Wheel tension

desweller
desweller Posts: 5,175
edited January 2012 in Workshop
A friend of mine has given me a wheel to retrue. It had a fairly big ripple in it. I'm getting a cake for providing this service, so as you can see, the stakes are high.

Trouble is, I can't get it anywhere near true without wildly differing tensions around the wheel, to the extent that there is a noticeable difference from one pair to another when I squeeze them together . Does this mean I'm working with spokes that have gone into yield? If so, how do I tell which spokes are duff? I fear that if I just true it up as tight as possible, one bash and it'll taco if the tensions are so broadly spread.
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On Strava.{/url}

Comments

  • Velonutter
    Velonutter Posts: 2,437
    I slacken the opposite if I think I am having to apply too much tension, has virtually the same effect as tightening the other side. Just watch the dishing!
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    If trying to true a big deflection, I'll wind up the spoke tension to get the rim true and then wind off all the spoke tension - the rim generally stays true - and then retension all the spokes evenly. If left after step 1, the spokes will likely be over-stressed and will fail prematurely.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • desweller
    desweller Posts: 5,175
    Cheers mate. Any tips for backing the wheel off once I've got it trued? I guess it's just a case of going round backing them all off the same amount over and over again...
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    On Strava.{/url}
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    Yes, go around the wheel winding-off each nipple to the ends of the thread
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • huuregeil
    huuregeil Posts: 780
    Remember though, if the rim is bent outta shape because it has been abused, it will be impossible to get both a true wheel and even tension.