Tuesday Tip - Tightening Spokes
Chris
- November 25 2008
- 12,855 views
- 14 comments
To many, taking the time to tighten your spokes may seem quite basic and lack any type of proper technique, but that’s not the case. If you don’t give your spokes some accurate attention, they can easily puncture your tube. And when you do take the time to tighten spokes, make sure you follow the correct pattern. No, you don’t just tighten each spoke as you go: spoke one, spoke two, and so on… You must tighten every third spoke and it’s crucial that the torque of each spoke be no more than half a turn at a time.
Tools required: Spoke torque wrench, and proper heads. Heads vary from bike to bike.
STEP 1 Start at the rim lock and call that spoke number one. The most important thing to remember when you’re maintaining a wheel is not to turn the spoke more than half of a turn. If you turn the spoke more than a half-turn than it’s easy to pull the spoke off to one side or the other. Always make sure you turn the spoke to proper tension; sometimes it’ll need torque and sometimes it won’t. Also, it’s a good idea to keep your hand on the last spoke that you’ve tightened, that way you don’t get lost.
STEP 2 Maintain the pattern of every three spokes. Start with spoke number one right next to the rim lock, then skip spokes two and three and go straight to spoke number four. You’ll want to continue this pattern, by going from spoke number four to spoke seven, spoke 10, and so on. Continue torquing every third spoke until you return to spoke number one.
STEP 3 After you’ve made it through each revolution of the tire, it’s important to spin the wheel a few times to make sure it has an even pull over it. Also, always place your hand on the same spot of any wrench, whether it’s a torque wrench or a standard wrench. If you do that you’ll always be consistent with your pull. Being consistent is the key to having a strong wheel.
To upload photos or videos, 
»
November 25th, 2008 at 3:57 pm
Hey guys, in step 2 I would ad that you need to make 3 full revolutions to complete the whole wheel. So your second revolution would start on the second spoke from the rim lock and continue all the way around skipping to every third spoke. Then the same starting at the third spoke from the rim lock…. Just didn’t want anyone to get confused thinking theres only one revolution.
November 25th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
Good call, Garrett. Thanks. Take note, folks.
November 30th, 2008 at 1:06 am
This may seem like a stupid question but, if you don’t have a torch spoke wrench how tight do they need to be?
December 1st, 2008 at 11:31 am
davis,
you don’t want to kill them, once you fell their snug do a 1/4 to 1/2 turn more and you should be fine.
December 2nd, 2008 at 1:06 pm
You can also tap the spokes to get an idea how tight they are by the sound they make, then go around until they all have almost the same pitch.
December 3rd, 2008 at 9:18 am
i tightened my spokes wrong, how do i go about loosing the spokes to retighten them?
December 12th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
I just got a spoke torque wrench, (how sweet!) but im not sure how tight the spokes should be. My manual says 2.7 foot lbs which works out to be 32.5 inch lbs; that is what the wrench measures in. I followed the tips but somehow i feel 32.5 in-lb is not tight enough, is there suppose to be some flex in the spokes, or sohuld they be very tight ? THanks
December 23rd, 2008 at 9:54 am
Great tech tip! I always learn a new trick here!!!
January 8th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
Hi guys i have the same question as JUSTIN. can you answer please??
Thanks!
February 11th, 2009 at 4:55 am
Hi,I can possibly answer your question like this….
I have always maintained spokes since the bike was new.Before I had a Excel Spoke Torque wrench…I used the pinging method from day one and as the spokes seated,I just kept doing it until one day they are snug enough or they are so out of wack You need a Pro wheel builder to start from scratch!LoL
With a spoke torque wrench I started from Day one on a New 2008 crf450r at 22 inch lbs and little by little as the spokes broke in
I adjusted them tighter and tighter by The above Spoke rotation method 3 rotaions till all the spokes were Equal.
After about 3 months of riding,The spokes Finally seated at 28inch lbs by the Excel Torque wrench.So to answer Your question….All rims and spokes and riders abuse/weight ect are different.If you start from brand new and follow my method and start with a low setting 20 or so inch lbs and work your way up as they break in.
If the bikes used or the wheels not true,You need patience and a bit of talent ;-)And start from scratch like maybe Loosen the whole wheel,This methods hard and takes practice.
Ps:I know I am babbling haha but Last year “I had some Excel wheels made with SS spoke by a Wheel builder and gave hime the torque wrench and said set the spokes for 48inch lbs A figure I got from research on the web..Anyhooooo The spokes never moved after numerous checks all Race season and the rims were battered!
If You found this Information usefull than Great~
February 15th, 2009 at 10:42 am
what if all spokes are good except there are a few that are really loose
May 7th, 2009 at 4:23 am
I have the question as jake "i tightened my spokes wrong, how do i go about loosing the spokes to retighten them?"
thanks
July 6th, 2009 at 8:09 am
the best way to tell if a spoke is at a right tension- tap the spoke wrench on the spoke. if the spoke makes a cling sound its good to go. if it makes a low, thud sound you need to tighten it.
Try it, it works
July 21st, 2009 at 2:40 am
have a wheel wobbling not because of a bad bearing . solid. i can look form behind it at eye level to the chain it runs straight and so does hte brake disc . any suggestions i think it needs balancing or rim is bent orneeds re tightning any help would be sweet . just bought bike not sure never had one before