Topic: Tool Advice - Truing Stand and Dial Indicators

[CBJoe]

Hello Folks,  Looking for a little advice so I spend my monies efficiently.

I am going to learn to build/true/balance wheels on a CB77 Rebuild Project and need to invest in some tools.  Looking at the Bikemaster Truing Balancing Stand https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0068FUWGI/ref=crt_ewc_title_dp_7?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3TGC5XRRCX4P2

I do not own any dial indicators for checking radial/lateral run out.  Is this set overkill for this type of application?  It isn't a tool I'll use very often...but I don't want to throw money away on Junk.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007FFSFBY/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=27VKJFN4AFIIX&coliid=I20LFHTDOCX28W
 
Joe

[strynboen]

you vill not get that rim so teight to zero use a clock..or dial indikator its far to presise 100 times to presise
..1 mm+.- is fine for thruing rims..and can be klerly seen..use a wooden stick..vho are pressed inn as you gets closerr to the absolut zero..use to fine indikators give just a flimsy and often not more presise job.
.so tru vitaut..then you can bay a chinese indikator for almost nothing...if the need is for it

i have made 4 set of Wheels..and straighten a lot od old, off road hveels..not all got perfekt..but use new parts it can be real good..and safe a lot of Money.
.but it are not so easy as it seems..somtime it must stay and cool dovn for a day..if your brain get boiling...take some beers..and cool Down..and vait to NeXT dat ..and try Again.
..take some photoes ..before break the Wheels dovn..and use the valve hole as reference..to get the right layaut..
i have build my ovn stand..use 4 bearings and some sqvare tube..

[J-Rod10]

You'll need one if you want to check for runout.

Not necessarily a Mit, but it is top of the line.

Get a .001 a lot cheaper than a .0005 or .0001 as well. Make sure to look at that when buying.

[754]

A 40 dollar indicator and base should work good for wheels.

[jgger]

I used to use a felt pen for my dirt bike rims, it worked great.

[CBJoe]

great....thanks for the input

[Steve F]

I agree with Mitutoyo being the top of the line, and you don't need to spend a lot for wheel truing. I have a couple that I got from the local Harbor Freight that are more that "good enough" for wheels.  If I were to be indicating something in a lathe, then a better quality would be in order.  I would recommend sticking a piece of plastic tubing over the end of the indicator points to prevent scratching your rim....especially the aluminum and/or anodized rims.

[CBJoe]

I agree with Mitutoyo being the top of the line, and you don't need to spend a lot for wheel truing. I have a couple that I got from the local Harbor Freight that are more that "good enough" for wheels.  If I were to be indicating something in a lathe, then a better quality would be in order.  I would recommend sticking a piece of plastic tubing over the end of the indicator points to prevent scratching your rim....especially the aluminum and/or anodized rims.

Great idea...thanks. I also saw where some folks stuck a piece of cork on the points.


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[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Harbor Freight works just fine for this application and even better when you catch one of their sales.

[Dunk]

I have the same stand, works fine for the handful of wheels I've done. I forget what brand my dial indicators are, but not nearly that spendy.

[754]

1/2 masking tap on the side of a polished rim, helps so indicator does not leave marks.