Spoke torque setting

I have a 1974 R90s that I installed stainless spokes in many, many years ago. Today they look basically like new.

I have a spoke torque wrench but cannot find what the value is.

I'm bored and figured I would put my tool to use in checking that all spokes are within spec.

Thank You,

RPG

A couple of things on Snowbum's site...but it seems to come down to it's "optional" or until it's uniform...so I don't know what the actual value is:

https://bmwmotorcycletech.info/section2A.htm

https://bmwmotorcycletech.info/lacing-truing-spoked-wheels.pdf

Spokes

20774 said:

A couple of things on Snowbum's site...but it seems to come down to it's "optional" or until it's uniform...so I don't know what the actual value is:

https://bmwmotorcycletech.info/section2A.htm

https://bmwmotorcycletech.info/lacing-truing-spoked-wheels.pdf

Click to expand...

Very good information and much appreciated. Out of the 80 total spokes on my R90s, five were just slightly loose. I went with 60 in. lbs. to tighten the loose ones and all the others were at least at 60 in. lbs. Probably good for another 30 years.

I think in the old days, we used to tap on the spokes with a small metal rod and matched the “tone”.
OM

I may be getting a bit off topic, since I cannot offer any torque value, and my experience with truing spoked wheels was decades ago. But...

Can you really tension used spokes properly with a torque wrench?

I've trued up some bicycle wheels and tightened spokes on a number of motorcycle wheels, tapping the spokes to get a more or less equal tone. In every case, some nipples turned easily, some were harder, some were near impossible, regardless of tension, because there were different amounts of dirt and corrosion on the threads. I don't see how a torque wrench can give good results without threads in like-new condition, which would require removal and cleaning of every spoke, nipple and nipple seat.

lkraus said:

I may be getting a bit off topic, since I cannot offer any torque value, and my experience with truing spoked wheels was decades ago. But...

Can you really tension used spokes properly with a torque wrench?

I've trued up some bicycle wheels and tightened spokes on a number of motorcycle wheels, tapping the spokes to get a more or less equal tone. In every case, some nipples turned easily, some were harder, some were near impossible, regardless of tension, because there were different amounts of dirt and corrosion on the threads. I don't see how a torque wrench can give good results without threads in like-new condition, which would require removal and cleaning of every spoke, nipple and nipple seat.

Click to expand...

Even with this, there is a possibility that the rim is not "perfect". This would require some spokes to be tighter than others to bring the rim into alignment. If that theory is true then listening to the tone of the spokes is not going to tell you anything.

Hhu?

There is a saying I tell myself when I'm in my garage and bored; "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." I can't and won't tell you the number of times I have been bored and found myself "improving", "fixing" something only to have things go from good to bad in a hurry.

At that point, when it has gone from good to bad, I can tell you I am no longer bored but at the same time I am not happy either.

Better solution to tweaking your spokes, would be to go for a ride. Sorry, I can't give advice on spokes, I have also found in the past I don't true or do enough spoke work to consider myself competent to mess with them. I have a shop who has that skill. I drink coffee and solve the world's problems while in my case, the work gets done properly.

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying you don't know what you are doing. I am just offering alternatives. Cheery bye, St.