Triumphrat

Mag00 · 04-11-2009, 09:05 PM

I live in semi-rural Arizona. There are no local truing experts near me. I need to have the front wheel trued on my '96 Adventurer. Don't care if I have to send it somewhere to have it done. Any suggestions?

denny · 04-11-2009, 10:07 PM

http://www.buchananspokes.net/

I have not seen the result of their work yet, My wheel will arrive back home next week. They are nice folks and pleasant to deal with. Give them a call and they will discuss their services with you.

http://www.thewheelmaster.com/ Recommended by JimmyJ900
They dropped the ball during the explanation of services phase with me. Seem nice though. They answered my email, and promised to respond with additional information about pricing. I never heard any more from them.

A google search for "spoke wheel repair" turned up a few other possibilities.

cafetbird · 04-11-2009, 10:10 PM

Here is probably your best bet:

http://www.buchananspokes.net/

gregp · 04-12-2009, 05:52 PM

If your wheel is truely "bent" then you may have to send it somebody for repair. If you just need to true it up, it is not rocket science. Some spokes pull to the left, some pull to the right. Just get the front wheel off of the ground and tape or zip tie some sort if "indicator" to a fork leg that comes close to touching the outer circumference of the rim. Tighten the spokes as necesary to get the rim to run true. This procedure requires patience, and a proper spoke wrench, but little else.
I have encountered some severely corroded spokes and nipples on dirt bikes that delayed the process.

Mag00 · 04-12-2009, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregp

If your wheel is truely "bent" then you may have to send it somebody for repair. If you just need to true it up, it is not rocket science. Some spokes pull to the left, some pull to the right. Just get the front wheel off of the ground and tape or zip tie some sort if "indicator" to a fork leg that comes close to touching the outer circumference of the rim. Tighten the spokes as necesary to get the rim to run true. This procedure requires patience, and a proper spoke wrench, but little else.
I have encountered some severely corroded spokes and nipples on dirt bikes that delayed the process.

I tried truing it myself, with a proper spoke wrench, but haven't had good luck. The wheel really is bent as the tire appears to hop up every time at a certain point in the wheel rotation. It's not the tire either as I just put on a new front tire. The old tire did the same thing. Someone had previously messed with the spokes too. Many were very loose when I got the motorcycle, and some were extremely tight. I might give it adjusting the spokes on more shot before I send it off somewhere to be repaired. I already sent an email to Buchananspokes.net.

Tbirdnz · 04-13-2009, 02:00 AM

This procedure may help:

a. Loosen all spokes to about 3 threads
b. Put the spindle in the hub and put in a jig (so you can spin & turn it)
c. Tighten spokes around the wheel at 90 180 270 360 degrees to make it partially rigid.
d. Adjust the tightness of the spokes to make the wheel round
e. When you have it round, check the off-set and remove the buckle out of the rim by tightening and undoing spokes. The tolerances are about 1mm on the side-side movement.
f. check all spokes ring correctly when tapped.

I've done many a bike wheel but only one motorbike and that was successful with the above procedure.

It takes patience and time and above all approach the job methodically.

Guys with vintage bikes probably do this far more than guys with modern bikes, so you are probably asking the wrong forum !

---------------
Ride on !

vintage60 · 04-13-2009, 07:35 AM

I spoke with this guy a few months ago. He was very helpful and seemed knowledgeable.
http://www.wheelcraftllc.com/index.htm

denny · 04-17-2009, 10:04 PM

My Wheel arrived home today from Buchanan's.
I cannot find the place where it was bent.
It looks really good.

They did replace all of the nipples, but the spokes were fine.

Attached pics were taken before the repair.
And I'll say it again, I cannot find the place where it was bent.

Mag00 · 04-19-2009, 03:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by denny

My Wheel arrived home today from Buchanan's.
I cannot find the place where it was bent.
It looks really good.

They did replace all of the nipples, but the spokes were fine.

Attached pics were taken before the repair.
And I'll say it again, I cannot find the place where it was bent.

Buchanan's quoted me $97 to true my wheel but they haven't seen it yet--that was just an estimate. What was the total cost for your wheel repair?

denny · 04-19-2009, 03:46 AM

$97 labor charge for straighten and truing.
$1.14 each for the nipples
Packing fee $6
and shipping charge.

They returned the original nipples, and they were pretty mangled up. They said when they called that 24 of them were bad, but I told them to just replace all of them.

When compared to some other places I checked I thought it was very reasonable.
And they did a very good job.