Truing your Stan’s NoTubes Crest CB7 [paid link] wheels is a fundamental aspect of road bike maintenance. This process ensures your wheels are straight, balanced, and performing optimally. Whether you’re dealing with slight imperfections from wear and tear or more significant issues caused by impacts, this guide will take you through the steps to restore your wheels to their original condition.
Tools Required
- 4mm and 5mm Allen wrenches [paid link]
- Spoke wrench (appropriate for your spoke nipples)
- Truing stand (optional but recommended)
- Ruler or feeler gauge
- Tire levers (if removing the tire)
- Lubricant (optional for spoke threads)
Understanding Wheel Truing
Before beginning the truing process, it’s essential to understand the importance of this task. Truing involves adjusting the tension of the spokes to ensure the wheel spins in a perfect circle without wobbling. An out-of-true wheel can affect your bike’s handling and overall performance, especially at high speeds.
Preparing the Wheel
Before you start adjusting spokes, ensure your wheel is clean and free of any debris. If your wheel has a tire installed, it’s advisable to remove it for better access to the spokes. Using tire levers, remove the tire and set it aside in a clean space. Inspect the wheel for any damage, such as cracks in the rim, broken spokes, or bent hubs. If any parts are damaged beyond repair, consider replacing them before continuing with the truing process.
Mounting the Wheel on a Truing Stand
While not absolutely necessary, using a truing stand makes the process much easier. A truing stand allows you to spin the wheel freely and provides a reference point for alignment. If you don’t have a truing stand, you can use your bike frame as an alternative by attaching the wheel to the frame and spinning it. However, a truing stand provides more precision.
- Place the wheel securely in the truing stand.
- Tighten the quick release or axle nuts to keep the wheel stable.
- Spin the wheel slowly to check for any side-to-side (lateral) or up-and-down (radial) wobbling.
Identifying Issues in the Wheel
Once the wheel is mounted, carefully observe the wheel’s rotation. Look for any side-to-side motion (lateral misalignment) or up-and-down movement (radial misalignment). These are the two main types of misalignment that you’ll address when truing the wheel.
Lateral Misalignment
Lateral misalignment occurs when the rim wobbles from side to side, which can lead to braking issues or poor handling. This is typically caused by uneven spoke tension or a bent rim.
Radial Misalignment
Radial misalignment is when the rim has a high or low spot in its rotation, causing it to be out of round. This is usually the result of a dent in the rim or uneven spoke tension.
Truing the Wheel
Adjusting for Lateral Misalignment
To adjust lateral misalignment, you need to tighten or loosen the spokes on the affected side. Here’s how to do it:
- Locate the area of lateral misalignment: Spin the wheel and identify the spot where the rim moves side to side.
- Tighten or loosen spokes: If the wheel pulls towards the left, tighten the spokes on the right side of the wheel. If the wheel pulls towards the right, tighten the spokes on the left side.
- Make small adjustments: Turn each spoke nipple in small increments (about a quarter-turn at a time). Over-tightening one spoke can cause the wheel to become even more out of true, so proceed slowly and check frequently.
- Re-check wheel alignment: After each adjustment, spin the wheel again to see if the lateral wobble has been reduced or eliminated. If there’s still movement, make further adjustments as necessary.
Adjusting for Radial Misalignment
For radial misalignment, the process involves adjusting the spokes that are too tight or too loose. Here’s how:
- Identify high or low spots: Spin the wheel and mark any high or low areas in the rim. You can use a ruler or feeler gauge to measure how far the rim deviates from the centerline.
- Adjust the tension of the spokes: For high spots, slightly loosen the spokes that are pulling the rim too tight. For low spots, tighten the spokes on the opposite side.
- Fine-tune the adjustments: As with lateral misalignment, make small changes and check frequently to avoid over-tightening any spokes.
Checking and Fine-Tuning the Tension
Once you’ve made the initial adjustments to both lateral and radial alignment, it’s time to check the overall spoke tension. Proper spoke tension is crucial to maintaining a true wheel and ensuring durability.
- Check spoke tension: You can use a spoke tension meter to measure the tension of each spoke. Ideally, the tension should be even across all spokes.
- Adjust tension evenly: If you notice any spokes with much higher or lower tension, adjust them accordingly to achieve uniform tension throughout the wheel.
Reinstalling the Tire and Final Checks
After truing the wheel, it’s time to reinstall the tire. Before doing so, ensure that the wheel is spinning smoothly and freely. Reinstall the tire using tire levers, and inflate it to the recommended pressure. Spin the wheel once more to verify that the rim is perfectly true.
Check for any rubbing or issues while the wheel is rotating. If everything looks good, reinstall the wheel on your bike and perform a test ride to make sure the wheel is functioning as expected.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
While truing your Crest CB7 [paid link] wheel, you may encounter the following issues:
- Persistent wobbles after truing: This may be due to overly tight spokes or a damaged rim. Check spoke tension and ensure the rim is not cracked or dented.
- Inconsistent spoke tension: Use a spoke tension meter to measure and adjust each spoke to the correct tension. Uneven tension can lead to an out-of-true wheel.
- Wheel becoming untrue quickly: This can indicate that spokes are loosening or that the rim is damaged. Inspect the wheel for broken spokes or damage and replace any faulty parts.
Conclusion
Truing your Stan’s NoTubes Crest CB7 wheels is a manageable and rewarding task for any cyclist. With the proper tools and a little patience, you can restore your wheels to optimal performance. By following this guide and making careful adjustments, you ensure that your Crest CB7 wheels remain true, stable, and reliable for your road biking adventures.