Spoke Tensionometer

For discussions about bikes and equipment.
PT1029
Posts: 1742
Joined: 16 Apr 2012, 9:20pm

Re: Spoke Tensionometer

Post by PT1029 »

I recall a friend checking my spokes with a tuning fork. It was a while ago, he looked up (not sure where) what the note should be - I forget the details he needed, probaby spoke length(?) - but I guess the number of crossings might affect this. He got the relevant piano tuning fork out and the spokes were spot on. I'd built/tensioned the wheel by feel, so not bad.
I then started building wheels (not that many) by feel and then checking with a tenionmeter. I now use the tensionmenter to have them an even tension from a low tension, and gradually increase the tension correcting any uneveness as I go. The wheels usually come out true first time (excluding the odd bit at the rim joint).
boblo
Posts: 799
Joined: 24 Sep 2009, 7:35pm

Re: Spoke Tensionometer

Post by boblo »

Well I've one of those Unior Tensionometers from up there ^ on its way from Bike24. Another tool I didn't know I needed :D Also the first post Brexit European bike part purchase and I used to buy a lot from Johnny Euro so we'll see how painful/painless that process is.
rjb
Posts: 7183
Joined: 11 Jan 2007, 10:25am
Location: Somerset (originally 60/70's Plymouth)

Re: Spoke Tensionometer

Post by rjb »

Musicians use tuning forks set to resonate at 440 Hz. Known as concert pitch and is the frequency of the A string on the violin. The whole orchestra then tunes up to this frequency. This is on the low side for plucking spokes but could give you a minimum frequency to tune too initially before tightening up.

Middle C is a bit lower at 256Hz. :wink:
At the last count:- Peugeot 531 pro, Dawes Discovery Tandem, Dawes Kingpin X3, Raleigh 20 stowaway, 1965 Moulton deluxe, Falcon K2 MTB dropped bar tourer, Rudge Bi frame folder, Longstaff trike conversion on a Giant XTC 840 :D
User avatar
NATURAL ANKLING
Posts: 13780
Joined: 24 Oct 2012, 10:43pm
Location: English Riviera

Re: Spoke Tensionometer

Post by NATURAL ANKLING »

Hi,
I've used the spoke ping test for many years.
You can tap each spoke with a spanner or some other similar metal object, to get it to ring.
And spin the wheel slowly and do each spoke both sides.
This will automatically tell you very quickly quicker than any tool, If you have a slack or tight spoke.
Even if your tone deaf it's very easy to spot a rogue spoke.
NA Thinks Just End 2 End Return + Bivvy - Some day Soon I hope
You'll Still Find Me At The Top Of A Hill
Please forgive the poor Grammar I blame it on my mobile and phat thinkers.
User avatar
NATURAL ANKLING
Posts: 13780
Joined: 24 Oct 2012, 10:43pm
Location: English Riviera

Re: Spoke Tensionometer

Post by NATURAL ANKLING »

Hi,
Since I bought the tool I've not used it.
Probably because I've not built a single wheel in that time.
I alteady have too many wheels and too many spare wheels for each bike.

For someone has built wheels for many years successfully (not necessarily me) the tool will just be a curiosity and maybe just a novelty.
I'm not sure they truly tell you anywhere near the correct spoke tension very accurately.
Once you've built a number of Wheels correctly that stay to gether, simple Ping test will tell you all you need to know.

As I said earlier post, stress relieving is by far the most important thing for reliable wheels.
NA Thinks Just End 2 End Return + Bivvy - Some day Soon I hope
You'll Still Find Me At The Top Of A Hill
Please forgive the poor Grammar I blame it on my mobile and phat thinkers.
rogerzilla
Posts: 2876
Joined: 9 Jun 2008, 8:06pm

Re: Spoke Tensionometer

Post by rogerzilla »

There is a phone app that does spoke tension by pitch. It is supposed to be good. The Park tensionometer is notorious for being badly calibrated.
rjb
Posts: 7183
Joined: 11 Jan 2007, 10:25am
Location: Somerset (originally 60/70's Plymouth)

Re: Spoke Tensionometer

Post by rjb »

More pitch info here for tuning your wheels

viewtopic.php?t=147338#p1630298
:wink:
At the last count:- Peugeot 531 pro, Dawes Discovery Tandem, Dawes Kingpin X3, Raleigh 20 stowaway, 1965 Moulton deluxe, Falcon K2 MTB dropped bar tourer, Rudge Bi frame folder, Longstaff trike conversion on a Giant XTC 840 :D
mig
Posts: 2695
Joined: 19 Oct 2011, 9:39pm

Re: Spoke Tensionometer

Post by mig »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leg9iYK-9E0

at 38.30

a tuning dissenter!
PH
Posts: 13099
Joined: 21 Jan 2007, 12:31am
Location: Derby
Contact:

Re: Spoke Tensionometer

Post by PH »

rogerzilla wrote: 27 Oct 2022, 9:22pm There is a phone app that does spoke tension by pitch. It is supposed to be good. The Park tensionometer is notorious for being badly calibrated.
First post page 1!
User avatar
Mick F
Spambuster
Posts: 56349
Joined: 7 Jan 2007, 11:24am
Location: Tamar Valley, Cornwall

Re: Spoke Tensionometer

Post by Mick F »

The thing arrived today, and after getting home, I set about having a play with it.

Impressed?
Not a lot! :lol:

Radial front wheel.
406 (20inch).
All spokes equal lengths and gauge.
Brand new rim.

I built the wheel earlier in the week, and put all the spokes to about the same tension.
The tensionometer arrived, and I set about finding the tightest spoke and setting them all the same - both sides.
Was the wheel true?
Not on your nellie! :lol:

Too much "stick-sion" in the tool, and inaccurate and when squeezing and releasing repeatedly too, it wasn't always resting on the same number. Trial and trial, I got a settled figure, but it's not accurate enough. I don't care about the precision, so long as the reading is repeatable and consistent easily . I don't blame the design or the idea, but it's not a good tool. I doubt the Park Tool one is any different in these regards, and I'm glad I only paid £16 for mine.

However ................
Having got the front radial wheel true and nice by using common sense and using my experience, it was good to go round the rim and confirm that the spokes were basically the same tension. I found one or two not quite as tight, so the tool sorted it out. The wheel is fine and dandy.

Next issue, was checking the rear 406 wheel, and that's where the tool is useless .......... not even any good for confirmation.
Why?
Because a 406 wheel with 2x doesn't have nearly enough space to fit the tool on the spokes.
My rear wheel is radial LH and 2x RH, so at least I can confirm the LH side.

If I were to build a 3x 700c wheel again, it would be simple in the confirmation department as the spokes are longer of course.

As an experiment, I took a bare spoke and wanted to see if the tensionometer read anything. I expected that it would show some rigidity in the spoke .............. but it read zero!
So that's a plus! :D
Mick F. Cornwall
User avatar
NATURAL ANKLING
Posts: 13780
Joined: 24 Oct 2012, 10:43pm
Location: English Riviera

Re: Spoke Tensionometer

Post by NATURAL ANKLING »

Hi,
Its possible to get even tension in spokes but the wheel could be wavy.
Thats to say that the rim could be parralel to aflat plane, but be out of true and still have even tension spokes.

It won't (tool) build a wheel, you need to do that and true wheel yourself.

Its a comparitor.
NA Thinks Just End 2 End Return + Bivvy - Some day Soon I hope
You'll Still Find Me At The Top Of A Hill
Please forgive the poor Grammar I blame it on my mobile and phat thinkers.
User avatar
Mick F
Spambuster
Posts: 56349
Joined: 7 Jan 2007, 11:24am
Location: Tamar Valley, Cornwall

Re: Spoke Tensionometer

Post by Mick F »

Yes, a comparator.

It has it's uses, and I glad I bought it, and even more glad I didn't lash out on a Park one.
Mick F. Cornwall
User avatar
Mick F
Spambuster
Posts: 56349
Joined: 7 Jan 2007, 11:24am
Location: Tamar Valley, Cornwall

Re: Spoke Tensionometer

Post by Mick F »

Sorted the stick-sion! :D

No doubt if I'd paid five times the price for a Park Tool, I wouldn't have to sort this out.

The hole where the pointer is fitted is too far up the arm, and the boss that slides along the curve was rubbing.
I had two choices. One, to file the curve - or two, to make the hole a little bit bigger so the boss sat in the middle of the curve.

I went for choice two, and now it's smooth and repeatable.

Here's the hole as original and you can see the problem.
IMG_1549.jpg
Mick F. Cornwall
pete75
Posts: 16356
Joined: 24 Jul 2007, 2:37pm

Re: Spoke Tensionometer

Post by pete75 »

NATURAL ANKLING wrote: 29 Oct 2022, 9:44pm Hi,
Its possible to get even tension in spokes but the wheel could be wavy.
Thats to say that the rim could be parralel to aflat plane, but be out of true and still have even tension spokes.

It won't (tool) build a wheel, you need to do that and true wheel yourself.

Its a comparitor.
I've always thought you need to get spoke tensions as even as possible consistent with the wheel being true.
It's possible to build a "true" wheel with widely differing tensions. It won't last long though.
'Give me my bike, a bit of sunshine - and a stop-off for a lunchtime pint - and I'm a happy man.' - Reg Baker
rogerzilla
Posts: 2876
Joined: 9 Jun 2008, 8:06pm

Re: Spoke Tensionometer

Post by rogerzilla »

I can get the Park one into a x2 406 wheel. May be a smaller-diameter hub, though.
Post Reply