Truing Wire Wheels

[Gene Gillam]

Can wire wheels be trued while the tires are mounted or must the tires be removed? Thanks, Gene Gillam Saucier, MS 1949 TC 7872

[Chip Old]

On Sun, 14 Oct 2001, Gene Gillam wrote:

> Can wire wheels be trued while the tires are mounted or must the tires > be removed?

Possible, but not usually a good idea. When you tighten a spoke the end inside the wheel rim will protrude past the top of its adjusting nipple, and can puncture the innertube. After a wheel is trued the spokes should be filed down flush with the top of their nipples, and you can't do that with the tire mounted. Also, to do a good job you need to use a dial indicator. The outside of the rim is likely to be dinged up, so it's best to have the indicator tip bear asgainst the inside of the rim. That of course requires that the tire be off. -- Chip Old 1948 M.G. TC TC6710 XPAG7430 NEMGTR #2271 Cub Hill, Maryland 1962 Triumph TR4 CT3154LO CT3479E fold@bcpl.net

[Fred Renner]

Dear Group Any helpful hints on how to true 19 'wheels would be appreciated. I'd like to do it myself without removing the new Dunlops which are balanced. If there is a ready reference someone has already written, directions to that would be fine. In advance, thanks. Fred Renner tc4790 Fred Renner onefhr@earthlink.net Why Wait? Move to EarthLink. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Jim Burton]

--- In mg-tabc@yahoogroups.com, "Fred Renner" wrote:

>Hi Fred!-

I've trued hundreds of bicycle and motorcycle wheels, the basic idea is you need someway to spin the wheel in some kind of a stand, to adjust the wheel to true. You can buy thwe truing stands for bicycles and motorcycles, a TC would need some kind of hub adaper (the whell has to spin very true (to the hub) on the stand, else your kidding yourself). The basic idea is to have some kind of a "feeler" on the stand tht makes contact with the high-spots of the untrue wheel, then adjust the spoke so it doesn't rub. You should adjust both up and down and sideways, the up and down will probably require removing the tires, but you could mark them and put 'em back in the same spot. Unless you can borrow a truing stand from somebody, it might be easier to have this done by a shop. Truing the whell itself and getting roughly equal a(and correct) tension on the spokes is also somewhat of an art. ********************************88

> Dear Group > Any helpful hints on how to true 19 'wheels would be appreciated.

I'd like to do it myself without removing the new Dunlops which are balanced. If there is a ready reference someone has already written, directions to that would be fine. In advance, thanks.

> Fred Renner > tc4790 > > > Fred Renner > onefhr@... > Why Wait? Move to EarthLink. > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >

[Chip Hellie]

Hi Fred, You can use the car as a truing stand. Back off the brake shoe adjustment on your best turning front wheel. Then use something for your guide. Best to use something solid and not prone to wiggling. You could get as cheezy as using a wood crate and lay it beside the wheel and stick a nail in the side for your up and down. Pretty bad not taking off the tire but you should get it close enough that the steering wheel won't pop out of your hads at 30MPH. Your biggist problem will be tightening or loosening the spokes as they're probably not going to want to turn. Get a spoke wrench at the very least and expect rounded off nipples. It's not rocket science, just take your time and Good luck! Chip Hellie --- Fred Renner onefhr@earthlink.net> wrote:

> Dear Group > Any helpful hints on how to true 19 'wheels would > be appreciated. I'd like to do it myself without > removing the new Dunlops which are balanced. If > there is a ready reference someone has already > written, directions to that would be fine. In > advance, thanks. > Fred Renner > tc4790 > > > Fred Renner > onefhr@earthlink.net > Why Wait? Move to EarthLink. > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > removed] > >

____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ

[Rick Waters]

To second Chip's advice, I found it was a better idea to just cut out the old spokes and relace with new ones. I got my spokes at Abingdon Spares, but some folks have butted spokes made. These are thicker at the ends, and help to eliminate breakage. Once the wheel is relaced, you can set an anvil or a large vice near the spindle, and put a piece of an old spoke into the vice to use as a guide. I found it best to use the inside surfaces of the wheel rims (the bead seat area). Use the short spokes to make the wheel round (radially true), then the longer spokes to get the wheel true laterally. Pay attention to the offset, trying to get it close to a known good wheel. The final step is to get the spokes tensioned, while not losing the truth of the wheel. I used some anti sieze compound on the nipples in an effort to keep them from locking up. Once it's all done, it's very satisfying to spin the wheels and see the results. -Rick, TC 7881 Chip Hellie wrote:

> > Hi Fred, > You can use the car as a truing stand. Back off the > brake shoe adjustment on your best turning front > wheel. Then use something for your guide. Best to use > something solid and not prone to wiggling. You could > get as cheezy as using a wood crate and lay it beside > the wheel and stick a nail in the side for your up and > down. > > Pretty bad not taking off the tire but you should get > it close enough that the steering wheel won't pop out > of your hads at 30MPH. > > Your biggist problem will be tightening or loosening > the spokes as they're probably not going to want to > turn. > > Get a spoke wrench at the very least and expect > rounded off nipples. It's not rocket science, just > take your time and Good luck! > Chip Hellie > > --- Fred Renner onefhr@earthlink.net > > wrote: > > > Dear Group > > Any helpful hints on how to true 19 'wheels would > > be appreciated. I'd like to do it myself without > > removing the new Dunlops which are balanced. If > > there is a ready reference someone has already > > written, directions to that would be fine. In > > advance, thanks. > > Fred Renner > > tc4790 > > > > > > Fred Renner > > onefhr@earthlink.net > > Why Wait? Move to EarthLink. > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been > > removed] > > > > > > __________________________________________________________ > Be a better friend, newshound, and > know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. > http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ > http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ> > >

[Frank O_ The Mountain]

In a message dated 5/6/2008 11:26:46 AM Pacific Standard Time, rwmgtc@shaw.ca writes:

> Any helpful hints on how to true 19 'wheels would > > > be appreciated. I'd like to do it myself without > > > removing the new Dunlops which are balanced. If > > > there is a ready reference someone has already > > > written, directions to that would be fine. In > > > advance, thanks. >

Seems like I remember that one of our members posted details on how to do this either on the web site or in the special files complete with pictures etc. Terry in Oakland ************** Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family favorites at AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[D & J Edgar]

> Seems like I remember that one of our members posted details on how to do > this either on the web site or in the special files complete with pictures > etc.

Right you are Terry. Terry Horlick posted it on our TABC web site Technology section. http://mg-tabc.org/techn-up/wires.htm Does involve taking the tire off as it is a compete respoke job and not just a simple truing as all Fred probably wants to do. David Edgar, TC 5108 El Cajon, California

[Frank O_ The Mountain]

In a message dated 5/6/2008 12:23:49 PM Pacific Standard Time, djedgar@pacbell.net writes:

> Does involve taking the tire off as it is a compete respoke job and not just > a simple truing as all Fred probably wants to do. >

In my experience, Fred will probably end up doing a complete respoke job too!! so the article should be useful. If the group members had more MGs, they would not have time to respoke wheels and would take matters like that to a pro!!! Terry in Oakland 1934 MG NA Fourseater 1937 MG SA Tickford 1938 MG TA Roadster Special 1947 MG TC 1953 MG TD Arnolt coupe 1955 MG TF 1500 ************** Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family favorites at AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Sally Carroll]

>>>>Unless you can borrow a truing stand from somebody, it might be

easier to have this done by a shop Aye there's the rub. . Even knowing that cycle shops of all kinds have the skills. . they are busy enough to not want the bother of a special hub setup . .I know cause I tried . .finally got a friend who also has a TC to do it for me . .but never have gotten balance performed. A special cone/hub adapter being planned for marketing and promised to me didn't materialize. Sally Carroll, Russell Ohio TC 6466 TF 7227 YB 0610 MGA 70355 MGBGT 246221 FOR SALE Morris Pickup 80622 needs front pipe [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]