Which way do you tighten bike spokes?

Note that the spokes have nut-like devices at the rim called nipples. When viewed from above, nipples are turned clockwise with the spoke wrench to tighten spoke tension and counterclockwise to loosen it. To ensure that you turn the nipple the correct way, always rotate the wheel to bring the nipple to the top first.

How tight should you tighten spokes?

Put your thumb around one spoke and your fingers around the spoke next to it and squeeze. The spokes should feel tight and firm. They should have just a little give when you squeeze them fairly hard.

Are spokes reverse thread?

Spoke nipples aren’t reverse threaded, but when you’re turning them, it seems that way because you’re turning them from the bottom, not the top like you would a regular nut or bolt. With the spoke pointing at you, it’s lefty-loosey righty-tighty.

Why do spokes come loose?

Spokes twist when the nipple is tightened, which may result in a spoke that looses tension very quickly while riding, putting the wheel back out of true. Spoke prep helps get the nipple up to tension with reduced twisting of the spoke.

Why do my spokes keep coming loose?

If you tighten a spoke nut too much, tension pulls that portion of the wheel rim toward the hub, loosening spokes on the opposite side of the wheel. If you don’t tighten the nut enough, the tension from the opposite spokes remains greater — and the spoke nut loosens again as the novice continues to ride.

Are my spokes too loose?

The spokes on a road bike should feel tight and firm. The spokes need to give a little when you give them a hard squeeze. But they should give. If they are not moving at all, they are too tight.

How do you tighten spokes without tools?

You can use an unbutchered screwdriver if the spokes do not go all the way through the nipple. If they do, then a screwdriver with a slot cut into it can work. This method works when the spokes are rounded out. But its much better to spend a few bucks on a spoke wrench that fits.

Should all spokes be same tension?

Spoke tension is important to ensure your wheels are strong, reliable and long lasting. Spokes that are too tight will cause damage to the rim, spoke nipples and hub flanges. All of the spokes in the wheel should have approximately the same average tension.

How do you know if your spokes are loose?

If your spokes are so loose they rattle, they’re providing virtually no strength to the wheel structure. It’s no better than if that spoke were missing or broken. It’s a big indicator that your bike wheels need truing.

Are loose spokes bad?

Never ride with a loose spoke. The friction created will cause the rider to burst into flames and may even cause the Earth to slip off it’s axis.

Which way to turn to tighten spokes?

Turn the spoke counter-clockwise while looking at the inside rim to tighten the spoke. Turn clockwise to loosen the spoke. This is the opposite direction of standard nuts or bolts, which use a clockwise direction for tightening.

Does tightening spokes make a rim go straight?

The goal is to have a rim that is not only straight, without wobbles from left to right as it turns, but also perfectly round and no flat spots like an oval. When the rim is properly aligned by spokes tightened to the correct tension, people say the wheel is in true .

Can You overtighten bike spokes?

You could easily overtighten the spoke and pull the rim out of round by using the tap and ring method. Using the correct setting for your wheel on a torque wrench will prevent over-tightening damage. Keep in mind that adjusting spokes is not the same as truing a wheel.