Questions tagged [wheel-building]
Questions referring to the craft of assembling bicycle wheels.
129
questions
-6
votes
2answers
120 views
What is the durability of a bicycle wheel?
I have built a bicycle wheel from spokes, nipples, hub and rim. How long can I
expect my creation to last?
Naturally I would like the wheel I spent great efforts to build to last as long as it can.
1
vote
1answer
103 views
Slight Difference in Spoke Tension Between Inner and Outer Spokes on Straightpull Hubs?
I recently built up my first set of straightpull wheels, with I9 hubs and traditional DT Swiss Competition spokes. (Hubs were from a I9 Trail S Hydra wheelset and are very much like DTs.)
Something I ...
0
votes
1answer
84 views
Experience with Panasonic Dynamo hubs?
I'm starting to spec out a dynamo hub wheel build for light touring/randonneuring. Was planning on going with a Shutter Precision hub, but just stumbled on these Panasonic hubs on sale at Soma for $21....
6
votes
2answers
192 views
Why is my wheel going out of true after I mount and inflate the tire?
I’m wrapping up my very first wheel build (rear wheel), and I noticed that the wheel is going out of true after I installed the tire. Before installing the tire, I had the wheel trued pretty well (...
2
votes
1answer
54 views
15g / 1.8mm spokes compatibility
I usually use double butted 2mm spokes that are 1.8mm in the middle.
In the past, though, I have used 1.8mm straight guage spokes when I was able to drill the holes in the hub flanges myself to a ...
4
votes
3answers
585 views
Can I build a wheel with two different spoke types?
Is it possible to build a bicycle wheel using a different spoke type for each side of the wheel? I am having some issues sourcing spokes, but I have found one set of DT Swiss Competition and one set ...
4
votes
2answers
257 views
How to avoid damaging spoke nipples when wheel building
I have just successfully built two wheels.
The final step of the process was perfecting the true and the dish.
I used a spoke key for this, and this resulted in unwanted scuffing and nicks on the (...
0
votes
3answers
111 views
How to select a rim?
I have noticed there are a huge number of rims available for sale. Some are cheap, some are expensive. Some are intended for rim brakes, some are intended for disc brakes. Not all rims are available ...
-7
votes
2answers
122 views
Why did my 28-spoke front wheel lost all tension but rear only some?
I have an electric road bike with disc brakes. Its stock front and rear tires
have only 28 spokes and a slightly deeper than ordinary rim. The hubs are cheap
non-Shimano hubs, but their flange ...
-1
votes
1answer
88 views
How to model the dynamic tension distribution of a loaded bicycle wheel?
Jobst Brandt has in his book The Bicycle Wheel the results of a computer simulation of the dynamic tension distribution in a loaded bicycle wheel. However, the code of the simulation is not available. ...
3
votes
1answer
151 views
Problems with spoke threads, and stressing the wheel
I was building up a rear wheel with brand new spokes and nipples. I used linseed oil on the threads so that when it dries it hardens. When I stress the wheel/spokes the threads slip, causing the spoke ...
2
votes
1answer
109 views
Single wall rims with disc brakes
I'm building up a 36-spoke dynamo front wheel for a Mongoose Envoy cargo bike. It will be used casually for short trips, but I weigh 230 lbs and I may have a child or a load of groceries on. The stock ...
0
votes
2answers
56 views
How much leeway do I have on ERD?
I am following up on this thread. I have found a few rims that match the ERD (604) of my rim, and if necessary I can use one of those. But I would like to consider others as well. How much leeway ...
1
vote
2answers
96 views
Finding a rim to swap in on a damaged wheel
I have a rear wheel with a 29" WTP STp i25 rim. The rim is irreparably damaged, but the wheel is otherwise in good condition. The spokes are not affected, the hub is great, and the wheel was ...
-5
votes
1answer
113 views
28-spoke wheel lost tension, what now?
I bought a nice e-bike. Unfortunately, it has only 28 spokes front and rear. The spokes seem to be 2mm straight gauge. The double wall aluminum rims do not have double eyelets / sockets. The hubs are ...
4
votes
1answer
331 views
Bent spokes after lacing
It's the first time I build a wheel (3 cross) and I would like to use these components:
DT Swiss H522 29" rim 36H
DT Swiss Hybrid 350 Hub 36H
DT Swiss Champion 2.0/1.8 J spokes
When I insert ...
2
votes
1answer
372 views
Is this spoke tension too low?
I am building a wheel and it is (pretty much) perfectly dished
Spoke tension calculator measurements say:
However, my wheel required a lot of offset to get the dish correct. My park tool TM-1 ...
3
votes
1answer
200 views
Spokes are too long for wheel build. What did I do wrong?
Tonight, I began the process of building a new wheel.
I purchased an Industry Nine Hydra Hub (MTN - 32 hole - Classic Rear Hub - ISO 6 Bolt - 12x148 HG)
Here are the calculations posted on their ...
1
vote
1answer
367 views
Correct spoke tension for DT Swiss EX 471 26" 32h rim paired with Wheelsmith DB 14 spokes
I am currently in the process of building a wheel, and I'm super confused on how to determine the correct spoke tension.
I bought the Park Tool TM-1 to correctly gauge the tension.
DT Swiss doesn't ...
0
votes
1answer
114 views
Diagnosing and correcting hop on carbon wheel
NOTE - please read update below and all comments.
I have a Mavic Cosmic carbon wheel which is perfectly true, but it has some vertical hop (3-4 mm). I thought at first that it was out of round, but ...
4
votes
1answer
324 views
Using an 8 speed cassette on an 10-11 speed Tiagra FH-RS400
I'm trying to build a new set of wheels for touring trip (2 months) I have planned and can only find a Tiagra FH-RS400 hub. The issues is that my shifters are Claris 3x8 ST-2403-L and cannot support ...
4
votes
1answer
774 views
Is it common for the left side spokes of a front disc wheel to have more tension than the right side spokes?
Wiping my bike down after a wet ride, I noticed that the left side spokes on my front wheel are tighter than the right side. I don't have a tensionometer but squeezing pairs on each side and plucking ...
8
votes
3answers
955 views
Is there a benefit of lacing trailer wheel spokes radially instead of crossed?
Reading a review of a bike trailer one of the commentators noted that the wheels were laced radially:
It is a 16" wheel. Does this configuration have some advantage making it a good choice? I always ...
2
votes
3answers
383 views
Using 16 hole front rim to build a rear wheel
I have the opportunity to buy 2 front Shimano Dura Ace C40 latest generation wheels at a very cheap price. The hole count for the wheelset is 16/21. Could I build / have built a rear wheel from one of ...
3
votes
2answers
172 views
Why would non-drive side leading spokes break?
I've built about half a dozen wheels for my commuter bikes and never had any problems, but the last rear wheel broke some spokes.
Everything on the wheel was brand new, 32 spokes, had only done about ...
2
votes
3answers
529 views
Wheel Building - Should key spoke be inside or outside flange?
I’m working on my first wheel build and reading a lot of articles about spoke patterns. Some articles say the key spoke (drive-side, to the right of the valve) should be on the outside of the flange, ...
1
vote
3answers
324 views
148-to-141 conversion effect on spoke length?
I'm building a set of wheels using:
WTB KOM Light i40 rims - 27.5"
Hope Pro 4 Hubs - 100mm front / 148mm rear
However, I have converted the rear hub to a 141mm using Hope's QR conversion kit.
Does ...
20
votes
8answers
3k views
Purpose of 'bore' on spoke nipples - why are spoke nipples not threaded through their entire length?
I noticed that (most) spoke nipples have a thread which does not run through the entire length of the nipple. As can be seen in the image below some of the length of the nipple has no threads (and is ...
asked Jan 31 '20 at 11:41
Maarten -Monica for president
2,5031 gold badge9 silver badges24 bronze badges
3
votes
2answers
428 views
Why forward-facing spokes should be “heads in”, except on the drive side of the rear wheel?
Shimano service instructions for hubs show that out of the four sides, three should be "forward-facing spokes are heads-in", and one, the drive side on the rear wheel, the other way around:
What is ...
7
votes
3answers
2k views
Broken 26'' wheel
I need your recommendations.
I have the issue with my rear rim. It was broken. And now I have a dilemma to buy a new wheel or buy a new rim and use hub, spokes from the previous wheel. One problem the ...
3
votes
1answer
93 views
Rescue corroded alloy nipples on wheel spokes, perhaps using chemicals?
My wheelset has alloy nipples which have severely corroded. It needs rebuilt with brass nipples.
However, my LBS can't get the spokes out. The nipples are too disintegrated to turn, but not ...
4
votes
1answer
415 views
How much do spokes stretch when first used?
I built a wheel for the first time recently, so I checked it after a few hundred km. The spokes seemed to all have lower tension (by pitch) than when I built the wheel. I tightened them all about 1/4 ...
3
votes
1answer
393 views
Can I attach a 40 spoke hub to a 36 spoke rim?
I just discovered a crack in the back rim of my mother's bike and I'd like to replace it. The trouble is that the hub is 40 spoke and I cannot find a 40 hole rim that would fit the bike and would be ...
1
vote
4answers
721 views
Use Brompton BWR 3-speed hub to create a full 700c wheel?
I have been looking at getting an internal gear hub wheel for my commuter. I currently ride a fixie and I find myself wanting a lower gear at stop lights and a higher gear in straight aways. Basically ...
2
votes
1answer
674 views
How do I choose a replacement wheel rim?
These are my current rims: Wheeltech TD26 by Alex Rims (can't find much info about these online). I need to replace the rear wheel as it is cracked (cracks on the rims around a few spokes)
It's a ...
1
vote
3answers
266 views
Replacing multiple spokes (9/36): more like replacing spokes or rebuilding a wheel?
I've never built a wheel and while I'd like to learn one day I'm not going to learn on this one.
On Saturday my rear wheel ate my derailleur (and bent the steel hanger in the process)*. No spokes ...
4
votes
3answers
292 views
Can I use a spoke tension meter to fix my uneven pre-tensioning prior to truing?
I've managed to lace up the wheel I’m building, however I think I've managed to unevenly tension the non drive side as a few spokes aren't as tight as others.
If I get a tension meter, I can go ...
1
vote
0answers
55 views
Is new Hozan spoke thread roller better than old one [closed]
I have tried to use the old Hozan spoke thread roller (model 700), and have been deeply disappointed. I tried to follow instructions provided but all spokes it produced were either with too shallow ...
1
vote
2answers
844 views
Spokes stick out of nipples when rebuilding wheel
I'm having issues with the nipples the spoke threads are sticking out. I want to tension the wheel but when I tighten the nipples the spoke treads come out from top of the nipples before the wheel is ...
4
votes
4answers
4k views
Could I use a front rim to build a rear wheel?
Could I build a rear wheel using a front rim?
Edit: Follow-on question Spokes stick out of nipples when rebuilding wheel reusing spokes.
11
votes
4answers
6k views
Is it worth rebuilding a wheel myself to save money?
The bearings and hubs on my bike have worn out and need replacing. The local bike shop charges $120 to have the wheel rebuilt with a new hub not including the part cost. I am considering doing this ...
11
votes
3answers
3k views
Best way to strengthen a wheel?
I'm a relatively heavy chap - 95kg or so. (15 stone, 210 pounds) I've got a commuter bike which uses a NuVinci N360 hub. The hub itself is quite heavy at 2.5kg and I suspect contributes to what is ...
1
vote
1answer
591 views
Spoke Length Help - First Wheel Build
I bought a pair of Ryde Andra 30 28" Rim(ERD=598mm) and Hope RS4 Road Bicycle Hubs(Rear/Front Specs, Front-Type(100mm), Rear-Type(130mm)).
I then used the prowheelbuilder spoke length calculator with ...
1
vote
2answers
370 views
How to reliably tell if the rim is correctly drilled?
The typical advice is to put down the rim, find the hole for valve and compare two adjacent holes which one is "higher" and which one is "lower" one (the counterclockwise hole should be higher).
The ...
3
votes
1answer
2k views
Ordering correct spoke nipple size
I've got some spoke nipples on a rear wheel which are stripped, and I'd like to replace them.
I've measured the thickness of the spokes and they have a diameter of 2mm, which correspond to 14-gauge ...
0
votes
1answer
147 views
How do you measure the length of a loose spoke?
I have built up quite a few old spokes, which are all perfectly useable. All I need to know is their intended length, but I am not sure how it should be taken.
2
votes
2answers
772 views
Does a small bolt cutter do OK cutting spokes for a wheel build?
I'm hoping a cheap bolt cutter will make easier work and put less stress on my cable cutters when cutting and threading spokes for a wheel built. (My hands get knackered pulling on the shortish cable ...
1
vote
1answer
338 views
Choosing parts for wheel build on a cargo bike conversion
I am using an old Xtracycle Free Radical to convert my hybrid 90s Specialized CrossRoads to a cargo bicycle.
The Free Radical was originally designed for 26” wheels, but many people used them on 700c ...
3
votes
1answer
1k views
How many spokes for a single speed road bike?
I want to buy a handbuilt wheelset from a local bike shop and I am in front of the decision of how many spokes I want to put on front and rear wheel.
The application of the wheelset is a singlespeed ...
1
vote
1answer
870 views
How much will 4mm dish weaken the rear wheel?
I'm building a rear wheel (my first wheel-build) that needs a 4mm dish. How much will this amount of dish weaken the wheel? What would be the maximum dish a wheel can have while still maintaining good ...
