How to check wheel spokes
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Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2007
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How to check wheel spokes
Was checking the spokes on my street bob while doing the 10k service. I read various posts on here about how to do it and decided to use the ping sound method since I dont have a way to check torque on the spokes as the service manual states. Only had to tighten a couple of spokes overall and they didn't take much at all to tighten up, maybe an eighth to a quarter turn at most. My question is, the sound the spokes makes when tapped with a srewdriver is far different between the front and rear wheel? Out of curiousity I checked the front wheel of the wifes sportster (21 inch), at it is even different than both wheels on the street bob. So am I correct to think that the difference is because the different length of spokes between a 17, 19, and 21 inch wheel? Sorry for the long post and thanks in advace for any input.
the spokes should all make the same sound on each wheel... yes the sound will be differ between wheel sizes, it is like a guitar string the longer the cord the lower the sound... the bigger the wheel the lower the TING that you will get... that is fine you jsut want all the "tings" on each wheel to match sound.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 667
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From: Vancouver Wa.
Loose spokes make a thud because there isnt any tension; pressure from the tube usually stabilizes the nipple leaving only the thud. They might ting from the nipple rattling around but, you will tell the difference from the ring of a tight spoke and the nipple rattling against the rim.
loos spokes make a THUD or low sound, or rattle like loner said... tight spokes will make a TING... guess my guitar example backfired... that was more for the size of the rim than the sound of the spoke... maybe a bad example
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From: waco
JRK5892, thud and thing? Hahaha great word usage man. It's hard to describe the sound in writing. Better job than i could do using the guitar relation. I know this is old but it cracked me up man. THING! Hahaha have a good one