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5 Ways to FIND THE RIGHT SPOKE LENGTHS for Wheel Building

Jim Langley 27,144 4 years ago
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To help you build the best bicycle wheels, here are 5 ways to get the right length spokes and my best tips and tools for measuring rims and hubs so you can use a spoke length calculator. #WheelTruing #JimLangley #BicycleAficionado #BicycleRepair Subscribe here: https://www.youtube.com/c/JimLangley1?sub_confirmation=1 ❤️ Thanks for Watching, Commenting and Subscribing! ❤️ TIP: If you need hub measurement, here's a database of wheel components https://www.kstoerz.com/freespoke/hubs?MfgId=4 ☼ Many thanks to my brother Matt Langley for composing and performing today’s music - reach Matt at mattlangley.com Timecodes 0:00 - Intro 0:35 - Get Right Length Spokes at a Bike Shop 0:58 - Measure the Spokes you Have 1:32 - Use a Spoke Calculator 2:48 - Use a Database-Driven Calculator 8:35 - Link to Straight Pull (Direct Pull) Spoke Calculator 9:14 - Why it’s Important to Get Spoke Length Right 9:23 - The Problem with Too-Short Spokes 11:37 - Homemade Spoke Length Checker Tool 12:57 - Measuring the Rim for ERD 17:00 - Measuring Hubs 17:15 - Hub Measurements to Take Diagram 18:02 - Measuring Axle Width 19:58 - Measuring Flange Diameter 21:00 - Finding the Center of the Hub 23:05 - Measuring Center to Flanges 24:06 - Checking your Measurement 24:46 - Measuring Locknut to Center of Flanges 26:12 - Measuring Hub with Height Gauge Tool 26:52 - Advantage of Going to a Bike Shop 27:45 - Brass versus Aluminum Nipples 28:41 - Better to Have Too-Long Spokes 29:04 - Closing Comments My other wheel-building related videos ● How To Build Bicycle Wheels the Easy Way https://youtu.be/XUqul03hbZ8 ● Basic bicycle wheel terminology explained: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4kVlmOjgdAs ● Pro-tip: how to align hub labels with the valve: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FiyUyJN7Uw ● How to keep spokes tight https://youtu.be/z4FKL95x6DE ● How to build wheels faster with a driver bit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaBvpCuXigQ ● Shimano's lacing pattern for disc brake bike wheels: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfWd7_avr1s ● How to inspect a pair of new wheels: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wb73si7WD-k ☼Links to mentions in this video ● Working with straight-pull (direct-pull) spokes & hubs https://spokecalc.io/measuring-a-straight-pull-hub.html ● Wheel Fanatyk hub gauge https://www.wheelfanatyk.com/store/height-gauge-with-hub-stand/ ● Wheel Fanatyk spoke rule https://www.wheelfanatyk.com/store/pi-spoke-ruler/ ☼ The wheel building tools I show, use and mention in my videos. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases (there's no added cost to you). ► Wheelsmith SpokePrep https://amzn.to/2NMA7GV ► Unior Spoke Holder (anti-turn) Pliers https://amzn.to/3b6lIhH ► Efficient Velo Tool's Mulfinger nipple holder https://amzn.to/3exQqz7 ► Park Tool's Nipple Driver https://amzn.to/2L2z9VI ► Park Tool's TS-2.2 Truing Stand https://amzn.to/2AoOhqt ► Park Tool's Tilting Base for the TS-2.2 Truing Stand https://amzn.to/3ozWf3O ► Park Tool's 3.2mm Square Socket Internal Nipple Spoke Wrench (Driver) https://amzn.to/31IJlpm ► Park Tool's Four-Sided Spoke Wrench Black 0.127in https://amzn.to/34QSAFU ► Park Tool's Portable Dishing Gauge https://amzn.to/2Aid4Nd ► Park Tool's Spoke Tension Meter https://amzn.to/36mEn6d ► Park Tool's Aero Spoke Holder (anti-twist tool) https://amzn.to/2KYlDlP ► For hubs, rims & spokes, I use https://wheelbuilder.com ☼ Read my free weekly Jim's Tech Talk column: ● https://www.roadbikerider.com/author/jim-langley-2/ ☼ My bicycle wheelbuilding articles that complement this video: ● https://jimlangley.net/wrench/wheelbuildfull.html ● https://jimlangley.net/wrench/buildwheel.html ☼ My Elephant Tough Custom Wheels & Jim Langley Bicycle Aficionado logo T's, caps, mugs, pint glasses and stickers: ● https://www.cafepress.com/jimlangleysshop ☼ My famous Bicycle Aficionado website - online since 1999! ● http://www.jimlangley.net ☼ My Bicycle Beat blog ● http://jimlangley.blogspot.com/ Questions? Leave a comment and I'll reply. Thanks for watching!

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