To Lace or Not to Lace, or While We're Doing This...

[RDHenley]

Originally Posted by Tomcatt

You have spoke nipples that take an allen wrench? All the wheels I've done had spoke nipples that were threaded in that area (the rim strip end) and had a screwdriver slot. You can see that in the video you linked.

If they do take an allen wrench you certainly could count turns just like with a screwdriver.

I'd put up a picture but I haven't figured out how to get back into my photobucket account.

[bustert]

to each his own. the wrenches i got from them for the spokes were right on. the adjustable wrench will round off the flanks if you do not keep on top it it. the spoke wrench is wide to grab the majority of the nipple, thus less chance to bugger them up and when you buy some high $$$ units why take a chance, they were cheap.

[Tim The Grim]

When I was a school trained junior mechanic in an H-D shop in ‘74 I made 4.00/hr.
I took wheels home at night and sat with my woman listening to Hendrix and lacing and truing wheels on an old swingarm. Both HD and Bultaco.

I made $30 a wheel. No wheel ever took me more then 45 minutes once I got my “technique” going. It’s an art worth studying. Even today.

Just last month I re-rimmed my 7 yr. old great nephew’s BMX bike. He looks at me differently now. So do his pals.

[60Gunner]

Originally Posted by Tim The Grim

When I was a school trained junior mechanic in an H-D shop in ‘74 I made 4.00/hr.
I took wheels home at night and sat with my woman listening to Hendrix and lacing and truing wheels on an old swingarm. Both HD and Bultaco.

I made $30 a wheel. No wheel ever took me more then 45 minutes once I got my “technique” going. It’s an art worth studying. Even today.

Just last month I re-rimmed my 7 yr. old great nephew’s BMX bike. He looks at me differently now. So do his pals.

That's awesome. Too many people now days would just trash a kids bike and buy a new one if the wheels were messed up.

[bustert]

that square bore bull was an amazing machine on the dirt, swear if it had the right tires, would climb a vertical wall.

[Tim The Grim]

So, the Bultaco rims were by far the ones I replaced most often.
Putting a 16” rim on an XL hub with the proper offset was also a big money maker back then.

This stamped orange rim is only twisted. The other one like it was really bent up. The machined aluminum, double wall units were only $16 each on eBay from Hong Kong. Very nicely made.
I had to buy a 2mm x .045 die to lengthen the threads on the spokes but it all worked out great. He loves the bike and it’ll be ready for his little brother too.

[RDHenley]

The FSM the better half ordered on eBay came in the day I left the house, and the rim came in yesterday. She says both look to be in good condition, but I'm going to have to wait until my next home time before Christmas to see them myself.

I thought about taking the wheel apart before I left the house, but decided it would be better if I wait until all the pieces where there to do it.