[Dajianshan]

My wheel that is.

The story is... I just completed a build with my LBS a couple weeks ago and very quickly... with the help from some sharp eyes from RBR found the wheel builder had improperly laced my rims radially rather than 3 cross, against the instructions of the hub manufacturer. Luckily, I hadn't had a chance to ride beyond a tester or two and promptly had the wheels rebuilt 3 cross.

A week later, after about 50 miles of riding... the front wheel started to "creak". I immediately checked the spoke tension and found several of the spokes were really loose and all were somewhat loose . One spoke I could tighten by hand. The wheel was visually not true (drifting laterally).

The rear wheel was fine...

I have discs on front and rear and do most of my braking on the front. My concern is that the tension from the disc is causing the front spokes to come loose. Or... the mistake before has caused some kind of damage to the rim...gulp..or hubs. Is this just a case of new wheels "settling"? Poor workmanship? Poor combination of components? Damage? My builder sent them back to the wheel builder AGAIN...but maybe you all could lend a hand.

I'm running (new style) DT RR1.1 rims
Chris King ISO Disc Hubs
DT Spokes with Brass Nipples (x32)
Continental GP 4000 Tires
Shimano BR 505-R Disc Brakes w/ 160mm Rotors.


Thanks in advance!

 

[Mike T.]

I remember this story of the original wheels - radially spoked for disc brakes!! - from the cyclo-cross forum.

The person who built the wheels is a moron. He's not a wheelbuilder; he just happens to own a spoke wrench. Don't return them to him as he doesn't have a clue.

After the radial wheels were re-built 3x the person with the spoke wrench (who posed as a wheelbuiler) didn't stress-relieve the wheels and remove spoke windup. It's very possible that there wasn't enough spoke tension too.

You can fix the wheels yourself and after you finish reading the wheelbuilding info in my signature you will know MUCH more than 'He who owns the Spoke Wrench'. I guess I shouldn't assume that he has a spoke wrench.

You will see inside my info a link to Roger Musson's wheelbuilding e-book. That's the finest source of wheelbuilding info (in my opinion, as own all the books) on the planet. The book is written especially for home wheelbuilders.

I would suggest that you loosen all the spokes and re-tension the wheels properly.

Edit - I see that you mention "settling". If a wheel is built properly, with enough tension, stressed and spoke windup removed, then the wheels will be "settled" in the workshop and will never need re-truing after riding.

 

[Dajianshan]

Actually.. I come to find... it's a wheel factory...and I'm gonna find out where it is and see who these guys are. I'm picking up my wheels tomorrow to do it myself. I was able to do enough with a spoke tool to get home safely. I needs to tear everything out of my spare bedroom and make a work space for more DIY repairs.

Thanks Mike T

 

[Mike T.]

Actually.. I come to find... it's a wheel factory...

That's scary!