Spoke Alignment Mark???
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 80
Likes: 13
From: Southwest Virginia
Spoke Alignment Mark???
I am in the process of checking my spokes to make sure none are loose. In my manual for the 2011 Softail, it advises when tightening the spokes not to tighten more than 1/4 turn past the alignment mark. It also says, While tightening, if the torque wrench clicks before the alignment marks align, continue to turn the spoke nipple until the marks align.
What alignment marks are they talking about?
What alignment marks are they talking about?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,076
Likes: 1,008
when it comes to spokes, the actual number is not important. why?? well each spoke can carry a diff load depending on how much it needs to pull on the rim to bring it into alignment. the best way to check spokes is to slightly tap each on and listen for a ring, if you find a dull tone, it is loose.
when you jig a wheel up with indicators, you put marks on the nipple and the rim so you can keep track of the movement, remember, there are many, easy to lose track.
it is recommended to only do 1/4 turn at a time, you want to sneak up on it, not over-power it. after you make adjustments to a section you must run the wheel around as small adjustment can make a diff on other sections. once the wheel is in spec, do a ring test, if some are dull, do 1/4 turns on all spokes going around the rim so that it stays in spec. once the all ring, done, ring tones will be diff as some spokes will carry more tension than others.
as far a the torque wrench, i do not use one the spokes. i used to carry heavy loads doing a paper route and run in the dirt, never an issue.
there are some youtube vids on the subject and i know a guy that can throw a rim horizontal on a table with just feelers and have a rim aligned in about 1/2 hour.
when you jig a wheel up with indicators, you put marks on the nipple and the rim so you can keep track of the movement, remember, there are many, easy to lose track.
it is recommended to only do 1/4 turn at a time, you want to sneak up on it, not over-power it. after you make adjustments to a section you must run the wheel around as small adjustment can make a diff on other sections. once the wheel is in spec, do a ring test, if some are dull, do 1/4 turns on all spokes going around the rim so that it stays in spec. once the all ring, done, ring tones will be diff as some spokes will carry more tension than others.
as far a the torque wrench, i do not use one the spokes. i used to carry heavy loads doing a paper route and run in the dirt, never an issue.
there are some youtube vids on the subject and i know a guy that can throw a rim horizontal on a table with just feelers and have a rim aligned in about 1/2 hour.
Thread Starter
|
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 80
Likes: 13
From: Southwest Virginia
when it comes to spokes, the actual number is not important. why?? well each spoke can carry a diff load depending on how much it needs to pull on the rim to bring it into alignment. the best way to check spokes is to slightly tap each on and listen for a ring, if you find a dull tone, it is loose.
when you jig a wheel up with indicators, you put marks on the nipple and the rim so you can keep track of the movement, remember, there are many, easy to lose track.
it is recommended to only do 1/4 turn at a time, you want to sneak up on it, not over-power it. after you make adjustments to a section you must run the wheel around as small adjustment can make a diff on other sections. once the wheel is in spec, do a ring test, if some are dull, do 1/4 turns on all spokes going around the rim so that it stays in spec. once the all ring, done, ring tones will be diff as some spokes will carry more tension than others.
as far a the torque wrench, i do not use one the spokes. i used to carry heavy loads doing a paper route and run in the dirt, never an issue.
there are some youtube vids on the subject and i know a guy that can throw a rim horizontal on a table with just feelers and have a rim aligned in about 1/2 hour.
when you jig a wheel up with indicators, you put marks on the nipple and the rim so you can keep track of the movement, remember, there are many, easy to lose track.
it is recommended to only do 1/4 turn at a time, you want to sneak up on it, not over-power it. after you make adjustments to a section you must run the wheel around as small adjustment can make a diff on other sections. once the wheel is in spec, do a ring test, if some are dull, do 1/4 turns on all spokes going around the rim so that it stays in spec. once the all ring, done, ring tones will be diff as some spokes will carry more tension than others.
as far a the torque wrench, i do not use one the spokes. i used to carry heavy loads doing a paper route and run in the dirt, never an issue.
there are some youtube vids on the subject and i know a guy that can throw a rim horizontal on a table with just feelers and have a rim aligned in about 1/2 hour.
I am still curious what the Harley Davidson shop manual is referring to when they note "alignment mark"?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,076
Likes: 1,008
as you can see, there are no physical marks on the rim/nipple
there is one thing that i do, and it is a individual call and that is: IF i must adjust the spokes, i do so in a stand and no tire. there should be plenty of play for spoke protrusion but never say never, tire off easy to tell and dress if needed.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 19,997
Likes: 8,065
From: poway
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=18ojBQEefEM
this is a fairly good one.
as you can see, there are no physical marks on the rim/nipple
there is one thing that i do, and it is a individual call and that is: IF i must adjust the spokes, i do so in a stand and no tire. there should be plenty of play for spoke protrusion but never say never, tire off easy to tell and dress if needed.
this is a fairly good one.
as you can see, there are no physical marks on the rim/nipple
there is one thing that i do, and it is a individual call and that is: IF i must adjust the spokes, i do so in a stand and no tire. there should be plenty of play for spoke protrusion but never say never, tire off easy to tell and dress if needed.
Have not ever used a torque wrench on spokes. While loosening is go I always go forward unless the spoke seems too tight. Then I'll back off and tighten. I don't do 1 and 4. I do one spoke side then the other, (1,3 then 2,4) mainly because it is faster. You can work from one side.
Add.
I'm also one of the guys that don't doink the spokes. Sometimes the spokes on one side touch, when they do, the doink ain't so good.
Last edited by Max Headflow; Apr 13, 2019 at 08:31 PM. Reason: add:
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
