Minor flat spot in my rim
10-23-18, 01:53 PM
#1
Newbie
Thread Starter
Minor flat spot in my rim
I have matching rims Araya CTL-385 but the front rim has problems that I inherited from the former owner. It was drilled out to fit a Schrader valve. Fixed that with beer can patch which I keep in place with the retaining nut. More annoying is the flat spot because you feel it braking under 10mph.
Should I take it to my LBS and have them pull and true and hope for the best? . Or plan on a rebuild? Any chance these rims are still available? Else I'd want an appropriate late 80s replacement. It's a Bertoni frame with Shimano 1056 8 cog components. Thanks
Should I take it to my LBS and have them pull and true and hope for the best? . Or plan on a rebuild? Any chance these rims are still available? Else I'd want an appropriate late 80s replacement. It's a Bertoni frame with Shimano 1056 8 cog components. Thanks
10-23-18, 02:41 PM
#2
aka Tom Reingold
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Some shops might be willing to fix the rim, but I'll tell you, I've done this, and it's a pain. With some, I put in a lot of effort, and it didn't come out much rounder than when I started. It might be better to replace the rim.
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New York City and High Falls, NY
Blogs: The Experienced Cyclist; noglider's ride blog
“When man invented the bicycle he reached the peak of his attainments.” — Elizabeth West, US author
Please email me rather than PM'ing me. Thanks.
10-23-18, 04:02 PM
#3
Senior Member
If you have a truing stand (sounds like you don’t) you could de-tension the wheel and assess the rim. If it’s still not round without tension, I don’t like the odds of getting it round by tensioning. But maybe others have better skills than me.
If it miraculously becomes round without tension, then you just need to tension it properly, taking better care than the last person did.
If it miraculously becomes round without tension, then you just need to tension it properly, taking better care than the last person did.
10-23-18, 04:10 PM
#4
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A bike mechanic can certainly give it a try. We had a tool, I think it was a VAR, to pull flat spots out of rims when I worked in a bike shop, decades ago. The problem will be, will a shop take on such a job, because it may cost a bunch of time from their best mechanic. It is usually easier for a shop to offer a new wheel.
Is the rim flat spotted or is the brake surface dented? If it is a dented brake surface, this could be an easy fix.
Is the rim flat spotted or is the brake surface dented? If it is a dented brake surface, this could be an easy fix.
10-23-18, 04:30 PM
#5
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A good, old school wheel builder can take out minor flat spots and you're lucky if you know one or can find one. Many (young) wheel guys I've met of late won't touch used rims and wheels.
10-23-18, 04:51 PM
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10-23-18, 05:11 PM
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Good idea there SJX426. I was thinking of a way to copy the VAR tool but a workbench, a clamp and a couple of pieces of scrap wood is so much easier. Plus, I probably wont have to go looking every few years for the special tool when I need it. Now, I have to remember this method.
10-23-18, 05:46 PM
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@Velo Mule - Thanks! I first find the point of transitions, marked as a line on the brake surface. There were two. The second was a result of the first attempt. I also used a rasp to create a curved surface on the wood piece on the rim.
P1030741, on Flickr
Started with this level of "flat" from the rest of the rim. Done this on a couple of rims with success.
P1030739, on Flickr
P1030741, on Flickr
Started with this level of "flat" from the rest of the rim. Done this on a couple of rims with success.
P1030739, on Flickr
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10-23-18, 06:13 PM
#9
curmudgineer
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I have a rim that got pranged by an unmarked road construction project that I might be able to salvage using the method illustrated. A project for the deep of winter, for sure.
10-23-18, 06:24 PM
#10
Senior Member
I was pretty good at getting out flat spots BITD. Used to do it all the time in the days of steel Rigida rims. One simple trick is to loosen up the spokes around the flat spot, and then use a hook on the ceiling to pull. Basically by hanging from the wheel you can apply a lot of force. Eyeball it to close or a bit more, and then re-tension the spokes and true. Straighten up the inevitably flared sidewalls with the VAR tool first.
Honestly, it's not worth the bother for quality aluminum rims. IMO. With a lot of experience you can get them pretty good with the troglodyte techniques, but it's never going to be good as new. Just re-rim it.
Honestly, it's not worth the bother for quality aluminum rims. IMO. With a lot of experience you can get them pretty good with the troglodyte techniques, but it's never going to be good as new. Just re-rim it.
