urbanknight

I've been told this isn't a good idea on sealed cartridge bearing hubs.

But yeah, pairs of spokes on the same side of the hub.

awc380

Do I have to say it? Dig the master....

https://sheldonbrown.com/wheelbuild.html#seating