Spoke tension for true wheel

Travers Waker

Hi.

Are there many different combinations of spoke tension for a particular
wheel that result in it being true (leterally and radially) and dished
correctly (excluding cases where the tension of each spoke is in the same
ratio to some other other spoke in a configuration that has been counted
already. i.e. I don't want to count just loosening and tightening all the
spokes an equivalent amount as a wheel with different tension)?

The reason I ask is that I have my wheels true and dished correctly, but the
spoke tension is not all that even. Is this just because of the way my rim
reacts (maybe it's bent?) and I need uneven spoke tension to correct it
(rim is American Classic 420), or are my wheels built built badly?

Thanks for any help,

Travers

Harris

Travers Waker <nospam@fake.com> wrote:

> Are there many different combinations of spoke tension for a particular
> wheel that result in it being true (leterally and radially) and dished
> correctly (excluding cases where the tension of each spoke is in the same
> ratio to some other other spoke in a configuration that has been counted
> already. i.e. I don't want to count just loosening and tightening all the
> spokes an equivalent amount as a wheel with different tension)?

> The reason I ask is that I have my wheels true and dished correctly, but the
> spoke tension is not all that even. Is this just because of the way my rim
> reacts (maybe it's bent?) and I need uneven spoke tension to correct it
> (rim is American Classic 420), or are my wheels built built badly?

Ideally, all spokes on one side of a rear wheel will have identical
tension. Often, the tension at the rim joint will be slightly different.
Also, if the rim has been damaged (or was not round to begin with) tension
will not be even.

If your rim is good, try loosening the tightest spokes a half turn and
then try to bring the wheel back to true by tightening other spokes. Make
sure to check for roundness as well as lateral trueness and dish.

If you still can't get reasonably even tension, you probably need a new
rim.

Art Harris

daveornee

Travers Waker wrote:
> Hi.
> Are there many different combinations of spoke tension for a particular
> wheel that result in it being true (leterally and radially) and dished
> correctly (excluding cases where the tension of each spoke is in the
> same ratio to some other other spoke in a configuration that has been
> counted already. i.e. I don't want to count just loosening and
> tightening all the spokes an equivalent amount as a wheel with
> different tension)?
> The reason I ask is that I have my wheels true and dished correctly,
> but the spoke tension is not all that even. Is this just because of
> the way my rim reacts (maybe it's bent?) and I need uneven spoke
> tension to correct it (rim is American Classic 420), or are my wheels
> built built badly?
> Thanks for any help,
> Travers



There is a brief section in "the Bicycle Wheel" that states something
close to what Art Harris already said. You need to work the process and
consider how the spokes interact. You may need to loosen on spoke by a
half turn and others need to be tightened by a 1/4 turn. Also, if when
you are done with the spoke tension ballancing, and re-truing, you find
the wheel still needs help; you may need to "repair the rim" by backing
off the tension and taking out the rim bend that is causing the tension
imballance.



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Travers Waker

To simplify what I was trying to ask:

My wheel is true and properly dished, but spoke tension is not even. Is
there a way of evening out the spoke tension without messing up
radial/lateral true and dishing?

Thanks,

Travers

"Travers Waker" <nospam@fake.com> wrote in message
news:c608h6$m3i$1@ctb-nnrp2.saix.net...
> Hi.
>
> Are there many different combinations of spoke tension for a particular
> wheel that result in it being true (leterally and radially) and dished
> correctly (excluding cases where the tension of each spoke is in the same
> ratio to some other other spoke in a configuration that has been counted
> already. i.e. I don't want to count just loosening and tightening all the
> spokes an equivalent amount as a wheel with different tension)?
>
> The reason I ask is that I have my wheels true and dished correctly, but
the
> spoke tension is not all that even. Is this just because of the way my
rim
> reacts (maybe it's bent?) and I need uneven spoke tension to correct it
> (rim is American Classic 420), or are my wheels built built badly?
>
> Thanks for any help,
>
> Travers
>
>

daveornee

Travers Waker wrote:
> To simplify what I was trying to ask:
> My wheel is true and properly dished, but spoke tension is not even. Is
> there a way of evening out the spoke tension without messing up
> radial/lateral true and dishing?
> Thanks,
> Travers
> <SNIP>
> > Travers



Yes. It is worth seeing that you can attain both tension balance and
true + proper dish. If your spokes are not evenly tensioned they will
equalize while you are riding (over time) and the wheel will loose
alignment. You will find that the rim joint makes uniformity impossible,
but you should be able to balance tension to within 10% with a little
effort. Barnetts has 3 methods and procedures to attain balance within
5%. It takes time and effort to follow the mehtods and procedures,
however, they do work. If you want the details, find Barnetts Chapter 17
and look at the last half of the chapter.



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