A wheel truing stand is a specialized

tool A tool is an object that can extend an individual's ability to modify features of the surrounding environment or help them accomplish a particular task. Although many animals use simple tools, only human beings, whose use of stone tools dates ba ...

for "truing" (straightening)

bicycle wheel A bicycle wheel is a wheel, most commonly a wire wheel, designed for a bicycle. A pair is often called a wheelset, especially in the context of ready built "off the shelf" performance-oriented wheels. Bicycle wheels are typically designed ...

s. Individual models differ slightly, but all consist of an axle stand on which the wheel can rotate and

calipers A caliper (British spelling also calliper, or in plurale tantum sense a pair of calipers) is a device used to measure the dimensions of an object. Many types of calipers permit reading out a measurement on a ruled scale, a dial, or a digital dis ...

, to measure slight deviations of the wheel's rim from ideal alignment. Proper wheel alignment includes lateral, radial and dish/centering trues which keep the wheel straight and strong. The stand is used in conjunction with an appropriately sized

spoke wrench A spoke wrench or spoke key is a small wrench or tool used to adjust the tension in the spokes of a tension-spoked wheel. A spoke wrench is sometimes called a nipple wrench, as it is the spoke nipple – not the spoke – that is turned in the pr ...

to loosen or tighten the

spoke A spoke is one of some number of rods radiating from the center of a wheel (the hub where the axle connects), connecting the hub with the round traction surface. The term originally referred to portions of a log that had been riven (split l ...

s that connect the wheel's hub to the rim.

Types of Wheel Trues

All types of wheel trues are necessary when keeping a wheel strong. Proper spoke tensions will help a wheel snap back to true if under specific load. *Lateral: Measures the rim horizontally in order to keep the rim straight. * Radial: Measures the rims diameter to keep the wheel circular (also known as eliminating hops). * Dish/Centering: Centers the rim above the hub; dish tool is used to measure centering. All wheels are measured by KGF or Kilogram - force. For rear wheel truing the rear wheel is going to have tighter spoke on the drive side while when truing front wheels the brake side spokes are going to be tighter than the drive side spokes.

Wheel Truing Tools

Along with the wheel truing stand there are other tools that are involved in straightening bicycle wheels. Some of these tools are listed below. * Spoke Tension Meter: Used to measure the tension of different sized spokes. (Outboard spokes must be turned to the left to tighten and right to loosen) * Dish Tool: Used to measure the centering of the rim to the hub. *

Spoke wrench A spoke wrench or spoke key is a small wrench or tool used to adjust the tension in the spokes of a tension-spoked wheel. A spoke wrench is sometimes called a nipple wrench, as it is the spoke nipple – not the spoke – that is turned in the pr ...

: Used to turn

Spoke nipple A spoke nipple holds a bicycle wheel's rim to each spoke. The spoke nipple is a headed cylinder with threading on the inside through part of its length (there is an unthreaded lead-in nearest the "flats"). Traditionally, the nipples fit in hol ...

s in order to loosen or tighten spokes. * Truing Stand Extensions: Clamps onto

Park Tool Park Tool Company is an American designer, manufacturer and marketer of bicycle tools and equipment for both professional and home bicycle mechanics. It manufactures about 4000 products that range from wheel truing stands to hex wrenches. Hist ...

s truing stands which expands the range of wheel sizes.

Home Made Truing Stands

These truing stands include the ingenuity of many different kinds of materials to achieve the same quality as one found in a shop. These materials include wood, old wheel forks, and even some with metal rails. Although these are a cheap solution to keeping your wheel straight, they are not as precise as one from a well-known bike tool company. See references for more information.

Industry Truing Stands

High-quality truing stands are necessary for the professional industry. High-quality truing stands allow the user for fast and easy accessibility when truing a wheel. Professional truing stands enable the tools to be used more accurately when measuring all types of truing methods. Not only do professional truing stands accommodate accuracy, but they can also hold a wide variety of wheel sizes ranging from 12" wheels to 29" wheels.

References

External links