Straightening wheels?

[cuske]

I bought a bike off ebay and was quite happy with it, until I checked the wheels a while later. They're all over the place. Is it as easy as I think it is to straighten them or is there more to it than slackening one side and tightening the other?

 

[mrandmrspoves]

I bought a bike off ebay and was quite happy with it, until I checked the wheels a while later. They're all over the place. Is it as easy as I think it is to straighten them or is there more to it than slackening one side and tightening the other?

Read the post at the top of this section "Mickle's Seasonal Tip on Wheel Truing" It will answer your question far better than most of our efforts to give you an answer. In essence wheel truing is achieved by loosening or tightening spokes, but remember that the wheel needs to remain round as well as straight and it is easy to achieve a "True" wheel that is shaped like an egg. Also note that rear wheels are not made to be symmetrical as they are dished (the side with the gears on has shorter and tighter spokes to make room for the gears on the axle) So rear wheels are harder than front wheels to get right and sadly the rear wheel is more likely to be out of true than the front. I don't want to make it sound too technical or difficult as it isn't. Start reading Mickle's excellent posting and go from there.....

 

[smokeysmoo]

It's witchcraft and it's the reason LBS's were invited

 

[Easytigers]

Read the post at the top of this section "Mickle's Seasonal Tip on Wheel Truing" It will answer your question far better than most of our efforts to give you an answer. In essence wheel truing is achieved by loosening or tightening spokes, but remember that the wheel needs to remain round as well as straight and it is easy to achieve a "True" wheel that is shaped like an egg. Also note that rear wheels are not made to be symmetrical as they are dished (the side with the gears on has shorter and tighter spokes to make room for the gears on the axle) So rear wheels are harder than front wheels to get right and sadly the rear wheel is more likely to be out of true than the front. I don't want to make it sound too technical or difficult as it isn't. Start reading Mickle's excellent posting and go from there.....

I completely agree with this...read Mickle's guide then give it a go

 

[Easytigers]

[QUOTE 3021849, member: 259"]Then, after a few hours of frustration, give up and take it to the bike shop. [/QUOTE]
This is probably true!!! But you never know until you have a go!

 

[cuske]

Thanks guys, I think I'll take it to the bike shop.

 

[Kestevan]

Just don't ask @dan_bo - Last seen in a Welsh forest twatting a pringled wheel against a tree as hard as possible

 

[John the Canuck]

Thanks guys, I think I'll take it to the bike shop.

why.?

i have NEVER done one before

did 2 yesterday ... after reading the tutorial - chuffed with the result

i found just 1/4 turn of the nipple key - then spin back to my starting point to check [ i chose the valve]

lotsa spins, lotsa checks and take little steps ...very satisfying too..!!

 

[Ed no-more-lemons]

I have found that this is a job more suited to the enthusiast and not the professional and that necessity is not the mother of invention, but the teacher of Zen maintenance.

All there is to it is patience and dilligence and after a few goes it doesn't even take that much time to get a proper little result.

 

[Cyclist33]

I have found this a job I can't complete and as the bike shop will do it for a tenner or so and do a decent job of it...