Wheel buiding the easier way

[Bryanj]

If you want to rebuild your ownspoked wheels try my instructions below.

Please advise if you think it dont make sense

Look at the bent end of the spokes and sort them out into the two different sorts.

Look at one of each spoke plus the hub, one type of spoke goes from outside to inside(you can see the head of the spoke from the outside), the other type has the head on the inside of the hub flange you will normaly find witness marks on the hub flange.

Take the set that go from outside to inside and fit to the hub.

Lace these 20(if its a 500/550/750--16 if 400) to the rim tighten evenly and true the wheel using a stand or whatever remembering that the rim will "kick" where it is welded and that a DTI is way too accurate, both Honda and VOSA(MOT) state 3mm(1/8 inch) for both ideways and radial max limit.

Because there are only 20 spokes to work with its easier to true but do get all 20 at even tension, the ding test is fine,

You can now easily fit the other set of spokes one by one and tighten evenly.

NOTE:-

You must get the type of spoke in the correct order as you can not fit the outside to inside spokes second without bending them!!!

[Deano400]

Makes sense to me Brian. I've only done half a dozen wheels but your method is the way I ended up doing it having struggled on my first wheel.

[Deano400]

Apologies 'Bryan'.

[Bryanj]

No problem i answer to most things

[Johnny4428]

Thanks Bryan, that is so much easier having built one this morning. I will adopt this method from now on.

[Orcade-Ian]

I agree with Bryan - definitely the easiest way and I also gave up using a DTI, which might be OK on DIDs and alloys but useless on some rims of questionable quality.  I made my own rig from wood with bearings on the top to support my own adjustable dummy spindle.  I just screw a piece of inch by two near to the rim so I can set the offset and check run out.  Bryan, I think you might mean 18 each side for the 350/400 but that's only me being a pedant.

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I've just finished the easiest wheel I've ever tackled - a 1958 Triumph 'Twenty One' - all straight spokes fitted one by one from inside the full width front hub - with a strange 2x2 spoke arrangement.

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Ian

[Johnny4428]

Here’s my effort, nothing fancy just a twenty odd quid wheel balancing stand with an adjustable pointy thing fitted. Yes Ian good weather today for wheel building.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

I have to really admire the skill of the members here who lace their own wheels. When riding at say 70 mph I would have that little bit of my brain thinking - did I tighten them all properly? It's the same part of my brain that holds all my what if fears in check - well mostly anyways.

That said I personally draw the line at some DIY skills - I don't weave my own Wicker Baskets or spin my own Cotton - I will buy the skill of wheel building - nay the Art Form that is wheel building when needed from the likes of Central Wheel Components.

As a result of the various posts here on wheel building I have tried to convince my younger brother (62) that he should build his own bike wheels so far without success.

[philward]

I have to really admire the skill of the members here who lace their own wheels. When riding at say 70 mph I would have that little bit of my brain thinking - did I tighten them all properly? It's the same part of my brain that holds all my what if fears in check - well mostly anyways.

That said I personally draw the line at some DIY skills - I don't weave my own Wicker Baskets or spin my own Cotton - I will buy the skill of wheel building - nay the Art Form that is wheel building when needed from the likes of Central Wheel Components.

As a result of the various posts here on wheel building I have tried to convince my younger brother (62) that he should build his own bike wheels so far without success.

You don't hold the same thoughts in that part of your brain for your brother then Mac! ('When riding at say 70 mph I would have that little bit of my brain thinking - did I tighten them all properly? It's the same part of my brain that holds all my what if fears in check - well mostly anyways.)

[AshimotoK0]

I have to really admire the skill of the members here who lace their own wheels. When riding at say 70 mph I would have that little bit of my brain thinking - did I tighten them all properly? It's the same part of my brain that holds all my what if fears in check - well mostly anyways.

That said I personally draw the line at some DIY skills - I don't weave my own Wicker Baskets or spin my own Cotton - I will buy the skill of wheel building - nay the Art Form that is wheel building when needed from the likes of Central Wheel Components.

As a result of the various posts here on wheel building I have tried to convince my younger brother (62) that he should build his own bike wheels so far without success.

I was reluctant too but followed advice given by Bryan on here and my friends Chris Rushton (Honda-san) and Mick Taylor (kettle738) and it's not a daunting as it sounds. I was rebuilding my 750K0 wheels in my dining room while my daughter was watching some rubbish on TV and she shouted what's that tinging and tonging noise.. and that's a bit of good advice .. when you tap your spokes (I did it with the spoke spanner) aim for the same 'ting' sound from the spokes .. if its a 'tong'  it's not tight enough.

Also get yourself a decent spoke spanner .. I got a NOS genuine Honda one .. very sturdy and well worth the money.

[cliff7]

First wheel I rebuilt was swapping in an 8" brake instead of a 7" one in my Gold Star engined B31. No wheel jig. (trued on the bike). Then tested it to see how fast it would go. I was 18 at the time. I must have been mad!

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

My brothers bike is the type with 531 frame and pedals.

[philward]

Oh I see - I was only joking!

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Oh I see - I was only joking!

lol  I knew that my bad for not being more specific as to the bike type.

He can reach some pretty unnerving speeds on downhill descents.