Wheel Building
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- scootsx2
- True Blue Steel Biker
- Posts: 2485
- Joined: Mon Jun 07, 2010 12:52 pm
- Location: St. Louis, Missouri USA
Wheel Building
I ran across this really interesting article about wheel building. http://www.sheldonbrown.com/wheelbuild.html
I have never laced or trued a wire wheel and have always sent my motorcycle wheels to Buchanan. However, I am considering taking a shot at rebuilding the wheels on the Solex mopeds I am restoring.
I have never laced or trued a wire wheel and have always sent my motorcycle wheels to Buchanan. However, I am considering taking a shot at rebuilding the wheels on the Solex mopeds I am restoring.
Last edited by scootsx2 on Thu Nov 05, 2015 10:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.
1975 GL1000 Sidecar Outfit
1982 CX500-based Trident ex-Police Trike
2001 GL1800 MotorTrike
2006 Vespa LX150
1956 Francis-Barnett Falcon 74
195x Solex 1700
196x Solex 2200
St. Louis, MO
The dude abides.
Brothers of the Third Wheel - Gateway Chapter http://www.btw-trikers.org
Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club http://www.vjmc.org
Francis-Barnett Owners Club http://www.francis-barnett.co.uk/
Antique Motorcycle Club of America http://www.antiquemotorcycle.org/
Vintage Motor Cycle Club http://www.vmcc.net
British Motorcycle Charitable Trust http://www.bmct.org/
VeloSolex Club UK http://www.velosolexclubuk.com/
1982 CX500-based Trident ex-Police Trike
2001 GL1800 MotorTrike
2006 Vespa LX150
1956 Francis-Barnett Falcon 74
195x Solex 1700
196x Solex 2200
St. Louis, MO
The dude abides.
Brothers of the Third Wheel - Gateway Chapter http://www.btw-trikers.org
Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club http://www.vjmc.org
Francis-Barnett Owners Club http://www.francis-barnett.co.uk/
Antique Motorcycle Club of America http://www.antiquemotorcycle.org/
Vintage Motor Cycle Club http://www.vmcc.net
British Motorcycle Charitable Trust http://www.bmct.org/
VeloSolex Club UK http://www.velosolexclubuk.com/
- tlbranth
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 1636
- Joined: Mon Jan 28, 2008 12:16 am
- Location: carnation, wa
Re: Wheel Building
It's not as difficult as it seems. I found a tutorial on the web and relaced the wheels on my cb750. I think the first one took maybe 4 hours and the second 2 hours. It was a while ago so I'm guessing. Youll need to make a wooden stand and buy a dial indicator.
Terry
Don't own a Vanagon
Don't work at Boeing
Life is good
1999 GL1500 SE
2002 Honda VT750 "ACE"
1975 GL1000
1970 CB750
Don't own a Vanagon
Don't work at Boeing
Life is good
1999 GL1500 SE
2002 Honda VT750 "ACE"
1975 GL1000
1970 CB750
-
- Titanium Member
- Posts: 321
- Joined: Thu Jun 25, 2009 10:23 pm
- Location: central WI
Re: Wheel Building
Wow ! that is quite a comprehensive tutorial .
I had a local expert lace up the rear on my 77GL after I found 3 broken spokes .
I offered to pay him extra if he would let me watch . He said he could do it in an hour , so I ordered SS spokes from Buchanan . When I called a few days later he was all done and mounting the tire . Maybe he wanted to guard his "trade secrets " but he charged me for 2.5 hrs .
10 months later , I found 2 more broken spokes ( a good thing I had him save the old spokes , he normally just destroys them with a cut off disc ) .
Another $50 to repair with no explanation as to why they would break .
I really hate to second guess a guy who has laced 100's ( 1,000's ? ) of wheels .
He's also a dirt / ice racer who builds a lot of his wheels .
Maybe this article will shed some light on how a bike can survive 30 + years on original spokes , then suddnly start to have problems . I always ride 2 up , plus Wi has some messed up back roads and I can't avoid all the pot holes .
Anyway thanks for posting this .
Bob
I had a local expert lace up the rear on my 77GL after I found 3 broken spokes .
I offered to pay him extra if he would let me watch . He said he could do it in an hour , so I ordered SS spokes from Buchanan . When I called a few days later he was all done and mounting the tire . Maybe he wanted to guard his "trade secrets " but he charged me for 2.5 hrs .
10 months later , I found 2 more broken spokes ( a good thing I had him save the old spokes , he normally just destroys them with a cut off disc ) .
Another $50 to repair with no explanation as to why they would break .
I really hate to second guess a guy who has laced 100's ( 1,000's ? ) of wheels .
He's also a dirt / ice racer who builds a lot of his wheels .
Maybe this article will shed some light on how a bike can survive 30 + years on original spokes , then suddnly start to have problems . I always ride 2 up , plus Wi has some messed up back roads and I can't avoid all the pot holes .
Anyway thanks for posting this .
Bob
60 Yamaha, 68 BSA 441 , 66 BSA 650 Lightning ,72 CB500, 77 GL1000,87 Aspencade
- HOTT
- Run Executive
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Re: Wheel Building
Sheldon Brown passed away quite sometime ago, but his articles are still great references.
This wheel building piece is very well done.
Jump in and try it. It is a good skill to learn.
HOTT
This wheel building piece is very well done.
Jump in and try it. It is a good skill to learn.
HOTT
If we can't fix it, we can fix it so no one else can.
the Condor BOTY 2011
Ol' Sparky BOTM Dec. 2011
Lucky #13 BOTY 2018
the Condor BOTY 2011
Ol' Sparky BOTM Dec. 2011
Lucky #13 BOTY 2018
- gregforesi
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Re: Wheel Building
I wanted to have the rims and hubs powder coated so the wheels needed to come apart.
I took the rims and hubs to the powder coater and that left the original spokes which didn't look so good. No problem, I'll polish them.
I got the parts back and my buddy had a wheel jig so I borrowed it and laced them myself. The rear was tough because the spokes are so short.
And now for the rest of the story...
I didn't notice at the time (because they were shiny) but I had polished all the cadmium off the spokes and they immediately rusted.
2 years later they looked like crap so I replaced them with polished stainless steel spokes. This time I had my local guy lace them because I didn't have access to the jig anymore.
I took the rims and hubs to the powder coater and that left the original spokes which didn't look so good. No problem, I'll polish them.
I got the parts back and my buddy had a wheel jig so I borrowed it and laced them myself. The rear was tough because the spokes are so short.
And now for the rest of the story...
I didn't notice at the time (because they were shiny) but I had polished all the cadmium off the spokes and they immediately rusted.
2 years later they looked like crap so I replaced them with polished stainless steel spokes. This time I had my local guy lace them because I didn't have access to the jig anymore.
2006 GL1800 (Brutus Maximus)
1978 GL1000 (White Trash - 2012 BOTY
(If you want to discuss the Trashmobile, Webers, Rearsets, Clubmans, or other stuff then send me a PM.)
"Getting old ain't for sissies" - Phyllis Diller
"So how much you gonna spend to win that $5 trophy?" - Cyborg
1978 GL1000 (White Trash - 2012 BOTY
(If you want to discuss the Trashmobile, Webers, Rearsets, Clubmans, or other stuff then send me a PM.)
"Getting old ain't for sissies" - Phyllis Diller
"So how much you gonna spend to win that $5 trophy?" - Cyborg
- Lucien Harpress
- Honored Life Member
- Posts: 4077
- Joined: Sat Dec 24, 2011 11:41 am
- Location: Michigan
Re: Wheel Building
I'm keeping a eye on this. At some point soon (once I get the rims and spokes) I'm going to have to lace up the wheels for my 305 Dream. Thankfully it's not an application where the wheels are going to go faster than about 65 (I'm told), but I still want to do it right.
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete
All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete
All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
- Old Fogey
- Honored Life Member
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Re: Wheel Building
Never tried it. i was going to when I first got The Swan, but the rims were too far gone and I got a great deal on a set of Comstars.
I understand that you would need a sland and a dial guage, which I have. So the question is; can you take a factory spoked wheel and respoke by cutting one spoke at a time, replace it and go on to the next one? It would seem logical but like most things I guess there may be a rabbit hole somewhere.
I understand that you would need a sland and a dial guage, which I have. So the question is; can you take a factory spoked wheel and respoke by cutting one spoke at a time, replace it and go on to the next one? It would seem logical but like most things I guess there may be a rabbit hole somewhere.
"Impossible Is Just a Level of Difficulty!..."
If I'd wanted you to understand, I would have explained it better! (Johann Cruyff)
I’d give my right arm to be ambidextrous!
If I'd wanted you to understand, I would have explained it better! (Johann Cruyff)
I’d give my right arm to be ambidextrous!
- wingrider
- SUPER BIKER!!!!
- Posts: 3724
- Joined: Thu May 24, 2012 12:15 pm
- Location: Maple Lake, MN USA
Re: Wheel Building
How did Greg pull up an almost 10 year old thread?
2002 1800 Wing
2001 Valkyrie Interstate
1978 1200 EFI Wing with Motorvation Coupe Royale sidecar
1977 1200 Wing cafe/bobber project
1974 Suzuki GT550
2001 Valkyrie Interstate
1978 1200 EFI Wing with Motorvation Coupe Royale sidecar
1977 1200 Wing cafe/bobber project
1974 Suzuki GT550
- Rat
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Re: Wheel Building
When you are looking into a topic and scroll to the bottom of the page, you discover all the threads that have ever been posted on that topic …
Gord
Gord
"I'd rather Ride than Shine"
‘14 KLR650 ... not a rat ... yet
‘84 GL1200i ‘R2B6' (Rat to Be 6, the last, adopted by twowings)
My Original 'RAT' was a hybrid '82 CB900/1100F
‘14 KLR650 ... not a rat ... yet
‘84 GL1200i ‘R2B6' (Rat to Be 6, the last, adopted by twowings)
My Original 'RAT' was a hybrid '82 CB900/1100F
- Lucien Harpress
- Honored Life Member
- Posts: 4077
- Joined: Sat Dec 24, 2011 11:41 am
- Location: Michigan
Re: Wheel Building
Fogey: I've head that "It depends". Because the spokes have to be long enough to feed into the rim, you end up needing to bend them a little to get them in the rim holes. Depending on wheel geometry, I have to imagine this ranges from "doable" to "impossible".
1997 Valkyrie- Light Cutomization, but Too Busy Riding
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete
All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
1980 KZ1300- Bike's Haunted
1976 GL1000 (Yellow)- It Runs (Poorly) and Doesn't Leak (Mostly)
1974 Velosolex 3800- Better Than Walking
1972 CB750- Broke the Chain And Ate the Motor
1969 CT90- The Most Fun You Can Have on 90ccs.
1965 CA77 Dream- Needs a Full Teardown, but Complete
All advice I give is only valid until an expert corrects me.
- wingrider
- SUPER BIKER!!!!
- Posts: 3724
- Joined: Thu May 24, 2012 12:15 pm
- Location: Maple Lake, MN USA
Re: Wheel Building
I get it, but it is still funny it was from 10 years ago, and it makes one ponder what he was looking at for this thread to pop up down there.
2002 1800 Wing
2001 Valkyrie Interstate
1978 1200 EFI Wing with Motorvation Coupe Royale sidecar
1977 1200 Wing cafe/bobber project
1974 Suzuki GT550
2001 Valkyrie Interstate
1978 1200 EFI Wing with Motorvation Coupe Royale sidecar
1977 1200 Wing cafe/bobber project
1974 Suzuki GT550
- Old Fogey
- Honored Life Member
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- Joined: Mon Aug 27, 2007 11:31 pm
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Re: Wheel Building
Well, you see my signature line!Lucien Harpress wrote: ↑Thu Feb 29, 2024 7:27 pm Fogey: I've head that "It depends". Because the spokes have to be long enough to feed into the rim, you end up needing to bend them a little to get them in the rim holes. Depending on wheel geometry, I have to imagine this ranges from "doable" to "impossible".
"Impossible Is Just a Level of Difficulty!..."
If I'd wanted you to understand, I would have explained it better! (Johann Cruyff)
I’d give my right arm to be ambidextrous!
If I'd wanted you to understand, I would have explained it better! (Johann Cruyff)
I’d give my right arm to be ambidextrous!
-
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