Wheel building advice/words of wisdom.

[GaryN]

Gents,

After some ebay wins it looks like I might have a go at building a wheel I must be  , it will be a rear wheel.

First up, how do I find out what spoke length to get and should I go for plain or butted spokes, and what pattern is good for a strong build?

What about spoke keys, what are good and will I need any other special tools?

Next, who has built their own wheels and how did it go?

Finally what words of wheel building wisdom/advice do you have for me?

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

[Jaymz]

save your sanity. . . get someone else to do it for you!!!

[GaryN]

save your sanity. . . get someone else to do it for you!!!

Unfortunately I fear that it is too late for that 

[Hellcat]

I don't really know anything about this, (my bro's a long term 'proper bike racer / sometime racing cyclist', I've seen a few rims & hubs over the years).

Could you not measure / copy a pattern off an existing wheel?

Whenever I've seen wheel builders they've always got those fork-like clamps to build in, but sure you could use your F&F.

If it all goes wrong then shops only charge £10 (+ spokes) for a build or truing, so what the's worst that could happen?

[kuwahero]

Spoke length calculating

http://www.radbmx.co.uk/forum/index.php'topic=136816.0

[Munnyella]

Its a piece of pi$$, google is your friend, so much info, once you have the right spokes, whats the worst can happen?

MM

[bigfatolly]

If you have the right size spokes its pretty easy i did my first set a few weeks ago,truing up is the hard part.

[GaryN]

Spoke length calculating

http://www.radbmx.co.uk/forum/index.php'topic=136816.0

Sweet, that's really helpful. I will get everything measured up once I have the bits in my hand.

[GaryN]

I don't really know anything about this, (my bro's a long term 'proper bike racer / sometime racing cyclist', I've seen a few rims & hubs over the years).

Could you not measure / copy a pattern off an existing wheel?

Whenever I've seen wheel builders they've always got those fork-like clamps to build in, but sure you could use your F&F.

If it all goes wrong then shops only charge £10 (+ spokes) for a build or truing, so what the's worst that could happen?

Fortunately I do have access to a wheel truing stand, although I have only ever used it to true wheels.

[stidds]

Spoke length calculating

http://www.radbmx.co.uk/forum/index.php'topic=136816.0

Well I am glad somebody is reading the hard work put into creating the stickies, funny enough I also did this one...

http://www.radbmx.co.uk/forum/index.php'topic=1344.0

[GaryN]

Spoke length calculating

http://www.radbmx.co.uk/forum/index.php'topic=136816.0

Well I am glad somebody is reading the hard work put into creating the stickies, funny enough I also did this one...

http://www.radbmx.co.uk/forum/index.php'topic=1344.0

I had discovered the stidds wheel build how to but for some reason thought that it ended at the last picture in the series, what a numpty 

Cheers guys.

[john4130]

one of the main things when building a wheel is making sure all the spoke nipples get the same amount of turns, if you have a wheel to copy the lacing pattern then build it with all the spokes loose, then get a spare spoke and make one of these.

leave about 3 threads sticking out and then crimp the nipple to the spoke. then go round the wheel with the tool tightening each spoke until the tool bottoms out like this.

the spokes nipples will all be at the same depth then get a spoke key and go round the wheel giving each spoke one full turn. keep doing this until there's a good tension in the wheel, then it will only need a little bit of truing.

[GaryN]

@ john4130, now that is a sweet tip 

I will use that for sure, simple yet effective.

[Dannywhac]

Yeah - John's tip saves the pain in the rear you can get when your building your wheel and some spokes slacken off whilst your moving the wheel to spoke up.

Also fella, if you get stuck at all give me a shout as I do my own and I'm just up the road from you in Bury 

[nosepickben]

http://www.gsportbmx.co.uk/custom/wheel_build/wheels.html

Follow this and you can't go wrong. If it's all new parts, the wheel should work out straight and true. If not fixing it is dead easy. mount on a frame & view from above, tighten the 2 or 3 spokes on the correct side of the hub you need to pull towards by one turn at a time & slacken off the ones in between (ie the other side hub flange) by half a turn. Works for me.

[Dannywhac]

http://www.gsportbmx.co.uk/custom/wheel_build/wheels.html

Follow this and you can't go wrong. If it's all new parts, the wheel should work out straight and true. If not fixing it is dead easy. mount on a frame & view from above, tighten the 2 or 3 spokes on the correct side of the hub you need to pull towards by one turn at a time & slacken off the ones in between (ie the other side hub flange) by half a turn. Works for me.

Don't forget though that George in that wheel build guide does a tuck pattern on the spokes to help stop grind damage