Truing a Wheel

[ChrisKH]

I have re-built my hybrid MTB for commuting but the rear wheel is rubbing slightly on the brake pad. Ordinarily I would chuck it in at the LBS and pay a tenner to get it sorted, but I'm getting to the point in my life (!) when I think I can do it myself. I have watched a couple of vids. on Youtube and it looks comparatively easy to rectify.
Am I fooling myself; is it harder than it looks? Do I need any tools other than a spoke wrench?

 

[guitarpete247]

I use a dry wipe marker pen and have never had a problem truing wheels using the brakes or forks as a guide to hold the pen. If it's too far out of true then you might have to use the LBS to get the correct dish (getting the rim in the centre).

 

[heliphil]

it really is easy - just requires plenty of practice

 

[Moodyman]

Anti-clockwise to tighten and clockwise to loosen the nipple.

Quarter turn at a time. Best put a little bit of oil on the spoke thread. Will make nipple easier to turn and avoid twisting the spoke.

Yes, easy, but don't rush.

 

[ChrisKH]

Anti-clockwise to tighten and clockwise to loosen the nipple.

Quarter turn at a time. Best put a little bit of oil on the spoke thread. Will make nipple easier to turn and avoid twisting the spoke.

Yes, easy, but don't rush.

Depends which way you're facing of course. I sat there and thought about it last night, pictured the spoke nipple as a threaded nut or hat, in which case it would be clockwise to tighten or anti-clockwise to loosen as you face the nipple head / tyre tread. Or have I got this completely wrong?

 

[Moodyman]

Depends which way you're facing of course.

Confused me too at first. But when you think about it, it makes no difference which side you're facing. It turns clockwise / anti-clockwise only one way - no matter which way you look at it.

 

[Moodyman]

Depends which way you're facing of course.

Confused me too at first. But when you think about it, it makes no difference which side you're facing. It turns clockwise / anti-clockwise only one way.

If you change direction, you'll only change your starting point - i.e turn from 3 o'clcok in place of 9 oc'clock.

 

[RecordAceFromNew]

Depends which way you're facing of course. I sat there and thought about it last night, pictured the spoke nipple as a threaded nut or hat, in which case it would be clockwise to tighten or anti-clockwise to loosen as you face the nipple head / tyre tread. Or have I got this completely wrong?

As Sheldon puts it AFAIR, each spoke is a screw (seen from the rim end).

 

[RedBike]

Before you start it's worth making sure that you have plenty of cups of tea and a packet of biscuits to hand.

It takes me weeks (Sadly literally) to true a wheel.


My top tips are..

Never turn any spoke by more than 1/4 of a turn at a time. If you start making big adjustments then it's very easy to make a big mistake.
As you tighten one spoke slacken another so that the wheel stays round.

 

[ChrisKH]

Depends which way you're facing of course.

Confused me too at first. But when you think about it, it makes no difference which side you're facing. It turns clockwise / anti-clockwise only one way.

If you change direction, you'll only change your starting point - i.e turn from 3 o'clcok in place of 9 oc'clock.

This assumes you are facing the rim from the direction of the hub. As opposed to facing the tyre tread or screw top of the nipple, where the instructions reverse.

 

[Moodyman]

This assumes you are facing the rim from the direction of the hub. As opposed to facing the tyre tread or screw top of the nipple, where the instructions reverse.

True, but you're unlikely to being tightening a spoke nipple from the tyre side. Surely you want to be looking at what you're tightening, in which case, you'll be looking from the hub side.

 

[fixedfixer]

Just take your time, that's the key to it. Don't rush and as has been said only quarter turns. Soon you will be ordering a wheel stand and a dishing tool and wondering what the fuss was about.

 

[ChrisKH]

This assumes you are facing the rim from the direction of the hub. As opposed to facing the tyre tread or screw top of the nipple, where the instructions reverse.

True, but you're unlikely to being tightening a spoke nipple from the tyre side. Surely you want to be looking at what you're tightening, in which case, you'll be looking from the hub side.

Conventional? Moi?

 

[PpPete]

This assumes you are facing the rim from the direction of the hub. As opposed to facing the tyre tread or screw top of the nipple, where the instructions reverse.

True, but you're unlikely to being tightening a spoke nipple from the tyre side. Surely you want to be looking at what you're tightening, in which case, you'll be looking from the hub side.

I can never remember clockwise/anticlockwise rules so I ALWAYS do it from looking at the nipple/tyre end. That way it just makes sense.

 

[02GF74]

it is not too bad but time consuming if you are trying to get rid of the last 0.1 mm .

I locate the first and last spokes for the section of rim that is out, then loosen,tighten all the spokes in between as well by about 1/4 turn or less.

without a wheel truing stand you need to decide in which driection way to take the rim - usually that does not matter since the wheel will have been built up to be central.