Need Advice on Laced Wheels

[scottjohnson345]

I have a 2004 Electra Glide with laced wheels which has 1500 miles. When I hit the spokes with a screwdriver, there are a few which make a sound that tells me their tension is a lot less than the others and are loose.

1.) I am tempted to just tighten the loose ones till they make the same sound as the others but am afraid I will ruin the alignment of the rim.

2.) Also, maybe they all need to be tightened a little since a new bike. How do you make sure they are at the right tightness.

3.) What is a good lift to buy to remove the wheels.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Scott / Chicago

[MegaGlide]

Nonoohgoshno.
Truing a spoked wheel is as much art as science, and it is plenty of both.
New bike, have the dealer do it and make sure he has somebody who knows WTF he's doing.
Otherwise you'll have it looking like a bike on a cartoon w/ wobbly wheels going down the road before you know it.
OR, you could study up on how to DIY, but it's a steep learning curve and you need a dial indicator, etc. to accomplish it. Then how many times are you going to use this knowledge?
Don't ask me how I know...

[MegaGlide]

Originally Posted by scottjohnson345

I have a 2004 Electra Glide with laced wheels which has 1500 miles. When I hit the spokes with a screwdriver, there are a few which make a sound that tells me their tension is a lot less than the others and are loose.

1.) I am tempted to just tighten the loose ones till they make the same sound as the others but am afraid I will ruin the alignment of the rim.

2.) Also, maybe they all need to be tightened a little since a new bike. How do you make sure they are at the right tightness.

3.) What is a good lift to buy to remove the wheels.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Scott / Chicago

3) Craftsman.

[84FXRP]

Originally Posted by MegaGlide

..... Truing a spoked wheel is as much art as science, and it is plenty of both. New bike, have the dealer do it and make sure he has somebody who knows WTF he's doing. .....

Good advice - have a knowledgeable person at the dealer do it. Not that you couldn't learn to true the wheel, but the setup and equipment for something you don't do often doesn't make it cost effective.