Originally Posted by
cyccommute
That’s just not true. Yes, tension is important but it’s just not the end all/be all of a strong wheel. The article I linked to in post 13 doesn’t mention tension at all. The article is written by Ric Hjertberg who is the founder of Wheelsmith who knows a thing or two about building wheels. ......
... can’t. The parts are just not up to the task at hand.
Disagree about tension not being important. It's crucial. And when you quote someone who makes possibly THE most precise and nice spoke tension meter on the market, it's kinda funny:
Hjertberg has been a pretty big advocate of accurate spoke tension measuring for a long time now.
I'd say the OP's problems are twofold: Crappy OEM wheels with dirt-poor spoke quality AND machine building with zero attention to even and appropriate spoke tension.
Rebuild those wheels with double-butted DT or Sapim spokes and achieve proper, even tension, and the OP will be set. Unless he weighs 350 lbs. and bombs rock gardens with flat tires on that bike!
PS And DT's spoke tension meter retails for over double the cost of the one above. Crazy!