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Questions and answers about sports

Spokes both too long and too short on same side of wheel

5 min read

Asked by: Sella Phillips

Should spoke tension be the same on both sides?

Spoke Tension – Front and Rear Wheels



On front wheels the tension should be equal on both sides. On rear wheels the tension will be higher on the right side, or drive side of the wheel. Therefore proper spoke tension should be measured on both sides, but set to the right side spokes of rear wheels.

Is it better to have spokes too long or too short?

For most folks, too long or two short really doesn’t matter as long as it’s within about 2 mm, so just round to whichever stock size is closest to ideal. If you go beyond the 2 mm, it is better to be a little short than long.

How do you tighten spokes evenly?


Quote from video: The best tool for tightening your spokes is a 12-gauge spoke wrench.

How do you balance spokes?

Quote from video: If you don't have a Turing stand you can through your wheels in the bike. If you just tighten the barrel adjuster. So that it brings the pads closer to the rim.

What are double butted spokes?

Butted spokes have at least two distinct diameters: single-butted (SB) spokes are larger at the elbow and smaller along the rest of their length, while double-butted (DB) spokes are larger at the elbow and the thread and smaller in the middle section.

What happens if you over tighten spokes?

Registered. As you tighten, if you don’t loosen others along with it, the tension will be all thrown off, and the wheel thrown out of “true”.

Are drive side or non drive side spokes longer?

Yes, the rear drive side will be the shorter spokes. If you are using the same rim AND hub, you should be in good shape. If you changed rims, your spoke lengths may be off for your current build.

Are all spoke nipples the same size?

The most common spoke nipple sizes are 3.23mm, 3.30mm, and 3.45mm. However, you might encounter other spoke nipple sizes ranging anywhere from 3.2mm to 9mm. Many spoke nipples are also square-shaped, including the most common sizes listed above. Some manufacturers use star-shaped or hex-shaped spoke nipples instead.

Can you cut spokes to length?

Spokes are secured to the rim via nipples which thread onto the spokes’ ends. To thread the spokes, one needs a special “spoke thread rolling machine“. You cannot re-thread a spoke with any other tool because spoke threads are “rolled in” rather than “cut” in. Or in other words, there’s no material loss.

How do you align bike spokes?

Quote from video: And you can use the following method. If the rim pulls over to one side and it moves slightly away from the hub in terms of its radius. Then tighten a spoke on the opposite. Side.

How do you true a bike wheel with zip ties?

Quote from video: The process is relatively. Simple move the zip tie closer to the wheel until it just touches one point on the rim.

How do you adjust spokes to straighten a wheel?

Quote from video: You can use an adjustable wrench. And put them on the spoke.

Are double butted spokes lighter?

Double butted spokes are lighter than straight gauge and offer better ride qualities due to a more flexible center section. Double butted spokes are generally very strong, however spokes with 1.5mm center sections can be challenging to build at higher tension due to twisting.

Can you mix spokes on a bicycle wheel?

Some road wheels even have fewer spokes on the NDS than on the drive side. But even for a symmetrical wheel, though, mixing the spokes shouldn’t be a major problem if the wheel is otherwise built correctly.

What is a triple butted spoke?

Quote from video: Похожие запросы

What length spokes do I need?

Generally, there is a one-to-two millimeter range of acceptable spoke length for a wheel. If you want to build with non-differential spoke selections, and the two spoke lengths are only one millimeter different, select the longer length for both sides, and the wheel will typically be fine.

How do you measure 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.

What is rim ERD?

What is the ERD of a rim? First, it is not the diameter where the tire fits in the rim, nor is it the inner diameter of the rim hoop. The ERD is that point in the rim where the end of the spoke sits (given that we have spokes of an ideal length). Think of two different rims intended to fit a 700C road tire.

Can I ride with Broken spoke?

If you have just one broken spoke, it’s perfectly safe to keep riding. However, that one broken part could damage other parts of your bike if you do not take care of it in time. Every spoke in the wheel is crucial to maintaining the right tension and balance in your bike.