tonybv9
Reged: 08/10/2007
Posts: 528
Loc: Craggy Island
|
|
I need some advice about building my own wheels. I hate the wheels on my winter bike. They are heavy and feel lifeless. Plain gauge spokes with CXP22 deep section rims. The hubs are Chorus though, so really I would like to just change the rims for shallower ones. I realise this means new spokes, but what else do I need tool wise, and how easy is it?
I could just buy some cheap wheels for £90-100, but doing it myself should be cheaper - I think.
|
buzz
Reged: 27/01/2007
Posts: 1106
Loc: Ireland
|
|
A word of caution my friend, you will be entering the black art of wheelbuilding!!! I do not know how good you are mechanically, but I would seriously consider getting my LBS to do it for me if they are any good.
What you need to do is the following - Find out the spoke lengths, there will be one for the front wheels, and two different for the rear. Buy spokes and nipples accordingly, and a good quality spoke key. You will need a wheel jig for truing once you've swapped the rim and a dishing stick to get that bit right, or the gears/chain alignment will be pants. (All these bits add to the cost..!)
Then, tape the new and old rims together, loosen all the spokes and swap to the new rim, this eliminates the issue of radial or two/three cross etc, 'cos you are setting them up the same as before. After that you will need the wheel jig and dishing stick to get the spoke tension, truing and rear wheel dish right......
That is when the fun part begins, when you add in the time it maght take you it could well be cheaper going the new wheels or LBS route!
Hope this helps bud.
--------------------
'Make the Leap'
|
bfergie
Reged: 19/04/2008
Posts: 1619
Loc: Wickerman land,Scotland
|
|
I agree with Buzz, I really doubt you would be able to beat the price of a new set of factory made or good hand built wheels when you add in all the tools and bits you need, I'm happy doing any repairs on bikes but with wheels I will replace broken spokes and true buckled wheels but to build from scratch..no way, I want to keep the rest of my hair!!
--------------------
VOTE PENGUIN!!!
|
hubbub
Reged: 22/10/2007
Posts: 513
|
|
Cobblers the pair of you! 
There's no need to buy a jig, build the wheel in the frame using the brakes as a guide. Dish the wheel by reversing it in the dropouts and taking out 1/2 the error.
Notes;-
It helps to have a thicker, single butted spoke on the rear drive side with thin double butted everywhere else. That reduces some of the wheeldish problems. Start the wheel with every spoke set so you can see the edge of one thread at the nipple, then tighten 1/4 turn at a time starting and finishing each round at the valve hole. That way the spoke tensions stay somewhere near even. When you start to true it up get the up/down movement out first, then the tensions will be in the parish and the sideways wobble will be a piece of cake.
PS- "The Bicycle Wheel" by Jobst Brandt is the wheelbuilders' bible. Worth the money, it'll save you a fortune over the years.
Edited by hubbub (06/10/2008 13:02)
|
tonybv9
Reged: 08/10/2007
Posts: 528
Loc: Craggy Island
|
|
Thanks for the replies. I have replaced spokes and trued wheels before.
Really, I only need to do the rear wheel, as I have a half decent front.
I would like to use those Chorus hubs though.
I have a feeling I will buy all the bits and end up not doing it.
|
bigoldsideofham
Reged: 23/12/2007
Posts: 1075
|
|
Buy the bits if you will, but hargroves only charges £17 to build a wheel from your own bits - peace of mind would say to me thats a few quid well spent. None of the4 sets ive had from them has ever gone out of true. Spoke locked and ell finished. (oh apart from when a 4x4 drove straight through me, that pair did bend!)
|
tonybv9
Reged: 08/10/2007
Posts: 528
Loc: Craggy Island
|
|
Good point BOSH. I've rung around and my LBS charges £20. I have a rim I can take from my redundant 8spd wheelset. This is sounding like a more attractive option.
|
Eastway82
Reged: 08/01/2007
Posts: 63
|
|
Quote:
Good point BOSH. I've rung around and my LBS charges £20. I have a rim I can take from my redundant 8spd wheelset. This is sounding like a more attractive option.
Not as much fun though... I successfully rebuilt a Rigida wheel which I bought with a knackered hub last winter - nothing to lose since it was only 5 euros and I was only intending to use it on the turbo anyway. Got a cheap hub and had a go, and astonishingly it came out straight and round. Most satisfying bit of spannering I've ever done.
|
scm
Reged: 24/06/2006
Posts: 1229
|
|
Quote:
You will need a wheel jig for truing once you've swapped the rim and a dishing stick to get that bit right, or the gears/chain alignment will be pants.
What nonsense! The gears and chain alignment will be completely unaffected by the way the wheel's built - it's not as if he's going to changing the spacers on the hub axles. Of course, he might not get the wheel in the frame ....
|
tonybv9
Reged: 08/10/2007
Posts: 528
Loc: Craggy Island
|
|
Thanks everyone. I have had a thorough rummage through my several years worth of accumulated stuff, and have found some spokes of the correct lengths I bought ages ago. So the £20 for a next-day build at my LBS wins.
I still might have a play with an old wheel, for the sake of it.
|
tonybv9
Reged: 08/10/2007
Posts: 528
Loc: Craggy Island
|
|
I am impressed by Bromley Bike Co. I've collected my newly built wheel, it looks good.
I got a 24hr wheel build, plus they supplied three DT spokes and rim tape, and all for £16.80.
Excellent service.
|
bfergie
Reged: 19/04/2008
Posts: 1619
Loc: Wickerman land,Scotland
|
|
That's really good. hope it works well.
--------------------
VOTE PENGUIN!!!
|
buzz
Reged: 27/01/2007
Posts: 1106
Loc: Ireland
|
|
Good deal!
Sorry about the advice re the dishing bud, I was getting a tad carried away - And SCM, a bit harsh in your riposte methinks!
Good thing about getting your LBS to do it is that they will guarantee the job.
--------------------
'Make the Leap'
|
hubbub
Reged: 22/10/2007
Posts: 513
|
|
Quote:
Good thing about getting your LBS to do it is that they will guarantee the job.
So will I! We all have to learn sometime and the only way is to read the books then get stuck in.
|
scm
Reged: 24/06/2006
Posts: 1229
|
|
Quote:
And SCM, a bit harsh in your riposte methinks!
Sorry if you thought so, it wasn't intended to be. 
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit
Reply
Quote
