Spoke wrench

China Product


Overview

Spoke nipples are typically T-shaped in cross section, with an internal thread running part of the way through the hole that runs along the spoke nipple's principal axis. A spoke nipple rests in a hole drilled radially through the wheel's rim, and the nipple is threaded onto the external thread of a spoke. The spoke itself is fixed, at its other end, through a hole in the hub. The spoke and nipple are functionally equivalent to a bolt and a nut. However, unlike a typical nut-and-bolt pair, a spoke and nipple do not join two parts (the rim and the hub) so much as bridge them, under tension.

The area of the nipple around which the spoke wrench, or key, is fitted in use is square in cross-section. Spoke keys may be 3- or 4-sided; the latter type has a small cutout to enable it to be fitted over a spoke, after which it may be slid along to engage all four flats of the nipple. It is less likely to round off the nipple than the 3-sided type, but is slower to use. creative asio

Sizes install heatsink

Common sizes of spoke nipples (flat-to-flat) include: buy isight

0.127" (3.23 mm) (DT/Wheelsmith nipples)

0.130" (3.30 mm) (most European)

0.136" (3.45 mm) (most Asian)

These values for size do not indicate the interior diameter, which is critical for fitting to the spokes.

Use

A spoke wrench is used in the creation, maintenance, or repair of hand-built or machine-built spoked wheels. The goal in such activity is to bring the wheel (nearer) to a state of true - namely, a wheel in which the rim is: a perfect circle concentric with the axis of the axle in the hub; and, planar, such that the plane of the rim is centered laterally between the two extremes of the axle where it is supported in a frame.

By increasing or decreasing the tension of individual spokes, or groups of spokes, around the circumference, a wheelsmith can correct for local deviations from true - e.g. wobbles, or hops.

References

Brandt, Jobst; The Bicycle Wheel

The Wikibook Bicycles has a page on the topic of

Truing a bicycle wheel

Categories: Wrenches | Bicycle tools