geo8rge

Are spoke tensions on BMX wheels lower than other wheels? I bought a used wheel off eBay and the spokes are tensioned to 10 on my Park TM-1 tensionometer, 17 is 51 Kgf. I think regular wheels are in the 100s Kgf.

If I wanted to used the wheel for road riding should I go for a higher tension?

I also posted this on the bicycle mechanics board.

KinetikBiker

Uhhhhhh. I'm not wheel builder but i can decently true wheels and i would say that you should keep the tension in your spokes the same as you would any of your other bikes...

But i'm not too sure...

Brian

You have loose spokes.

mx_599

i have the same tensiometer and just recently built some nice bmx wheels. i used SUN Big city lites rims and asked SUN what they should be and they said, i believe, 100-120kgf. forgot the exact number, but i would have remembered if it were significantly lower. basically the tension was similar to my other wheel builds...mtb, road, etc...

now i don't know it you have eyeleted rims or not? also, are you sure you calculated the park tension meter number correctly? i am assuming you noticed that it matters what kind of spoke it is-- double butted vs straight and diameters...

without knowing your specifics, i would tentatively say you need to crank those up to around 20-25ish on your Park tool or so. if you want i can go measure mine again. i don't recall the exact tool reading. but i do know that they were a simple no-dish build so all the spokes were equal.

i don't think it matters much about road riding...it sounds like they are not tensioned enough. you can contact the rim manufacturer to ask them. i would imagine if you have eyelets than it would be about the same as mine.

I also posted this on the bicycle mechanics board.

geo8rge

Thanks, I thought something was wrong.

KinetikBiker

While we're on this subject...anyone want to help me learn about this.

There's a wheel tension finder outer tool?

new_dharma

Park tool has one...
Hozan has one...
Wheelsmith has one (down the page a bit)...

Check out Sheldon Brown's page on wheelbuilding or try Schraner's Book on the subject (but he talks about some REALLY technical stuff...more than I cared for)

mx_599

from what i have gathered from the forums over time and calling DTswiss and SUN rims, and i could be wrong, but the tension is primarily determined by what the rim can accept...not so much the nipple or spoke. and basically you want to to tighten to what the rim can handle.

it seems to me that many rims are similar. my builds have all been from about 80 to110 kgf. the delicate XC rims being on the lower end for example. then eyelets are another consideration. i think atomlab gets away with no eyelets because the rim is thicker there, but don't quote me on that.

the rim manufacturers will always tell you the recommended kgf if you email or call them.

for calculators, i prefer the DT swiss calc at their homepage. it allows you to store your builds and pull them up in the future. i have yet to run into accuracy problems with it.

for lacing pattern, i have to admit i did use the color diagram guide on sheldon browns page.

i highly recommend you try building a wheel. very satisfying.

KinetikBiker

I've been meaning to do it. I have a rim and hub laying around i just need to calculate the spoke length and get the spokes.

Thanks for your help mx and new dharma.

FitRider 921

Keep your spokes tight. That's all you need.

Brian

Even.

FitRider 921

Evenly tight.

brice520

i built up a ody hazard lhd to a ody hazard light chrome rim with black wheelsmith spokes and nipples 4 crossed. it was satisfying

wethepeople

I built a Primo bomb laced to a Alex MX22 or something, cant recall how many cross.

It was so annoying. I wanted to fill a pillow sack with baby kittens and beat grannies with it.

FitRider 921

I let people build my stuff. I'm too lazy.

mude

word.

new_dharma

build-your-own=better-stronger-faster(?)...

at least after the first couple...my first was a disaster

mude

not necesarily true, who says a local lbs with a good wheel guy cant to a great job

new_dharma

I never said that the LBS CAN'T do a great job.
I can build them the same (if not better) than my LBS & I don't have to pay their labor. After doing a couple, it really doesn't take me that long so I can't see paying someone to do the work.

Just my $.02

mx_599

mx_599

time is money LBS = not as good a job as myself

IeatRice4dinner

spoke tension depends on the rim, usually. Laceing a wheel is easy, tensioning properly is the hard part.....I really wanna try to lace one up blind folded...just for kicks

mx_599

this sounds like loads of fun. i would have anti-seize all over my hands and face with nipples strewn across the carpet.

Brian

I thought you mentioned that you owned your own shop?

sbcdestroy

I tighten them til they are very snug, then I lay the wheel on its side and stand on it, flip over and stand on it again to "bed in" the spokes, then give it once around with the spoke key again, i dont have a $_____ spoke tension tool. but I build a strong wheel.