Spoke wheel tool?
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 770
Likes: 170
From: USA
Spoke wheel tool?
I noticed on the rear wheel on my 01 road king a few of the nipples that go on the spokes are just laying there not tightened at all.
Do I need a certain tool? Do I just tighten them back up? Do the spokes themselves get tightened or just the nipple part?
The bike is still riding fine.
Thanks guys.
Do I need a certain tool? Do I just tighten them back up? Do the spokes themselves get tightened or just the nipple part?
The bike is still riding fine.
Thanks guys.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 13,540
Likes: 34,739
From: Pine Flat Dam/South Bay Area, CA
You will know if a spoke is loose if you tap it with the wrench a it sounds like a dull thud. When working around the wheel, tap each spoke, and if you have the spokes torqued properly, you will hear a consistent ring tone from each spoke when you tap it with the wrench.
Tourer
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 462
Likes: 226
From: Northern Sierra Nevada Mountains, Californy
If you need one in an emergency on the side of the Road, you Can use an Adjustable Crescent Wrench.
I had my rear spokes come loose after a high speed Wobble in the Twisties.
Then used to use a Screw driver to tap on each Spoke to find the loose spokes and tighten the loose ones up to a tight tone Sound With an Adjustable Crescent Wrench
to get home.
I had my rear spokes come loose after a high speed Wobble in the Twisties.
Then used to use a Screw driver to tap on each Spoke to find the loose spokes and tighten the loose ones up to a tight tone Sound With an Adjustable Crescent Wrench
to get home.
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 770
Likes: 170
From: USA
Thanks guys.
I read somewhere that you tighten the nipple opposite of righty tighty?
Also if anyone can link me a wrench I would appreciate it. I'm seeing all kinds of stuff labeled spoke wrench.
I read somewhere that you tighten the nipple opposite of righty tighty?
Also if anyone can link me a wrench I would appreciate it. I'm seeing all kinds of stuff labeled spoke wrench.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 8,852
Likes: 2,494
From: Decatur, Alabama
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: west Michigan
Tapping the spokes with a small wrench is part of routine maintenance on any bike with spoked wheels. I use a box end wrench to tighten them. It's also a good idea to check for wheel true/rim run out.
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Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 770
Likes: 170
From: USA
I feel stupid, what I thought were loose spoke nipples, are actually just my wheel weights from balancing, that was what i saw. Still a good idea to check my spokes though lol
thanks guys.
thanks guys.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 9,332
Likes: 3,873
From: Upstate New York
For Harley-Davidson spokes, youll need an 8 gauge spoke wrench. I bought mine about 40 years ago so I dont remember where it came from.