I true my wheels when they are on the bike. Turn the bike upside down and use the brake pads (if you have V brakes) as guides or put some zip ties around the chainstay or fork legs and cut them where they almost touch the rim.
Truing Wheels The Cheap Way
So, i dont have a wheel truing stand, and they can be a costly investment for someone who doesnt bend wheels often.
Is there a good way that works to true your wheels without using a truing stand?
Is there a good way that works to true your wheels without using a truing stand?
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that sounds like a good idea, anybodey else do anything similar to this?
It's pretty standard practice. A zip tie, something clamped, your finger - anything on the stay that makes the wobble apparent as you fiddle with the spokes.
Zip tie and a watchful eye will do near as well as a stand for basic truing needs. However when it comes time to tension, dish, and remove vertical play the stand is an invaluable tool.
If you watch ebay you can come across some decent home user stands. I have a TACX that is great for home and small enough to take on road trips. I wish they were available in the states because I would whole heartedly recommend one. Mine has seen about 4 years of use, built over a dozen wheels, and shows little signs of wear.
If you watch ebay you can come across some decent home user stands. I have a TACX that is great for home and small enough to take on road trips. I wish they were available in the states because I would whole heartedly recommend one. Mine has seen about 4 years of use, built over a dozen wheels, and shows little signs of wear.
Homebrew truing stand
There's nothing wrong with truing wheels while they're mounted in the bike-frame. But give some thought to building a homebrew truing-stand. They're cheap and easy to make (for anyone who's reasonably handy), plus a proper truing stand is so much more comfortable to use than the old bike-frame method. Here's one I cobbled-up, using some RHS tubing, salvaged from a kid's play-gym that I scrounged in a neighbourhood clean-up!
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https://i260.photobucket.com/albums...009-09-06_TruingStand/homebrewTruingStand.jpg
There's nothing wrong with truing wheels while they're mounted in the bike-frame. But give some thought to building a homebrew truing-stand. They're cheap and easy to make (for anyone who's reasonably handy), plus a proper truing stand is so much more comfortable to use than the old bike-frame method. Here's one I cobbled-up, using some RHS tubing, salvaged from a kid's play-gym that I scrounged in a neighbourhood clean-up!
https://i260.photobucket.com/albums...009-09-06_TruingStand/homebrewTruingStand.jpg
First check for any spokes that are looser than the others and tighten them up.wildkyle90 said:So, i dont have a wheel truing stand, and they can be a costly investment for someone who doesnt bend wheels often.
Is there a good way that works to true your wheels without using a truing stand?
I use my thumb nail as a gauge and the hitch rack on my camper or car as a bike work stand. Just grip the bike with the rest of your fingers and move your thumb nail towards the outer edge of the rim until a high spot on the rim just starts to rub the nail. Then adjust out the high spot. I alternate from side to side on the bike until there are no more high spots.
You shouldn't have to do this very often.
I guess you mean a commercially made truing stand? Of course there are many good ways. Check the pics in my sig info.wildkyle90 said:Is there a good way that works to true your wheels without using a truing stand?
Ive trued and built roughly 100 Plus wheels over the years. Back in late 80's i used to watch the local wheel builder and pick up tips...saves the pennys..even those crisp like wheels can be saved..remove spokes and bend the rim slowly till near straight as you can and Re-lace/ true..
Way to resurrect a 5 year old thread :thumbsup:
Man, sounds like those were awesome times! Any actual tips or advice you brought back with you from the 80s?Ive trued and built roughly 100 Plus wheels over the years. Back in late 80's i used to watch the local wheel builder and pick up tips...saves the pennys..even those crisp like wheels can be saved..remove spokes and bend the rim slowly till near straight as you can and Re-lace/ true..
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Practice and more practice...dont over tighten them spokes during truing and use half a turn to Full turns..
I learned on steel rims a little harder to work with that soft alloy rims..
The prices some Shops charge are over the Top..It used to be fiver a wheel true..
I learned on steel rims a little harder to work with that soft alloy rims..
The prices some Shops charge are over the Top..It used to be fiver a wheel true..
Lmao...thanks!Man, sounds like those were awesome times! Any actual tips or advice you brought back with you from the 80s?
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80's tip....Members Only jackets are highly flammable and shouldn't be worn when free basing or truing steel rims.
hello, yeah that guy could save many a wheel..and its kept me from taking my wheels to the shop..just watch and ask next time your at the bike shop as they true wheels..Man, sounds like those were awesome times! Any actual tips or advice you brought back with you from the 80s?
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Looking on here there's plenty of members that are handy with there spanners great stuff keep them bikes a going..:thumbsup:
I would have loved to have checked the spoke tensions for being equal after he was done.hello, yeah that guy could save many a wheel..
He worked in a wheel building factory Plus his truing jig came from the factory place were he worked , all These gauges on the thing..He would say once the needles centred up thats your wheel ready... The name of the shop was terrys cycles..based in south london near brockwell park.. those of you who live in that area may recall
By the late eightys he'd been building wheels for 20 odd yrs. .I would have loved to have checked the spoke tensions for being equal after he was done.
built and trued 100's wheels in the 80's. spoke tension was pretty much checked by touch and past knowledge back then. I knew several other good wheel builders back then. a tension test tool was never even a glimmer of a mention and we built lots of high end light sometimes to light weight wheels. without fail. sometimes knowledge outweighs a gizmo. and personally I don't understand how any rider past their first year cant true up their own wheels. but its a new world of cycling, you ride it then drop it off to some guys to clean and tune it up.
I think Mike's comment was directed specifically at "saved wheels", not necessarily implying a tensiometer is a required tool for wheelbuilding.built and trued 100's wheels in the 80's. spoke tension was pretty much checked by touch and past knowledge back then. I knew several other good wheel builders back then. a tension test tool was never even a glimmer of a mention and we built lots of high end light sometimes to light weight wheels. without fail. sometimes knowledge outweighs a gizmo. and personally I don't understand how any rider past their first year cant true up their own wheels. but its a new world of cycling, you ride it then drop it off to some guys to clean and tune it up.
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