I have been experimenting at wheel truing using the brakes as the poor-man's truing arms, and have gotten quite adept at lateral truing. However, I am finding it rather difficult to true the wheel radially using this method, because I can't seem to find the exact position where the wheel is protuding out or in. Does anyone have any tricks up their sleeves in how to true the wheel radially without a truing stand? I am unable to invest $100 in a truing stand at the moment.
Additionally, how do you true the wheel radially without messing up the lateral true-ness? Zinn's book says to turn the nipple 1/4 turn at the worst protrusion, the ones around it 1/8 turn, and smaller as you go out. Does this sound right?
Thanks in advance for any help!
PS: Ever since I bought a spoke wrench, being a perfectionist, I just CAN'T stand a wheel that's even slightly out of true. I find myself playing with the wheel once a week.
(锕侊箒)~~~~----------------------------------------------------------------------
Been there. Very difficult to do without the right tools. I built a front wheel today, and I just don't think I could get it anywhere near as good as it is (within .1mm true round and straight) without the kit.
I'm lucky, though, my LBS is owned by a good friend so I use all their stuff!
(锕侊箒)~~~~---------------------------------------------------------------------- Originally Posted by worker4youth
I have been experimenting at wheel truing using the brakes as the poor-man's truing arms, and have gotten quite adept at lateral truing. However, I am finding it rather difficult to true the wheel radially using this method, because I can't seem to find the exact position where the wheel is protuding out or in. Does anyone have any tricks up their sleeves in how to true the wheel radially without a truing stand? I am unable to invest $100 in a truing stand at the moment.
Additionally, how do you true the wheel radially without messing up the lateral true-ness? Zinn's book says to turn the nipple 1/4 turn at the worst protrusion, the ones around it 1/8 turn, and smaller as you go out. Does this sound right?
Thanks in advance for any help!
PS: Ever since I bought a spoke wrench, being a perfectionist, I just CAN'T stand a wheel that's even slightly out of true. I find myself playing with the wheel once a week.
If you're a perfectionist, then the old brake pad/truing method will probably always leave you a little unsettled. But as far as radial truing with the brake pads, I've always had pretty good success, it just takes a little patience and a sharp eye. I true a wheel laterally first, then take out the high and low spots, ideally, by only tightening or loosening two spokes at a time, turning each one in the same direction in equal amounts so that they counter each other laterally to keep the wheel in lateral true. I think that sounds more complicated than it really is-
(锕侊箒)~~~~----------------------------------------------------------------------
For $45 it's better than nothing. This is what I use and it works fine if you take your time.
Minoura Workman Truing Stand (锕侊箒)~~~~----------------------------------------------------------------------
I think that it's a lot better than nothing. Whenever I've done outside tech support, I've taken my trusty old Minoura trueing stand with me. All that a trueing stand does is to give you a reference point for measuring runout. That cheap Minoura does that just fine. It has some limitations regarding dishing, trueing both sides of the rim at the same time, and rear hub spacing, but there are simple work-arounds for all of those issues.
(锕侊箒)~~~~----------------------------------------------------------------------
One thing you can do for the radial truing is a rubber band method for the front fork. Just place a rubber band around the fork and on the outside of the rim, it'll help you locate hops. Of course, this requires tire removal. For others (rear wheel and front flat spots), you can use a zip tie. Wrap the zip tie around the fork/stay, before you pull it tight, make sure it is adjusted to the tolerance you want. Cut the end so it doesn't run into the spokes and you should have a jerry rigged radial truing method. Another option is to build one out of wood. I just built one myself. I threw it together in about 15 minutes while bored one day. It does radial and lateral truing. I'm thinking through a design to make it self centering, but the way wood changes with the seasons would make it kind of difficult. It's adjustable for axle spacing and everything. After truing 3 wheels, I've found some design flaws, but I have sketched out fixes and am ready to go from beta to stable release.
Originally Posted by worker4youth
I have been experimenting at wheel truing using the brakes as the poor-man's truing arms, and have gotten quite adept at lateral truing. However, I am finding it rather difficult to true the wheel radially using this method, because I can't seem to find the exact position where the wheel is protuding out or in. Does anyone have any tricks up their sleeves in how to true the wheel radially without a truing stand? I am unable to invest $100 in a truing stand at the moment.