Spoke tension meter

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KM2
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Joined: 23 Oct 2008, 5:38pm

Spoke tension meter

Post by KM2 »

Has anyone used such things? Are the cheap ones one eBay (£18) any use?
TheBomber
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Joined: 16 Feb 2020, 8:18pm

Re: Spoke tension meter

Post by TheBomber »

Have you tried the search function? They’ve been discussed a few times.
mig
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Re: Spoke tension meter

Post by mig »

they're okay for getting tensions "in the right shop" and comparing NDS and DS rear wheel spokes but for fine tuning? not so much.
KM2
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Re: Spoke tension meter

Post by KM2 »

Thanks
I’ve always used finger and thumb, as a guide. Seems to have worked for many years.
PH
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Re: Spoke tension meter

Post by PH »

If you have an iPhone, save yourself a few quid and get this app, I have access to a Park Tools tensionmeter and the app is at least as good, possible better. There may be an android equivalent, but I haven't come across it.

Steve O'C
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Joined: 3 Mar 2013, 1:32pm

Re: Spoke tension meter

Post by Steve O'C »

There may be an android equivalent, but I haven't come across it.
Looks like this is similar for android.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta ... ensioner_3

Steve
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Mick F
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Re: Spoke tension meter

Post by Mick F »

KM2 wrote: 2 Jun 2023, 9:54am Has anyone used such things? Are the cheap ones one eBay (£18) any use?
Good little toy IMO.

I bought mine from eBay last year.
£16
Screenshot 2023-06-03 at 09.01.31.png
Mick F. Cornwall
KM2
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Re: Spoke tension meter

Post by KM2 »

Did you find it useful though?
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Vantage
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Re: Spoke tension meter

Post by Vantage »

I bought one similar to Mick F for a similar price. Prior to this I'd been tensioning my spokes to a known musical note tone (no idea what it was). Once you get one spoke done up to the right tension its easy to use the tool to get all the other spokes to match and then it's just a case of fine tuning for truing. Worth it imo.
Bill


“Ride as much or as little, or as long or as short as you feel. But ride.” ~ Eddy Merckx
It's a rich man whos children run to him when his pockets are empty.
KM2
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Re: Spoke tension meter

Post by KM2 »

Thanks, I’ll buy one.
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geomannie
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Re: Spoke tension meter

Post by geomannie »

KM2 wrote: 3 Jun 2023, 2:45pm Did you find it useful though?
I bought one a cheap tension meter a couple of years back, mainly out of curiousity because I wanted to check on the wheels I had previously built. In summary, I found the existing wheels to be pretty good, tensions in the right ball parks & reasonably even. Now when I build of re-rim I run it over to check that nothing is remiss.

In other words, it gives peace of mind.
geomannie
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Mick F
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Re: Spoke tension meter

Post by Mick F »

Yep.
Peace of mind ........... plus, I like gadgets! :D

I've been building wheels for years, and never needed anything other than a good eye, a good pair of hands, and a good spoke key.
It was only because of discussions on here, that I found a cheap one, and had a go with it.
I found a spoke or two less tight than they should have been although the wheel was true. I tightened them up and the wheel remained true.

Peace of mind.
Mick F. Cornwall
KM2
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Re: Spoke tension meter

Post by KM2 »

Thanks everyone for your responses.
You’ve convinced me.
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