Help determining spoke length along with an education
4 min read
Asked by: Carmen Atkins
How do you determine spoke length?
Pull both spoke heads inward towards the center to seat the nipples. Using the narrow tips of the caliper jaws, measure from inside to inside of each J-bend. Record this measurement to the nearest tenth of a millimeter. In our example, each spoke measured 266 mm, with the J-bend-to-J-bend at 35.7 mm.
Does spoke length have to be exact?
No. A millimeter too long is fine, if the effective rim diameter (ERD) is measured very accurately (but it may not be measured accurately enough).
How to measure bmx spokes?
Quote from video: And clip them together so now you have your overall rim diameter then you're gonna take your little tape measure. And you're gonna measure in between these little silver pieces.
How do you measure spoke width?
The traditional way to measure the spoke hole circle diameter is with a caliper, as shown in the image below, center to center of the spoke holes, but it’s easier to measure from the right side to the right side, or left side to left side.
Does 1mm make a difference in spoke length?
One of the reason is that if the spoke is 1mm longer than it needs to be, then the builder may not be able to get the proper tension on the spoke, because they run out of threads on the spoke since you have to turn the nipple in further to make up for the extra length.
Can you cut spokes to length?
Quote from video: You cannot simply cut the spoke because you will mess up the threads.
How do you use a spoke ruler?
Quote from video: Real easy like plastic rulers work fine too you just have to make sure that you can hang that hook end of the spoke add the zero of the ruler these spokes are under pretty high tension on this wheel.
How are spokes measured on rims?
Quote from video: Write down both the left and right dimensions on your worksheet. The next hub measurement we need is from each flange to the middle of the hub.
How do you measure straight pull spoke length?
Actually, you are able to measure the inner circle (hub body) diameter and add the rest of the distance (flange) to the spoke bed. Just make sure that the latter measurement is for a spoke bed as this is very important. In my case I get 44.91 mm and 2* 3.1 mm, and this sums up to 51.1 mm.
Should drive side spokes be shorter?
Assuming that both sides use the same “cross” arrangement, the shorter spokes go on the drive side, so that the offset due to the drive mechanism will be compensated for and the wheel will be centered.
How much do spokes stretch?
Longer spokes will stretch more, thinner spokes will stretch more, higher tensioned spokes will stretch more, and a spoke can stretch up to 1mm.
What is spoke head clearance?
The main purpose of spoke head clearance is to allow you to replace a spoke on a built wheel. As long as the spokes don’t overlap the heads of adjacent spokes, there should be no issues. The 3 factors affecting spoke head clearance are spoke count, number of crossings, and flange size.
How many spokes does a 26 inch bike have?
BICYCLE WHEEL SPOKES FOR STANDARD 26″ WHEEL SCHWINN BIKES AND OTHERS 10 – 5/8″ THIS IS A COMPLETE SET OF SPOKES FOR 26″ TIRE SIZE / WHEELS. THEY WILL FIT MANY WHEELS OF MANY BRANDS, YOU GET ALL 36 SPOKES WITH NIPPLES, THEY ARE SIZE 10 – 5/8″ LONG.
What size spoke for 29er?
Spoke for rear wheel – 28-29 inch, 13G*225mm, Silver.
How do you measure straight pull spoke length?
Actually, you are able to measure the inner circle (hub body) diameter and add the rest of the distance (flange) to the spoke bed. Just make sure that the latter measurement is for a spoke bed as this is very important. In my case I get 44.91 mm and 2* 3.1 mm, and this sums up to 51.1 mm.
What size spoke wrench do I need?
Sizes
| Spoke wire gauge | spoke size | nipple size |
|---|---|---|
| 14 or 15 | 2.0 mm (14g) or 1.8 mm (15g) | 3.23 mm (0.127 in) |
| 14 | 2.0 mm | 3.30 mm (0.130 in) |
| 14 | 2.0 mm | 3.40 mm (0.134 in) |
| 13 | 2.3 mm | 3.45 mm (0.136 in) |
What can I use instead of a spoke wrench?
To make your own house key spoke wrench, simply clamp the key in a vise to hold it so you can cut a nipple-sized slot in it. Don’t overtighten the key or you might damage it.
What is the best spoke wrench?
Three- and four-sided wrenches provide a much surer hold, which is why the DT Swiss Proline spoke wrench, Park Tools master spoke wrenches, and P&K Lie spoke wrenches are all popular choices amongst wheel builders.