re-build wheels

[gordonmichaellee]

general wheel building tips ( not bike specific)
firstly there are three ways a rim can need adjustment, up and down wobble, left and right wobble and dish ( this is where the rim sits left to right wise in the fork/swingarm)
step1
take photos of the lacing pattern ( close ups )
step 2
undo the old spokes
step3
clean the bits you can't normaly get to
step 4
see fitting wheel grease nipples
step5
see the photos on wheel rebuilding (including your own )
step 6
I recomend using new spokes and nipples and grease all the treads.there are basicly 4 different spokes on a (back)wheel (drive side tension, drive side compession, non drive side tension, non drive side compresion) each needing different tensions. lace the drive side tension first then the drive side compression ( refering back to the photos you took ) to get the lace up corect.
Remember also that many rims have directional nipple holes ( ie. the hole points where you want the spoke to point)
step7
now do the other side, all this should be ONLY hand tight
step 8
make up a wheel building jig ( this can be done using the swingarm/forks allen keys and rubber bands but its easier to make one and hold it in a vice)
( a wheel building jig can be made using an old set of mountainbike forks)
step 9
as you slowly begin tightening the spokes don't worry to much about the side to side movement of the rim ( it should be within 1 cm or so ) but first get the up and down to be correct.
step10
when this is about right ( 3-4 mm or so) but all spokes are still NOT under much tension
stepp11
work on the side to side movement of the rim ( you don't need as much adjustment as you did for the height)
step12
go back to the height and perfect it ( if the rims are straight you should literaly be able to fike your nails on them ( NOT THAT I FILE MY NAILS) ( wihthin 1mm or so)
step13
now perfect the side to side.
step 14
none of the spokes should be under extreme tension
step15
now start to tighten them to the desired tension
step 16
this one is a bit difficult o explain but is very important
As you tighten up the spokes each of the 4 differnt types should have almost the same musical note when flicked with your fingernail. ALSO VERY IMPORTANT is to not only tighten the spokes but to back them off a bit to release the twist tension. this is probably the single thing that will make your wheel last a lifetime rather than replace spokes every few months.
any way if anyone needs more help just holler.

[motostar99]

great job on the write-ups! im sure plenty of ppl will appreciate and get good use out of them!

Nic