My Take On Rebuilding Wheels

[55ColumbiaBuilt]

I just completed rebuilding the original wheels from my wife's Columbia, and I'd like to share my observations from a "first -time" perspective. I used the three-part youtube video series seen here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTb3x5VO69Y&feature=fvwrel

This was very informative and I wouldn't have done it without this tutorial, but there are a few things that got overlooked that you should know.

1.) Using this technique, your valve stem ends up between those spokes that cross closest to the rim, not the two running almost parallel....no biggie, but less desirable for sure.

2.) Assuming all of the spokes hit at the center of your rim, this tutorial is great, but if they are off-set like the older ones are, you might get into trouble...I did.

3.) "Over-Over-Under" might be the norm today, but in the days that my wheels were built, the last set of spokes all reside on the OUTSIDE of the pattern...that is, "over-over-over".

My best advice would be to have an old wheel, like the old rear wheel while you prep the front wheel handy. Use the old wheel as a reference along with this video series to maintain a "sanity check".

If you're thinking about relacing wheels...GO AHEAD! After all, it was only human beings like us that built the pyramids....how hard can it be?? Hey, if I can do it, it can't be that hard.

 

[Tailwinds]

Cool. I used the same video series to self-teach and made the same observations, especially in regard to the staggered left-right-left-right nipple holes. I just decided not to do the 1-2-3-skip a hole-spoke layout on the second set of 18 spokes and it worked out, the spoke length did not become a problem, still did 4-cross pattern front and rear.

Thinking seriously about doing a youtube video for cruiser wheels because there is not one out there.

 

[yoothgeye]

The more I see posts like this (more and more coming more frequently) the more I feel like attacking this. I've got a set of Araya 26" rims with busted spokes and seized hubs that I've love to save.

Thanks for the motivation.

 

[kram]

I used the same video a couple years ago and it was very helpful. There is still a bit of a learning curve but you catch on after you have done a couple.

yoothgeye- I say go for it and you will be surprised how easy it. Truing takes a little work but it is something that isn't worth paying somebody else to do.

 

[55ColumbiaBuilt]

......but it is something that isn't worth paying somebody else to do.

Boy isn't that the truth! And there's a huge measure of satisfaction when you can say "I Did It Myself"!

 

[Anonymous]

Congrats on the rim lacing.

It gets easier every time.

 

[55ColumbiaBuilt]

For a nifty spoke-length calculator, try this: http://www.prowheelbuilder.com/spokelengthcalculator/

WOW!! That's Slick!!

I just loaded all the measurements to the wheels I just finished (the rims are unknown, and "New Departure" hubs aren't on the pull-down menu) and hit "calculate". This program correctly identified 270mm spokes.

Thanks for this handy link.