How to tighten spokes?

[barch88]

I can't find where it says HOW to in my manual, just say's to keep them tight and check them...which is kind of hard to do if I don't know how. The search feature is disabled right now because the amount of people on the site.

I started by tightening the spoke, but each way I turned it, left or right, it seemed tight both ways, so I just kept turning one way until I found out that it was loosening. I have to do this like each time I go to check them, and I was wondering what tips you can give me on this...are both the front and rear wheel the same way, if I stand on the left side of my bike and tighten? Is every other spoke different? Right= Loose, Left= Tight? Or is it Lefty loosely righty tightey?

Thanks guy's!

[bubby6]

When you are tightening your spokes skip 3 spokes so have 1 hand on the first spoke and count forward or back 3 spokes and the tird one is the one you tighten.

Also if you are looking straight down at the rim and spokes you tighten counter-clockwise

Hope this helps.

[barch88]

When you are tightening your spokes skip 3 spokes so have 1 hand on the first spoke and count forward or back 3 spokes and the tird one is the one you tighten.

Also if you are looking straight down at the rim and spokes you tighten counter-clockwise

Hope this helps.

Alright, why do I skip spokes? Also, say I'm sitting down on the ground, looking at the spokes near the bottom of the rim, near the ground...from the left hand side of my bike (sprocket side).

[NoFiddyPilot]

http://fasstco.com/html/spoke_tips.html

[socalmatt]

I think the threads are reversed when dealing with spokes. If you are tightening the spokes on the bottom you would turn the wrench clockwise. Start at the wheel lock nut and skip every 3 and just turn each one a 1/4 turn until all spokes are tight. You do this to keep the rim trued up.

[AbandonedMX]

IDK but my spoke is loose...I mean not loose but it is hanging off on my TTR and the part where you tighten it is missing....did it go inside the rim??

[NoFiddyPilot]

http://buchananspokes.com/images/spoke_round.jpg

As you can see, if the nipple comes completely unthreaded from spoke, it's inside the rim. There is nowhere else for it to go.

[AbandonedMX]

Ok, thanks Bryan. I'll fix that tommorow.

[Yak]

I know its highly un-scientific, but I tighen by sound. Just give it a tap with the spoke wrench and listen. It should give a nice "DING!" ... if it makes a thump or a really low pitched "DONG" ... then it needs some tighening. Thats the way you do it out in the bush anyway. Just make sure the spoke isn't touching the other cross spoke when you tap it. If they are touching, press the other spoke away.

[barch88]

Thanks, mine are nice and tight now.

[AdrenoJunky]

I know its highly un-scientific, but I tighen by sound. Just give it a tap with the spoke wrench and listen. It should give a nice "DING!" ... if it makes a thump or a really low pitched "DONG" ... then it needs some tighening. Thats the way you do it out in the bush anyway. Just make sure the spoke isn't touching the other cross spoke when you tap it. If they are touching, press the other spoke away.

Thats exactly what I was gonna say - also, you'll know when theyre all torqued the same when they all emit the same tone when tapped. It really is pretty scientific, just like tuning a guitar or a piano - if they emit the same tone they have to have the same tension...

[06yz]

I think the threads are reversed when dealing with spokes. If you are tightening the spokes on the bottom you would turn the wrench clockwise. Start at the wheel lock nut and skip every 3 and just turn each one a 1/4 turn until all spokes are tight. You do this to keep the rim trued up.

get the bike in the air and move the tire so you are always adjusting the top spoke ?