cococard

Hey guys, a quick question....

I picked up a rear aerospoke and am encountering a problem...when I try to tighten the bolts the screws ride on the drop ins and pull the wheel forward making it very difficult to get correct tension, does anyone have any experiance with this?

I was thinking a chain tensioner, anyone have any ideas?

Squirrelli

1. Hold wheel in one hand
2. Tighten bolt/nut with the other.
3. Repeat for other side.
4. Asplooooshhuuunn.


EDIT: HA, beat you to it.

Aww...you're right.

Scrodzilla

Vix was close.

Tighten the non drive side first. Not all the way, but pretty snug. Then hold the wheel straight while you tighten the drive side. Crank it down and then go back and completely tighten the non drive side.

If you're still having trouble, stuff something between your seat tube and wheel while tightening it to prevent it from slipping. A tightly rolled up magazine or newspaper usually does the trick.

yummygooey

I finger tighten both sides first as tight as my fingers can do it, then I use one hand to pull back the wheel (tensioning the chain and keeping the wheel centered) while I tighten the drive side nut. Then I tighten the non-drive side nut.

Make sure you don't over tension your chain... or else it'll feel like someone duct taped some rocks to your rim.

xkillemallx16

this

ThePritchett

Going out on a limb here... but worth asking

Do your nuts have a spinny washer part built into them? If not, you'll need use a washer - or get rear (10mm x 1mm thread) track nuts with the captive washers.

Without something between the nut and dropout, the axle will "walk" when you try to tighten it.

oneeyedhobbit

When your chain tension is set too tight, what will it feel like/how will you know? An LBS near me told me to tighten the non drive side most of the way then push on the wheel from that side so the drive side tension is pretty tight. Then bolt down the drive side, loosen the non-drive so that it aligns itself with the drive side and tighten that. It seems to work ok, but I've never heard of this method, and just worried I'm overtightening now. Anyone else use this method?

Squirrelli

I believe Aerospokes use bolts instead of nuts.

yummygooey

I tension my chain so I can move it about 1/2" up or down with my finger.

Scrodzilla

They do.

ThePritchett

I fail.

However, washer theory still stands... if the bolts don't have any sort of washers, they will walk while tightening.

Scrodzilla

Yeah...the bolts should definitely also have washers.

peach-picker

get some mks chain tensioners, trust me on this one, i am EXTREMELY anal about by chain tension and the tensioners made my life much easier! also you should put some grease on the bolt threads and you should consider buying a cheap torque wrench, also makes things alot easier.

Scrodzilla

With the exception of grease, none of the above is actually necessary.

peach-picker

yea i guess not, dont listen to me im just a hipster and i dont know what i am talking about (sarcastic). they may not be necessary but they help make adjusting tension, wheel centering very easy, and if you put alot of force to the pedals when riding then they prevent the wheel from sliping forward.

Gyeswho

I agree on the tensioner. It may not be absolutely necessary, but it does make getting the same chain tension a breeze since it locks in one side already.

carleton

You probably need some fresh grip nuts. These are the nuts that contact the inside of the dropout that keep the wheel from moving when you tighten it. That's their only job.

If the wheel is used (or well used) then they are probably worn down. This is normal wear and tear. I had to replace the grip nuts on one of my Zipp wheels.

vw addict

sounds like it's trying to kill you, I would get rid of it before its plan materializes.