Now On The Cycle Source Blog –
One thing I have not learned yet is how to lace a spoke wheel. Well, for this month’s tech, we are gonna learn some good stuff! I have cleaned up the hub, bought some stainless spokes and a rim to give it a try. Let’s see if we can make it happen!
Got my hub all cleaned up and installed new wheel bearings and seals.
You will notice that there are two different kinds of spokes. The Heads Out spokes have a shallower throat. The Heads In spokes have deeper throats.
You will want to separate the spokes before you get started. I also inspect the spoke threads for burs by spinning on a nipple to make sure they are good. You don’t want to find bad spoke threads halfway through lacing your wheel.
It’s a good idea to have a wheel or a good picture of one to help with laying out the spoke pattern.
I install the Heads Out spokes first, the ones that go into the hub flange from the outside, remember these are the ones that have a shallow throat. The Heads In spokes with the deeper throat go through the hub from the inside out. You can see that they alternate one in, and one out.
I’m using stainless steel spokes and nipples, so, I decided to use anti-seize to lubricate the threads for assembly.
Once I got the spoke pattern figured out and laced into the rim I installed all the spoke nipples finger tight.
Next, I put the wheel on my Motion Pro truing stand to see what we are working with.
As the wheel is spun on the truing stand you are able to see the adjustments that are necessary by using the red pointer indicator. I then start snuggling up all the spoke nipples a little at a time until they are tight and produce a high-pitched “ting” sound when you tap them. Try to get the “ting”sound as even as possible across all the spokes. They do not need to be super tight but just enough that the sound resonates and isn’t a dead clunk.
This being the first wheel I have laced I found ti to be an enjoyable challenge, and I am looking forward to the next one!
Article And Photos By: Daniel Donley pandemoniumcustomchoppers.com
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