Talking 'bout my wheels of steel

[Eldrick]

When I lace up my new wheels with the new spokes should I...

Put all the spokes into the hub first and then put the ends through the rim and add the spoke nipple to each one as I go round the rim?orPut all the spokes on one side of the hub (inside and outside spokes) and continue as above?
or
Put a single spoke on the inside-right or left side of the hub and thread it through the rim one at a time then do the outside ones?
or
Some other clever/easy method to add all the new spokes to the new rims?
thanks
Kenny m

[Bryanj]

Here is how i do it

Sort out the spokes into two not identical piles, the ends at the hub are different angles and lengths.

One set goes from outside in and the other inside out

Fit only the outside in ones and fit to rimequally

True the wheel on just these spokes

Fit the inside out spokes with nipples and tighten evenly

Check the runout again.

Doing it thisway you are truing on only half the spokes which is a lot easier.

NOTE you can not fit the outside in spokes afterwards as the fitted spoke get in the way so it is VERY important to do it the correct way

[Eldrick]

I think my front wheel was laced up just one 'hole' out of rotation.

When I follow the image I took  before I removed the spokes the nipples do not bed into the wheel rim like I would expect. How can I tell if my theory is correct?

[AshimotoK0]

In addition to the excellent advice Bryan gave me when I started building my own wheels I found this Allen Millyard video really useful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pW2LpGkmPJc

[Eldrick]

In addition to the excellent advice Bryan gave me when I started building my own wheels I found this Allen Millyard video really useful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pW2LpGkmPJc

Yes, that will just about confirm that my front wheel had the spokes in the wrong holes, maybe that was part of the reason I could not unscrew the spokes.
Off now to 'Miss one and skip three'

[AshimotoK0]

In addition to the excellent advice Bryan gave me when I started building my own wheels I found this Allen Millyard video really useful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pW2LpGkmPJc

Yes, that will just about confirm that my front wheel had the spokes in the wrong holes, maybe that was part of the reason I could not unscrew the spokes.
Off now to 'Miss one and skip three'

I also always like to refer to a prebuilt wheel , with the same spoke lacing pattern... but of course not everyone has that luxury.

[taysidedragon]

This might help. It's my old front wheel before rebuild.

[Eldrick]

Well, both wheels have spokes however it turns out counting to four is way harder than you think!

[taysidedragon]

Well done 👏

[neat street]

Nice job 

[Eldrick]

So Now I have both wheels true and as I was expecting a 2 day sit in job I am surprised it only took me 4 hrs.
So, for the benefit of the internet search engines...
I managed to true both spoke wheels for my 1975 Handa 400f usin the following guide.

https://bikebrewers.com/true-motorcycle-wheel/
This allowed me to get the wheel vertical alignment very quickly by tightening or loosening the wheel nipples opposite each other on high spots.  I also managed to fix the horizontal alignment by concentratiing on tightening the left set of spokes and loosening the right set of spokes or vice-versa to bring the wheel into true.

After all that I just played a tune on the spokes to get them all to sound good. Now I just need new tubes and tyres

[Eldrick]

Forgot to add a nice photo of my 'new boots' all laced up by me too.

[Laverda Dave]

Lovely bike with nice newly rebuilt wheels , well done for having the skill to lace up and true wheels, I need to give it a go myself as the guy who used to do mine has very sadly passed.
My first 400/4 was a red one👍. If you can try and run the throttle and choke cable between the inside of the tank and frame, there should be a chrome metal clip for them to run behind otherwise you may risk rubbing that lovely red paint off with the cable as you turn the handlebar.

[taysidedragon]

Lovely bike with nice newly rebuilt wheels , well done for having the skill to lace up and true wheels, I need to give it a go myself as the guy who used to do mine has very sadly passed.
My first 400/4 was a red one👍. If you can try and run the throttle and choke cable between the inside of the tank and frame, there should be a chrome metal clip for them to run behind otherwise you may risk rubbing that lovely red paint off with the cable as you turn the handlebar.

Yep. The round clutch cable guide on the cam cover is on the wrong screw. It should be on the screw behind it, further back and further inwards. I'll post a pic if I can find one.

Correction: The guide should be on the outside breather cover screw. I found a pic where you can see it if you zoom in.

[Eldrick]

Lovely bike with nice newly rebuilt wheels , well done for having the skill to lace up and true wheels, I need to give it a go myself as the guy who used to do mine has very sadly passed.
My first 400/4 was a red one👍. If you can try and run the throttle and choke cable between the inside of the tank and frame, there should be a chrome metal clip for them to run behind otherwise you may risk rubbing that lovely red paint off with the cable as you turn the handlebar.

I didn't even notice those cables running wild there, thanks