Tightening spokes
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Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 36
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Tightening spokes
Just wondering how do you tighten your spokes. I have always taken my bike to the dealer, but I doubt if it gets done all the time. I did loose 6 spokes returning from Sturgis in 2005. Thank GOD I figured out what was happening. No accidents.
BUT, I would like to check them myself. I have heard some tighten by listening.... not for me. To me, the best way would be to remove the wheel.........
Any suggestions?
BUT, I would like to check them myself. I have heard some tighten by listening.... not for me. To me, the best way would be to remove the wheel.........
Any suggestions?
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 869
Likes: 1
From: New York
RE: Tightening spokes
Funny you ask, did it this morning.
I put bike up on my red Sears lift so tire spin free and no load on wheels. I do use the sound method. I start at valve stem and take each set of 4 laced spokes at a time rotating wheel till I'm back at stem. I have 40 spoke laced on my '07 RKC.
I use a 4" cresent wrench, nice and small, and tap each spoke in each 4 spoke set and listen for ringtone. You'll hear a high piched tone when tight, and a dull ring when not, easy to tell difference. Then I snug up each loose spoke in set, usually only takes a 1/4 -1/2 turn. Check ring again and continue on to next set of 4, all the way around the wheel.
I usually check every fluid change. Although I did it this morning just cause I had bike up doin other stuff. Found about 10-15 spokes out of the 80, front and back, that needed to be snugged up. None real loose.
When I replace rubber, I have rim balanced and trued with a dial indicator. Never had a probelem doing it this way. You just should check often. If your losing spokes, your not checking nearly as often as you need to.
Remember, when you tighten, you screw towards the hub, to pull tension.
Sorry for the ramble...
Ezzz
I put bike up on my red Sears lift so tire spin free and no load on wheels. I do use the sound method. I start at valve stem and take each set of 4 laced spokes at a time rotating wheel till I'm back at stem. I have 40 spoke laced on my '07 RKC.
I use a 4" cresent wrench, nice and small, and tap each spoke in each 4 spoke set and listen for ringtone. You'll hear a high piched tone when tight, and a dull ring when not, easy to tell difference. Then I snug up each loose spoke in set, usually only takes a 1/4 -1/2 turn. Check ring again and continue on to next set of 4, all the way around the wheel.
I usually check every fluid change. Although I did it this morning just cause I had bike up doin other stuff. Found about 10-15 spokes out of the 80, front and back, that needed to be snugged up. None real loose.
When I replace rubber, I have rim balanced and trued with a dial indicator. Never had a probelem doing it this way. You just should check often. If your losing spokes, your not checking nearly as often as you need to.
Remember, when you tighten, you screw towards the hub, to pull tension.
Sorry for the ramble...
Ezzz
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,424
Likes: 0
From: Hoboken, New Jersey
RE: Tightening spokes
Removing the wheel is of no help....unless your going to put a axle through it and set it up on a trueing stand to check to see if its out of round or something.....but why, when the wheel is already mounted very nicely on the bike.
As far as tightening the spokes themselvs....well the tone method is the only way I have ever done it....and I have laced and trued more wheels (with all diferent spoke paterns...most common is the 3/6 though) than I can remember.
I just bust out the spoke wrench and work my way around with the wheel off the ground. Tapping wach spoke, and listening for the sound. A nice sharp ring....and your good.....a dull thud, and it needs a turn. Belive me its far from rocket science.
As far as tightening the spokes themselvs....well the tone method is the only way I have ever done it....and I have laced and trued more wheels (with all diferent spoke paterns...most common is the 3/6 though) than I can remember.
I just bust out the spoke wrench and work my way around with the wheel off the ground. Tapping wach spoke, and listening for the sound. A nice sharp ring....and your good.....a dull thud, and it needs a turn. Belive me its far from rocket science.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,673
Likes: 606
From:
RE: Tightening spokes
the way i was told to do it is tighten all the spokes about 1/8 turn then check them. if the spokes are still loose go around the wheel again. if you only tighten the loose ones your wheel will be out of round. the spokes opposite the loose ones will tighten the loose ones when they are tightened. i use a 1/4 open end craftsman wrench.
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 443
Likes: 0
From: Easton, Pa.
RE: Tightening spokes
Use a torque wrench adapter for the size spoke. Per manual 45 to 50in-lbs.
You can buy spoke wrench kit to fit torque wrench,from I believe George's garage on this site supporter?
I am checking the RKC 07 right now bike will be on jack for the next week. Just did Fork oil and Head Bearing.
Work onwheel bearing, check to see if there OK. torque axle nut than move on to spokes.
Have fun, takes a lot of time. Here in Northeast its getting to be Winter.
You can buy spoke wrench kit to fit torque wrench,from I believe George's garage on this site supporter?
I am checking the RKC 07 right now bike will be on jack for the next week. Just did Fork oil and Head Bearing.
Work onwheel bearing, check to see if there OK. torque axle nut than move on to spokes.
Have fun, takes a lot of time. Here in Northeast its getting to be Winter.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,306
Likes: 5
From: Bellville, Tx
RE: Tightening spokes
Didn't see any mention of truing the wheel at the same time. A magnetic base with a dial indicator will tell whether the wheel is running true. Just tightening spokes can pull the rim out of true causing wobble and/or runout. Hope this helps!
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,424
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From: Hoboken, New Jersey
RE: Tightening spokes
ORIGINAL: DeJavu
Didn't see any mention of truing the wheel at the same time. A magnetic base with a dial indicator will tell whether the wheel is running true. Just tightening spokes can pull the rim out of true causing wobble and/or runout. Hope this helps!
Didn't see any mention of truing the wheel at the same time. A magnetic base with a dial indicator will tell whether the wheel is running true. Just tightening spokes can pull the rim out of true causing wobble and/or runout. Hope this helps!
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,306
Likes: 5
From: Bellville, Tx
RE: Tightening spokes
Having dealt with spoke wheels most of my life, motocross and road racing, there are a lot of things which affect spoke tighness and wheel true. It is easy enough to check the true of the wheels on the bike with any kind of indicator taped to the swingarm or forks.
I run SS spokes and haven't had to adjust them at all in 12 yrs on the chopper. Chrome steel spokes do stretch from forces like potholes and curbs and will not draw up true just by tightening. Each to his own, maybe I'm a little **** but I like to keep wobble/runout to less than .010".
I run SS spokes and haven't had to adjust them at all in 12 yrs on the chopper. Chrome steel spokes do stretch from forces like potholes and curbs and will not draw up true just by tightening. Each to his own, maybe I'm a little **** but I like to keep wobble/runout to less than .010".
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