Originally Posted by
Sixty Fiver
If one spoke is wound up it will knock the wheel out of true... when 36 of them do this on a wheel that was probably under-tensioned to boot the effect is more significant.
These were on pre-built wheels that I had not checked... simply inflating the tyre caused them to become de-tensioned to a point where they would have tacoed under a rider.
When I build wheels I always do a final true and stress relieving with the tyres mounted and inflated... I have yet to have a wheel fail because of a build issue.
I hear you, but I suspect most of the problem was the original under-tensioning. Even every spoke unwinding 1/4 turn would only reduce the average tension by what, 5-10 kgF? You would have to be right on the edge of loose (especially on the NDS) for that to matter. Wheels like you describe are rarely built with windup prone Revolutions or Lasers which are saved for the primo builds. I can't see a heavier gauge spoke winding up more than 1/4 turn.