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The 2-Stroke Garage => Turning Wrenches => Topic started by: elliottles1 on October 15, 2020, 12:17:12 PM

Title: wheel re-building
Post by: elliottles1 on October 15, 2020, 12:17:12 PM
Folks,

This may be a wild stab in the dark, but, would it be possible to re-spoke a wheel by replacing one of the original spokes at a time and making sure that the tension is the same as the original in every case?

cheers
les.

Title: Re: wheel re-building
Post by: rodneya on October 15, 2020, 12:22:45 PM
Probably not, some spokes need others moved out of the way before you can get them in or out.
If you could get them all in it would most likely need to be trued after anyway.
Title: Re: wheel re-building
Post by: oxford on October 15, 2020, 12:45:33 PM
I don't think that's going to work.  Building a wheel really isn't that hard, just takes a little time.  You really don't need a stand or an indicator to do it,!just put the wheel back in the bike and a couple of sticks to use as pointers to get it straight.

Biggest thing is getting a good quality wrench for the nipples.
Title: Re: wheel re-building
Post by: Diablo007 on October 15, 2020, 02:54:25 PM
There are good videos on youtube regarding building spoked wheels that will save you a lot of time and frustration.  Most important thing is to have quality spokes from a quality supplier.  If you have mismatched spokes they may not all be the same.  That will result in making it harder to true, watch the videos as the good ones explain this.  I have used NOS Yamaha and Buchannan's.  Both worked well.
Title: Re: wheel re-building
Post by: Plasticman on October 15, 2020, 04:17:28 PM
I just built a new wire wheel for my RD400.  It wasn't that hard to do once I figured it out.  +1 on getting the right tool for the nipples and using the motorcycle as the "stand".  I'm a tool junkie, so I bought a stand, spoke tool and spoke torque wrench.

Rob
Title: Re: wheel re-building
Post by: oxford on October 15, 2020, 04:35:15 PM
Quote from: Plasticman on October 15, 2020, 04:17:28 PM
I'm a tool junkie, so I bought a stand

I have a very nice stand I built and still ended up using the bike for the set I did in the rd. 
Title: Re: wheel re-building
Post by: Djg8493 on October 16, 2020, 09:06:23 AM
This is the dial indicator that I use, it can be used with a stand or on the bike, just set the magnet to something close.  It really makes the process a little faster.  You can probably set it up to check timing as well but I havent tried to fit it in there yet. 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01JU18A0Q/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01JU18A0Q/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
Title: Re: wheel re-building
Post by: Evans Ward on October 16, 2020, 09:29:57 AM
For those can can master wheel lacing, you are saving about $200 per wheel labor not counting parts. This is wheels brought in off the bike.  How do I know? I just had my GT750 wheels relaced with new OEM spokes at my local dealership. At least, I'm supporting my local motorcycle shop...  :eek:  :patriot:
Title: Re: wheel re-building
Post by: Barrie on October 16, 2020, 10:19:50 AM
Before you strip a wheel take a picture of the lacing pattern .Start the re lacing by fitting the correct spokes to the inside and outside of the hub, once you have the first few spokes placed into the rim it all starts to fall in place, as i stated first as long as you have a picture of the lacing pattern you are safe.
Title: Re: wheel re-building
Post by: bitzz on October 16, 2020, 11:00:14 AM
Quote from: Evans Ward on October 16, 2020, 09:29:57 AM
For those can can master wheel lacing, you are saving about $200 per wheel labor not counting parts. This is wheels brought in off the bike.  How do I know? I just had my GT750 wheels relaced with new OEM spokes at my local dealership. At least, I'm supporting my local motorcycle shop...  :eek:  :patriot:

Buchanan wants $112 to lace and true a wheel
http://www.buchananspokes.com/categories/labor.asp
Nothing against your local shop, but I'll take Buchanan for half the price Alex.
Title: Re: wheel re-building
Post by: Evans Ward on October 16, 2020, 12:38:07 PM
Quote from: bitzz on October 16, 2020, 11:00:14 AM
Quote from: Evans Ward on October 16, 2020, 09:29:57 AM
For those can can master wheel lacing, you are saving about $200 per wheel labor not counting parts. This is wheels brought in off the bike.  How do I know? I just had my GT750 wheels relaced with new OEM spokes at my local dealership. At least, I'm supporting my local motorcycle shop...  :eek:  :patriot:

Buchanan wants $112 to lace and true a wheel
http://www.buchananspokes.com/categories/labor.asp
Nothing against your local shop, but I'll take Buchanan for half the price Alex.

Plus cost of shipping wheels each way too so not as much as a good deal. I like to try and support local business when I can but do know Buchanan is the best!
Title: Re: wheel re-building
Post by: rodneya on October 16, 2020, 01:04:59 PM
Quote from: Evans Ward on October 16, 2020, 09:29:57 AM
For those can can master wheel lacing, you are saving about $200 per wheel labor not counting parts. This is wheels brought in off the bike.  How do I know? I just had my GT750 wheels relaced with new OEM spokes at my local dealership. At least, I'm supporting my local motorcycle shop...  :eek:  :patriot:

My local dealers wont even touch a bike over 10 years old. The last time I tried to buy parts from the stealership the parts guy couldnt tell the difference between a YZ250 and a YZ250F, or a clutch side crank seal and the stator cover gasket. Now I order parts online and teach myself how to do stuff.
Title: Re: wheel re-building
Post by: Djg8493 on October 16, 2020, 03:11:15 PM
Quote from: rodneya on October 16, 2020, 01:04:59 PM
Quote from: Evans Ward on October 16, 2020, 09:29:57 AM
For those can can master wheel lacing, you are saving about $200 per wheel labor not counting parts. This is wheels brought in off the bike.  How do I know? I just had my GT750 wheels relaced with new OEM spokes at my local dealership. At least, I'm supporting my local motorcycle shop...  :eek:  :patriot:

My local dealers wont even touch a bike over 10 years old. The last time I tried to buy parts from the stealership the parts guy couldnt tell the difference between a YZ250 and a YZ250F, or a clutch side crank seal and the stator cover gasket. Now I order parts online and teach myself how to do stuff.

I agree this is generally true of many larger dealerships, there are still local shops that care about old bikes and keeping them on the road.  The shop I worked at in college focused on bikes that were turned away from the local dealers and they have been in business for over 40 years.  The knowledge inside that building has not only helped me learn but also gotten me out of many jams.  It is important that people like us support them when we can or they will not survive.  I wont say that I don't order parts online out of convenience but I also try to push as much business to the local shops as I can.  (it's nice to have them deal with tire changes as well:))
Title: Re: wheel re-building
Post by: Diablo007 on October 16, 2020, 03:53:11 PM
^^^^^

+1 on tire changes
Title: Re: wheel re-building
Post by: elliottles1 on October 19, 2020, 12:01:37 PM
Folks,

been away for a couple of days. Wow, what a response, many thanks for all the inputs. i will give rebuilding a go.

cheers
les
Title: Re: wheel re-building
Post by: rodneya on October 19, 2020, 01:58:14 PM
Id imagine that the guys at Buchanan can lace and true a wheel in no time at all. takes me hours and quite a bit of frustration.
Title: Re: wheel re-building
Post by: m in sc on October 19, 2020, 02:22:02 PM
for some oddball reason my GF wants to learn how to do it. she likes puzzles and detailed tasks, si i told her id buy a truing stand and she could have at it.  I again, not sure why, but she has asked me a few times. I don't know how nor really have the desire myself but  :umm: ok.  :cheerleader:
Title: Re: wheel re-building
Post by: Evans Ward on October 19, 2020, 03:24:52 PM
^ that's cool Mark and there is a market if she ever wanted to make some extra cash. I can true a wheel from years of bicycle wrenching and racing (duathalons) years ago. A good wheel stand is paramount as is the correct spoke wrench for the application. Lacing a wheel is not something that interests me so I pay for that service.
Title: Re: wheel re-building
Post by: m in sc on October 19, 2020, 04:38:35 PM
we'll see. either way, a good wheel stand & spoke wrench will be useful, regardless.
Title: Re: wheel re-building
Post by: Diablo007 on October 20, 2020, 12:14:27 AM
My wife helped rebuild her DT125A wheels.  The rims were pretty darn rusty.  We found NOS spokes and D.I.D alloy rims in the shop so she decided to help with the wheel building.

All the tips that have been given will be a great help.  If all your spokes are from the same manufacturer you should be able to pre-tighten all of them to the same length and until they hold the rim w/o wobbling.  Then move to truing.  Then tighten all the spokes to the same torque.

This is one of the youtube videos I mentioned.  Since it auto-populated when I searched right now I'm guessing it and the 2nd part are the ones that helped the most:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOEQwViNLuU&feature=emb_logo

Keep us posted.
Title: Re: wheel re-building
Post by: JB Weld on October 27, 2020, 07:08:04 PM
I've been very interested in this! Someday I will try when I have the money to buy everything (after I have my crank rebuilt, or Vito's, someday).

I never thought of truing on the bike. That helps the budget a bit.
Title: Re: wheel re-building
Post by: Still biking on November 02, 2020, 07:33:39 PM
If you completely re lace a wheel with new spokes, using a torque spoke wrench makes it a lot easier.  Also, truing a wheel is like a bicycle as is re spoking.  There is a lot of difference between re spoking a front wheel vs a rear one.  The bicycle stuff will help you understand that.  Watch some you tube videos!