Rim Truing: This is how to true them ON the bike with the TIRES on (TO GET IT INTO THE BALLPARK OR NEARLY PERECT)...though they say it can't be done properly this way.
Well, here's what you'll need: A spoke wrench, a jack, a beer (if you don't drink now you may before you're done), crayons, a rag, and something to sit on.
I like to take the chain off & start with the rear wheel. Inflate to 30 or so psi. OKnow grab a light-colored crayon & spin the wheel real fast. If it drags, try loosening up your drum-drake adjustment for now. 1st well check for lateral movement of the rim (side-to- side). Hold the crayon in your fist & find something solid to rest you fist on. Slowly advance the crayon in towards the sidewall allowing it only to touch the high spots. Stop rim & do the other side. Next, well check for longitudal movement (up-and-down). Same thingspin it, but this time mark the center of the tread using the middle of the rear fender as the stationary object. *If your tire is on the rim crooked, this will not work & you will need to re-seat the tire* If you have nothing but solid lines, your wheel is straight. You just need to check for spoke torqueread below and extract the info as it applies to you.
Crooked rim people: This is hard to explain in words, but here goesI like to work the hop out of the wheel 1st (longitudal). If your high spot covers most of the tires circumference, then you probably have some tight spokes in the area where there is no crayon mark. (I like to lightly tap the spokes with the wrench to get an idea how tight the spokes are in comparison to the rest. Youll know when you hear one thats way too tight or too loose.tight is high- pitched, and a loose spoke may not hum at alljust a flat metal sound.) If you have only 1 or 2 short marks on the tire, the spokes adjacent to these marks may be too loose.
**IMPORTANT**
Whatever adjustments you make to the left spokes must be made to the right or youll pull the rim to one side too far and throw off the lateral alignment. Too much torque in a series of spokes will cause a low- spot (or flat-spot) in the longitudal alignmentyoull pull the rim into the shape of an egg or worse. Work by 1/4 turnsdepending on how badly you rim is out of whack, and use the tapping method often to check for tone. The tones do not have to be perfect...just attack the seriously loose or tight ones.
Lateral adjustment: Youll have to erase all previously marked areas (frequently) with the rag & have some beeryou can also use the beer to moisten the rag. Now the hop is gone, and youve got some side-to-side wobble. Re-mark the tire with crayon. Find the mark on the left & loosen the left spokes a bit then tighten the right spokes in that same area. Do the same for the marks on the right. Do so in small increments so you do not create hop all over again. Keep tapping & listening, erasing marks, drinking, and re-marking the wheel. Once youve got everything near perfectyoull need to check for hop again. Keep trying & youll get it. The front tire is the same, but you'll want to jack the front wheel of the ground in order to spin it. Take the disc brake off if it's dragging too much for you.
If all goes well you'll now be drunk, have 2 straight wheels, and brakes that need to be assembled / adjusted. Sleep off the beer, do the brakes, check tire pressure & go for a smoooothe ride. Josh
Well, here's what you'll need: A spoke wrench, a jack, a beer (if you don't drink now you may before you're done), crayons, a rag, and something to sit on.
I like to take the chain off & start with the rear wheel. Inflate to 30 or so psi. OKnow grab a light-colored crayon & spin the wheel real fast. If it drags, try loosening up your drum-drake adjustment for now. 1st well check for lateral movement of the rim (side-to- side). Hold the crayon in your fist & find something solid to rest you fist on. Slowly advance the crayon in towards the sidewall allowing it only to touch the high spots. Stop rim & do the other side. Next, well check for longitudal movement (up-and-down). Same thingspin it, but this time mark the center of the tread using the middle of the rear fender as the stationary object. *If your tire is on the rim crooked, this will not work & you will need to re-seat the tire* If you have nothing but solid lines, your wheel is straight. You just need to check for spoke torqueread below and extract the info as it applies to you.
Crooked rim people: This is hard to explain in words, but here goesI like to work the hop out of the wheel 1st (longitudal). If your high spot covers most of the tires circumference, then you probably have some tight spokes in the area where there is no crayon mark. (I like to lightly tap the spokes with the wrench to get an idea how tight the spokes are in comparison to the rest. Youll know when you hear one thats way too tight or too loose.tight is high- pitched, and a loose spoke may not hum at alljust a flat metal sound.) If you have only 1 or 2 short marks on the tire, the spokes adjacent to these marks may be too loose.
**IMPORTANT**
Whatever adjustments you make to the left spokes must be made to the right or youll pull the rim to one side too far and throw off the lateral alignment. Too much torque in a series of spokes will cause a low- spot (or flat-spot) in the longitudal alignmentyoull pull the rim into the shape of an egg or worse. Work by 1/4 turnsdepending on how badly you rim is out of whack, and use the tapping method often to check for tone. The tones do not have to be perfect...just attack the seriously loose or tight ones.
Lateral adjustment: Youll have to erase all previously marked areas (frequently) with the rag & have some beeryou can also use the beer to moisten the rag. Now the hop is gone, and youve got some side-to-side wobble. Re-mark the tire with crayon. Find the mark on the left & loosen the left spokes a bit then tighten the right spokes in that same area. Do the same for the marks on the right. Do so in small increments so you do not create hop all over again. Keep tapping & listening, erasing marks, drinking, and re-marking the wheel. Once youve got everything near perfectyoull need to check for hop again. Keep trying & youll get it. The front tire is the same, but you'll want to jack the front wheel of the ground in order to spin it. Take the disc brake off if it's dragging too much for you.
If all goes well you'll now be drunk, have 2 straight wheels, and brakes that need to be assembled / adjusted. Sleep off the beer, do the brakes, check tire pressure & go for a smoooothe ride. Josh
Bikers are a rare breed....Harley Riders are a dime a dozen
