FogVilleLad

I picked up a Mirata 914, which appears to have had little use and had been sitting in a garage.

The wheels were just a little out of true. There's no corrosion on the spokes - remarkable for the Bay Area - and the nipples are not rounded at all.

I put a little penetrating oil on the spokes, thinking that this would make it easier to true them.

Bottom line: the wheels go out of true within 10 miles of city riding. Sometimes it's a few spokes, sometimes it's seven or eight in a section.

Is the penetrating oil the likely culprit or do I have another problem? Any advice appreciated.

DavidH

Al Criner

Sounds like inadequate tension on the spokes. Even though you true the wheel, if the average spoke tension is not near maximum they will loosen up.

cincy_14

Most likely you need to stress relieve as you are truing by squeezing spokes in pairs. It should take a decent grip to squeeze the spokes, assuring spoke tension isn't too low. Make sure you true roundness before truing laterally.

FogVilleLad

Al and cincy, thanks for replying.

Would it make sense to first reduce tension, then stress relieve as I retighten?

DavidH

Al1943

+1
Good advice.

cincy_14

Unless the wheel is way out of true you shouldn't need to loosen all the spokes and start over. Stress relieving is only necessary when you are approaching the desired spoke tension, which you would need a tensiometer to accurately determine. Unless you're heavy or plan on putting many many miles on it, you can get by w/o a tensiometer.

I stress relieve the spokes in pairs all the way around the wheel at least twice after making truing adjustments. When truing laterally, you should simultaneously tighten and loosen opposing spokes in pairs or more to prevent affecting roundness. Also, having a dish gauge to make sure the rim is centered makes everything much easier.

FogVilleLad

cincy, OK got it.

DavidH