Whoa , good one Chuck ! I never thought about loose races in the hub shell changing the "true" .
I know all of the "old hands" know all about this one , but some folks don't .
It is VERY possible to put a spoke wrench onto a nipple , and turn it , without actually doing what you think you're doing .
You think the nipple is turning on its threads , against the threaded end of the spoke .
But really the nipple threads and the spoke threads are stuck together . The entire spoke is just getting a tiny bit shorter because you're twisting the whole spoke . And that nipple is NOT turning on those spoke threads .
When you take it out for a ride , the spoke un-twists , and the wheel is right back to being as untrue as it was when you began .
The cure is to hold the very end of the spoke , with a pair of pliers . Hold the end of the spoke motionless , while twisting the nipple with the nipple wrench .
If you leave ANY kind of a mark on the spokes , from using the pliers , you have made the spokes much weaker , by creating "stress-risers" . . .
Raoul Delmare
Marysville Kansas
> Howard Darr wrote:
> >
> > > > in the ol' days we used nothing.<<
> >
> > I had a wheelset in the early 80s that was very troublesome. I built up
> > Shimano 600 high flange hubs, 36 Torrington spokes laced 3 cross to
> > Montherly Pro tubies. The rear wheel was fine but the front was
> > problematic. The same two spokes on the right side would loosen. I
retrued
> > several times, I was embarrassed because I was the hot shot wheel guy
at
> > the shop and my own pride was suffering. I went to an industrial show
with
> > my father and scored a free vial of loctite blue. No further
problems.(cut)
>
> Reminds me of my most vexing wheel: Mavic Mod. E rim, DT spokes and
> Maillard 700 small flange 32 hole hubs.
>
> After a ride the wheel would be out of true, I'd true it and after the
> next ride it would be out of true, I'd true it and after the next ride...
>
> Then I started to check the wheel for trueness during the ride.
> Sometimes it would be true and sometimes not. Amazing! I talked to a
> Famouswheelbuilder Steve Aldridge about the problem and he said, "Well
> consider who built the wheel!" (me).
>
> How could the wheel be true one minute and not the next!?!?!? Something
> had to be shifting around that wasn't supposed to. I pulled the axle
> and cones out of the hub and checked the races and sure enough one of
> the races was moving in the hub shell. Used red Loctite® on the bearing
> and problem solved.
>
> Chuck Schmidt
> South Pasadena, California