It seems pretty simple to true a wheel, but I heard a "thunk" sound a few times on my back wheel, and I think it was some spokes that popped or something, because now the wheel is much more wobbly.
So the question is: Does this mean that I have to take the wheel apart and replace some spokes, or can I just tighten them. I want to know if I should bother to go and buy a spoke wrench, or will it not do any good?
2006-08-18 13:07:41 · 11 answers · asked by martin h 6 in Sports ➔ Cycling
Sometimes those thunk sounds occur as a result of changing the tension on the spokes. I've heard them before, but they always go away...it should only be one or two that you hear.
Check the spoke tensions, make sure they are all tight. You can get all techno, or you can just go about the wheel squeezing sets of two spokes together to check for even tension. This will reveal any major problems.
I have some questions for you though:
1. did you attempt to true your wheel without a spoke wrench? Bad idea.
2. if you are messing around without the correct tools, are you sure you want to continue down this path?
A spoke wrench is cheap, I carry one in my saddle bag on every ride. You never know when you may need it!
Then you should actually do some reading on the subject. You don't just wing it. Truing a wheel is one of the most complicated bits of "minor" maintenance that you can do, aside actually rebuilding the wheel from scratch.
2006-08-18 14:06:20 · answer #1 · answered by powhound 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I mean you no offense and I may be dead wrong but from the wording of your question I suggest you take it to someone at a shop.
I have done my share of mechanical work, aircraft mechanic, auto mechanic including rebuilding engines and I even did a frame change on an S-10 pickup. I have a shop full of tools including a box for my bicycle stuff. I have been riding mountain bikes for about 10 years and do almost all of my own work. Truing a wheel is no small task. You will need some sort of a jig to start with. Putting the wheel on the bicycle and trying to true it is a tough way to go. Next you will need to find and replace any broken spokes, tighten any loose spokes and then, and only then, are you ready to start truing the wheel. Loosening spokes on one side and tightening on the other is the easy way to look at this part of the job but if all the spokes are not setting at the same torque when you are done, the wheel will be out of true in less than a mile or two.
So that's the long answer. The short answer is take it to a shop. I consider myself pretty good at this but once a year both of my wheels go to the shop to be professionally tuned.
A freshly tuned set of wheels is a real sweet ride.
2006-08-18 21:29:44 · answer #2 · answered by gimpalomg 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Take the wheel off the bike. hold it up straight, close one eye, and see if the wheel itself is crooked. If it is, check the spokes. Go one by one and see if any have popped out, or broke. You can probably replace those, tho it is not too expensive to buy a new wheel. Definetly a lot less work.
If the wheel itself is straight, and the spokes seem good, you can try tightening the wheel back on, and make sure the screws are all tight and in place.
2006-08-18 20:15:16 · answer #3 · answered by brand_new_monkey 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
having a truing stand will help it keeps the wheel locked in with a needle on the side to gauge the bumps and dips in your rim. you can do it on your bike kinda ghetto like by making sure the wheel is strait in the dropouts then spinning the wheel. now while it is spinning slowly and steadily move a sharpie or dry erase pen till you touch the spinning rim and hold it their. that will mark were the dips in your rim are and will allow you to go and make adjustments to your spokes. if its not bent bad and slightly wobbles check all the spokes and tighten them by going every other spoke until they are all to the right spec. which can vary depending on your size and wall type and spoke gauge. I hope this helped in someway. also if you google it you may get a better worded answer than mine that may help out more.
2006-08-18 20:47:56 · answer #4 · answered by RADMOTODAD 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I true all my own wheels, but I'll go along with some others and tell you if you don't own the proper tools, a truing stand, dishing tool etc. take the thing to the shop. Any number of things can happen if you don't know what your doing.
2006-08-19 11:23:49 · answer #5 · answered by Ric 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Judging by how easy you think it is, take it to a bike shop. You need a trueing stand, along wiht the proper tools (e.g. spoke wrenches) and the knowledge to know how to use them, along with experience. It can be learned, but only if you have the time, tools and someone to teach you.
2006-08-19 16:32:13 · answer #6 · answered by Mike 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
To do it yourself would cost you more money than you would want to to buy the proper alignment tools and wheel parts. Just spend the $15 and let the pros do it. DO it yourself and you are more likely to end up worse off than where you started and have to take it to the shop anyway.
If you must:
http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=81
2006-08-18 22:10:13 · answer #7 · answered by Ben P 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you have never done it, a bike shop is the way to go. They should have a truing stand. That way they can get the rim a straight as possible.
2006-08-19 11:03:50 · answer #8 · answered by gravityjunkies 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Uh, dude, like you need to go to a bike shop right now. Fixing wheel issues is way more complicated than you are currently understanding them. Get thee to a bike shop now!
2006-08-18 20:13:39 · answer #9 · answered by kennyboy 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
"Trueing" spokes is too difficult. Take it to a bike shop and let them do it. $15 or so should do it.
2006-08-18 20:13:37 · answer #10 · answered by Skepticalist 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋