28
votes
Accepted
Purpose of 'bore' on spoke nipples - why are spoke nipples not threaded through their entire length?
Adding threads to any sort of bolt under tension doesn't actually make it much stronger, beyond the first ≈5 threads. Adding more basically just adds dead mass; either way the whole thing will ...
- 3,483
18
votes
Accepted
What are the benefits of hand built wheels over automated ones?
The parts of this topic that usually get glossed over in written sources and hearsay are:
Not all wheel production machinery and processes are the same. It's kind of the opposite, actually. It's a ...
- 81.8k
16
votes
Accepted
What kind of wheels use spoke washers/nipple washers?
Spoke washers are used at the hub end, between the flared out cap and the hub itself. The intention is to take up extra length between the bend and the end, to help prevent the spoke from breaking. ...
- 121k
16
votes
Accepted
Is it worth rebuilding a wheel myself to save money?
For most applications, most of the time, in the global north, if you're trying to save money then just buying a new wheel is the most economical. The main exception that comes up is if you have a ...
- 81.8k
15
votes
Could I use a front rim to build a rear wheel?
In the days before factory built wheelset, rims where produced without being specifically for front or rear wheels. On most general-use standard bicycles it is still that way. The only difference was ...
- 8,259
15
votes
Accepted
Broken 26'' wheel
That kind of rim damage indicates over-worn brake surfaces. Whether you should replace the whole wheel is a strictly economical question which is hard to answer in general. Wheel building services and ...
- 14.4k
13
votes
Accepted
Is this wheel built incorrectly?
It's a little bit wrong in that it has zero upside and one potential downside, but that downside is unlikely to ever be relevant.
Trailing spokes straighten a little temporarily under drive load, and ...
- 81.8k
13
votes
Purpose of 'bore' on spoke nipples - why are spoke nipples not threaded through their entire length?
The bore guides the thread of the spoke to the threading of the nipple allowing easier spoking with less risk of cross-threading.
The bore also allows the spoke to be threaded deeper w/o adding more ...
- 241
13
votes
Accepted
Should I seriously consider radial lacing?
I just happened to have recently written a little paper on the spoke length formula, so with my knowledge about wheels refreshed, I think I'll take a shot at answering this question. Let me approach ...
- 15.5k
13
votes
Accepted
Spokes bow out from the hub flange
Bowing as the outer spokes exit the flange is normal. The angle when the spoke is made is set arbitrarily, and it's the job of the wheelbuilder to cold set it best as possible to match what the ...
- 81.8k
12
votes
Accepted
Is the 'shark wheel' a good idea for a bicycle?
On a skate board type application it is effective
On a bicycle it is not effective and impractical to implement
On a skate board you want a wide contact patch. On a skate board you absolutely don't ...
- 15.6k
12
votes
Why would spoke tensions be uneven, despite equal thread engagement?
I can think of a few causes related to the parts and material:
Manufacturing tolerance of the spokes. They are not exactly equal length.
Manufacturing tolernace of the nipples. I assume they are ...
- 2,254
11
votes
Is the 'shark wheel' a good idea for a bicycle?
Unless it's actually circular then it's going to be a very bumpy ride. If it's a circular wheel that weaves laterally it could work as described, to some extent, but the float advantages of a fat tyre ...
- 23.3k
11
votes
Accepted
Is there a benefit of lacing trailer wheel spokes radially instead of crossed?
Crossed spoke lacing is primarily necessary to transmit torque from the hub to the rim, rather than for increased strength, although I suspect hub flanges have more strength when loaded by a crossed ...
- 75.5k
11
votes
Is it ok to use one odd spoke for a wheel build?
You don't need to mis-match, but if you choose carefully, you should be able to.
D-light come in both black and silver (links are to my local supplier/wheel builder, but demonstrate that they exist). ...
- 57.3k
11
votes
Should I seriously consider radial lacing?
I think your detailed question shows one flaw, a lack of understanding why radial spoking is used and what circumstances tangental spoking must be used.
Radial lacing is used almost exclusively with ...
- 13.5k
10
votes
Problems with spoke threads, and stressing the wheel
There is one major cause of this problem and it is putting a 1.8mm aka 15ga spoke in a 2.0mm/14ga nipple.
This mismatch will screw together and hold under some tension, but then slip.
It is easy to ...
- 81.8k
10
votes
Accepted
Deriving formula for spoke lengths
Okay, I decided that uploading the document as a series of images would be better than having to individually copy all the diagrams and render the equations separately (Bicycles StackExchange does not ...
- 15.5k
9
votes
Accepted
Wheel going badly out of true on final tightening
From the lack of detail in your question I'm going to assume you don't have a tensiometer. If you do, please tell us what tension you're actually using and what the limits for your rim are.
edit The "...
- 23.3k
9
votes
Accepted
Can I build a wheel with two different spoke types?
In Roger Musson's book Professional Guide to Wheel Building 7th Edition, https://www.wheelpro.co.uk/wheelbuilding/book.php this is covered in brief (for a dished rear wheel):
The wheel can support ...
- 12.7k
9
votes
Accepted
Nipple replacement question
There is a lot to be said for 4, but 3 is best if you are going to do this. 1 is actively bad for the rim and there is nothing to be gained by 2 if you have a tensiometer.
The conventional wisdom is ...
- 81.8k
8
votes
Accepted
Can you change the rear hub on a tubular cyclo cross wheelset with out riping the tubular tyre off?
It is almost impossible to rebuild a wheel (i.e., new hub and new spokes) without removing the tire. Leaving the tire on, would mean leaving the spoke nipples in place. (It is a good idea to replace ...
- 30.4k
8
votes
Can hubs last forever?
If the shell is aluminum and we're talking about the whole thing and not just the bearing races, the literal answer is flat out no, because aluminum doesn't have a fatigue limit. It will crack ...
- 81.8k
8
votes
Best way to strengthen a wheel?
When the spokes break, do they snap at the J bend? Or elsewhere?
If the little mushroomed cap is gone at the hub end and there's a spikey "claw" then your spoke tension is low which is stressing ...
- 121k
8
votes
Accepted
How to avoid damaging spoke nipples when wheel building
Using a high quality spoke key that engages on 4 sides (and fits properly) usually avoids this problem, even with coloured alu nipples.
- 13.5k
8
votes
Accepted
Can I use a 272mm spoke in place of a 275mm?
I personally would be uncomfortable with spokes that are that far out. In a pinch, one shorter spoke with less thread engagement might be fine, but you're talking about all spokes on both wheels.
If ...
- 121k
8
votes
Is it safe to ride on wheels with rusted spoke eyelets?
Yes, the rust is not a safety issue. It's fine.
They're not replaceable in any kind of practical sense. Double eyelets or sockets such as those pictured are formed to match a specific distance between ...
- 81.8k
8
votes
Accepted
Is a spoke tensiometer useful for determining that a wheel is on its way to becoming out-of-true?
There are several diagnostic uses I use a tensiometer for fairly regularly:
One is to get a sense of how good the tension balance and tension level on a wheel is as a way of evaluating if it needs ...
- 81.8k
7
votes
Are "V" brake rims safe to use with discs
Not only is it safe it is fairly common. When disc brake became more affordable many after market manufacturers sold dual brake wheels. Disc hubs and "V" brake rims. Just don't use "V" brakes on a ...
- 18.4k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible