Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-25
TO TRUE A w HEEL

One of the common failings of the wheels
of a bicycle Is the propensity to get "out
Of true" it is termed. This is an ex-
preston that is probably familiar with
most bicycle riders. There Is no trouble
in telling when the wheel is running out
of true. 4 simple squint of the eye will
generally tell that. To remedy the difficult
ty Is more serious matter with ajor-
ity Of riders, who invariably turn the BIZ
cycle into some repair shop to have the
evil corrected. If they could but see in a
great many instances the workers VINO re-
pair the wheel they would make a gallant
attempt on their own accord to true the
wheels. In most cases this is the work of
the apprentice in. the repair shop, most
frequently a youth who knows very little
about bicycles. but who is given orders how
tc proceed, and he does the work.
When a wheel is sent from the factory 1t
is supposed to run perfectly straight. All
OF the spokes have been frightened to a GER
tain tension, and this keeps the rim revolv-
ing In one straight line. After the bicycle
has been put to use for some time the ten
sion on the spokes becomes reduced in
some instances. The exposure to different
KINDS OF weather may cause contraction or
expansion, or the threads at the nipple NAV
work loose only to the slightest degree, yet
be sufficient to throw the circumference of
the wheel out of alignment. The wheels at
hrst pass through the forks in a slightly
Wobbllng way, and unless corrected the
webbing will increase to more noticeable
degree. When wheel is much out of true
~ mas tendency to make the rider feel as
though he is constantly slipping. If no at
tention Is given to- the wheel the defect will
increase, and eventually it will collapse, ali
the weight being distributed on one or two
spokes. instead of being divided as near
equally as possible on all of the spokes of
the wheel.
The front wheel is more apt to get out of
true than. the back wheel, for the simple
reason that it has less number of smokes
IN 1t. The back wheel is supposed to hear
the bulk of the weight of the rider. and
consequently it is built more strong in this
respect. stun, 1t does rot necessarily fol-
low that the front wheel will get out of
alignment before the back wheel. The
writer has personally known of MANY in
stances where the back wheel was troubled
in this respect while the front wheel uouId
run perfectly straight
Before describing the operation of get
ting the wheel in true word might be
said in regard to the tires. Frequently
. ,i may be defect in the tire. or the
tire may not be placed on the rim straight
This Will give the wheel Wobblinp an
pearance when revolved, and vet the rims
will run perfectly straight. A sure way
Oh ascerlainlnS II the wheel is running true
Is to- take a match stem, hold il firmly in
the fingers and brace the hand against the
forks OF the frame. Shove the match In
until 1t touches the rim, then give the
wneel, a start. II the wheel is running
straight the match will touch every nor.
ton of the rim. If. on the other hand the
Wheel is out OF true the match will ONLY
touch certain portions of the rim It is
wen TO try this scheme several times with
the wheel, as 1t may happen that the point
OF the rim touched in the first attempt NAV
be that portion which buIges ont the
farthest o. takes the deepest inshoot. By
TINS means y can not only be ascertained
If the wheel Is running out of true but
also how much. In doing this the best idea
Is to Turn the wheel upside down letting
the machine rest or the saddle and handle
bars.
If satisfied that the wheel il ont IF +r,,.
use a piece of chalk and revolve the wheel
the same as before. :. The chalk win make
mark on the rim, instead of merely
scratching it rs did the match, and this
will be a guide for tbe cyclists in ATTEMPT
ing to true the circumference He need
only touch the spokes where the wheel is
webbing, making ii unnecessary to fool
with every spoke. The more spokes that
are touched the harder will be the Job. as
the trueing process issa rather delicate and
tedious opel alton. The slightest turn IL
suncient to give the required result. and
apt to throw the rim just the opposite d.
rection, and make 1t run wrong on the other
side. This will leave the wheel as bad as
1t was before. A little practice, however.
Is an tnat Is Ireauifed, and the operation
The only tool needed for the work 20
nipple wrench which is also termed a
spoke wrench The1thread of the spoke is
ON the end nearest the RIM and II is held
In place by a small nipple which runs
through the rim, and holds on the inside.
being hidden from view by the tire n IS
not necessary to take the tire off in doing
the work That part Of the nipple project.
ing outside OF the rim has squared sur
face upon which the nipple wrench will
take hold. With the chalk marks as .
guide begin work. Where the rim comes
too much to the right, loosen the nipples
OF the spokes that come on the right side
or the hub at the point, and tighten the
nipples Of those spokes which run from
the left hub at the same point of the un
evenness. This rule holds good in all true-a
Ing. II the rim bends too much on one
side loosen the spokes on that side and
tighten up those on the other side. The
nipple revolyes easily, though sometimes
the thread OF the spoke may have become
rusty. and little oil applied at the point
will remedy the difficulty. II this does
not tie tire can be removed at this point