Lets talk spoke tension

[TommyF]

My rear Reynolds carbon wheel's spokes "sing" to me every now and then on the power stroke of the pedal. Sounds like lose spokes, but a simple hand test of tension has me convinced they are all nice and tight. The wheel is 3 years old, never re-tensioned. This only happens every now and then, I could go 3 - 4 weeks with a quite wheel, then it sings, then it's quiet again. I've put lube on the nipples and where the spokes cross, that quiets them down instantly. So the question is, do you check spoke tension, if so how often and do you use a tension meter to set it? I'm tempted to bring it to my LBS for a quick once over, but also tempted to tweak it myself, possibly purchasing a tension meter. The wheel is perfectly true, was noisy on Sunday, washed the bike after Sundays ride and it's now quiet again without lubing. So what's your spoke maintenance routine?

 

[ebarker9]

I use the Park TM-1 to check spoke tension but definitely not on a regular basis. I think it's accurate enough for most applications, although the hardcore wheel building nerds would likely disagree. I've also experienced similar noises on my road bike, although I've never gone to any real lengths to troubleshoot since it's infrequent.

 

[JonF]

Checking and adjusting tension with a meter is fairly easy if you are mechanically inclined, but ideally you want to do that in a truing stand so you don't through it out of true. The cost of all that may be more than having the LBS just do it.

 

[TommyF]

Checking and adjusting tension with a meter is fairly easy if you are mechanically inclined, but ideally you want to do that in a truing stand so you don't through it out of true. The cost of all that may be more than having the LBS just do it.

Ahh the truing stand, didn't factor that in. I can use the bike and some zip ties as the truing stand but you do have a good point regarding costs.

 

[Bikeworks]

Checking and adjusting tension with a meter is fairly easy if you are mechanically inclined, but ideally you want to do that in a truing stand so you don't through it out of true. The cost of all that may be more than having the LBS just do it.

Yup, that's the rabbit hole I ended up in. I broke down and got everything, re-built my rear wheel, feel accomplished.

Also, tension is more important than true (relative to condition of spokes, nipples, and rim).

 

[Ironjunk]

I have never messed with spoke tension. As long as they seem pretty evenly tight and the wheel is true everything is ok with me.

 

[TommyF]

Just to update this a bit, I'm headed to the Lake George area on Thursday for 3 days of MTB. Just did a test ride this morning and the rear wheel is silent. Mind you, no lube was used, the only difference is the bike was washed on Sunday afternoon after the noisy ride. Do spokes like being clean?

 

[JonF]

Maybe temperature is a factor? I had a set that would ping in the warm summer months but not in the winter. I figured the tension changed when the spokes warmed and expanded so i retensioned them in the summer.

 

[MadisonDan]

Maybe temperature is a factor? I had a set that would ping in the warm summer months but not in the winter. I figured the tension changed when the spokes warmed and expanded so i retensioned them in the summer.

 

[Karate Monkey]

Do I? Yes. How often? When I suspect something is wrong

Really, though, I do not typically pull a tensiometer out after the initial build process, unless there is something bizarre going on...which usually indicates something like a cracked flange/rim.

How old/many miles are on the wheel? After time, the crosses 'polish' themselves, and can even wear grooves, given enough time. This is what is chirping/ticking, assuming no other problems. The remedy is replacement. You can lube intermittently, but the only way of getting rid of it permanently is younger spokes.