Routine Check

pkittle said:

Be careful with spoke tensioning. feel_the_light is right--you can very
easily overtension spokes, which will lead to them snapping. There are
even tools you can buy (I don't have one, though) that measure the
tension in a spoke so that if the "musical" method doesn't work for
you, you can assure relatively even tension in your wheel. I tend to go
with the musical method myself.

But a word of warning. If you go around tightening some spokes and
leaving others alone, you very well may mess your wheel up big time and
end up needing to either buy a set of truing calipers or taking your
wheel into the LBS for truing. I'm not a wheelbuilder, so I don't claim
to know all, but I've been advised by bike mechanics that if the wheel
is true but there are loose spokes, you should go around the entire
wheel tightening each spoke a quarter turn until they're all
(relatively) tight. This will keep the wheel true and get your spokes
tensioned. Those same bike mechanics have said that people tightening
their own spokes without knowing the rudiments of wheelbuilding account
for more customers needing truing than anything else at their shop.

Don't be scared to tighten really loose (flat plah sounding spokes)
In general, tightening a spoke will pull the rim towards the fork leg
that is on the same side as the hub side the spoke is attached to. But
this is only if the spoke is doing something. A "plah" sounding spoke
isn't pulling because it is slack compared to the spokes around it, not
doing much of anything. Bringing it up in pitch a bit should strengthen
your wheel while not moving the rim.
Of course, being an expert wheel truer is a skill to be respected. We
all start somewhere. I am a bit of a hack, but in 35 years of
tightening motorcycle wheels, and lately uni's, I have yet to really
bodge the job. Where as taking the wheel to the shop always costs $.
And leaving some spokes so loose they are doing little or nothing is a
recipe for trouble. Tighten them yourself.🙂

--
feel the light
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I agree with Feel the Light about doing it yourself, but I don't use his
method (it does work though). I'm no expert, but I've built two trials
wheels, one muni wheel, and trued wheels countless times, never to
break a spoke or taco a wheel.

I check tension on my wheels by going around the wheel and grabbing 4
spokes at once, two on each side of the wheel. It becomes immediately
obvious which spokes are out, and it's easy to get the spokes to
re-seat.

Truing wheels is easy, and you don't need a truing stand. Sit on the
floor, prop the uni upsidedown between your legs, and attach a pair of
rods (spoons work well) to each forkleg. I just attach with rubber
bands. Put these near the rim to help yous ee any wobble in the rim.
Then true away. Brakes always work well instead of spoons, and on the
trail I just use my finger to help me check true.

100 lbs is nothing. I think you're paranoid.

--
gerblefranklin

http://gallery.unicyclist.com/Trials-Muni

Nick's main man.

"I love freedom dearly, ideally, in theory, but in reality we're not
there yet--Not nearly."--Cold Duck Complex
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lol
you weigh 100lbs
if that uni is half put together you would break yourself before the
uni.

i annhilated mine, but i did repeated 8ft+ drops, huge stairsets, all
kinds of [censored] a half sane person wouldn't do to a unicycle.

needless to say i broke it, but i can say that you aren't going to
break it, no way.

--
skrobo

Quoted message said:

<> Unicycle For Christ <><

'my video!' (http://www.unicyclist.com/forums/showthread.php?t=58465)
____________________________________________
-last edited by \"elvisunifreak\" at 8:35 pm -
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captainkrunk61 said:

I weigh 185 and bend the rim alot. That's why I'm buying a K1 wheelset.

the irony

skilewis74 said:

Get a GB 4 seat stiffener, or CF base. Or make your own stiffener out
of aluminum - lighter and stronger.

pretty sure GB4s dont work with KH. it would stickout weird even if
the bolts lined up and all

gerbles is right on how to do it. works so well. i would take my lap
over a trueing stand any day.

--
torkerdx

gordito8me said:

it's like running across the highway at rush hour. Dangerous, stupid,
but not really that fun.

Unicaw89 said:

Koxx rapes Torker hard!

skianduniaddict said:

never give 4 teenagers a camera... they go crazy

johnfoss said:

Yes, being old makes you stupid.

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captainkrunk61 said:

I weigh 185 and bend the rim alot. That's why I'm buying a K1 wheelset.

With the drilled rim right? ahahahahaha people always talk about
getting that out of true.

--
wickedbob

R.I.P JOHNNY HART[/B]
[B]R.I.P MITCH HEDBERG

Ducttape said:

not gonna show you it tonight becasue I am going to play with it until I
go to bed to get it just right.........

skrobo said:

lol
you weigh 100lbs
if that uni is half put together you would break yourself before the
uni.

i annhilated mine, but i did repeated 8ft+ drops, huge stairsets, all
kinds of [censored] a half sane person wouldn't do to a unicycle.

needless to say i broke it, but i can say that you aren't going to
break it, no way.

You said you never did any maintenance either right?

--
wickedbob

R.I.P JOHNNY HART[/B]
[B]R.I.P MITCH HEDBERG

Ducttape said:

not gonna show you it tonight becasue I am going to play with it until I
go to bed to get it just right.........