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Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!rna!rocky2!reintom
From: reintom@rocky2.UUCP (Tom Reingold)
Newsgroups: net.bicycle
Subject: Re: Advice Needed in Centering/Dishing Wheels...
Message-ID: <129@rocky2.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 25-Sep-85 22:51:44 EDT
Article-I.D.: rocky2.129
Posted: Wed Sep 25 22:51:44 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 1-Oct-85 10:25:28 EDT
References: <5490005@acf4.UUCP>
Organization: Rockefeller Univ., N.Y.C. 10021
Lines: 36

To test if your rim is centered between the locknuts of your
axle, just place your dishing tool against one locknut and
the side of the rim.  Tighten the set screw on the tool and then
put the tool on the other side of the wheel.  If the tool presses
against the rim and there is space between the tool and the
locknut, then you know that the wheel is built with too
*much* spoke tension on the side that you now have the tool
touching.  If the tool touches the locknut but cannot touch
both diametrically opposed points on the rim, then there is
too *little* spoke tension on that side.  This holds for
building front (symmetrical) wheels as well as for read
(asymmetrical) wheels.  You will find that five-speed rear
wheels need a little less than twice the tension on the
right as on the left and that six-speed rear wheels need
almost three times the tension on the right as on the left.

You could improvise a dishing tool with two stacks of books
on the floor.  It takes more patience and care that with the
real thing, but it works.  Place the wheel on two stacks of
books at diametrically opposite points on the rim.  Then
measure the distance between the locknut and the floor.
Flip the wheel and measure again.

Before you are ready to measure how centered your wheel
is, be sure that the rim is quite straight.  Otherwise,
the test is meaningless.

Whatever you use as a tool, the amount that the wheel is
off-center is half the discrepancy shown by the tool.

Good luck.

Tom Reingold
36 Ellwood St
New York, NY 10040
(212) 304-2504