Topic: How to make a truing stand?

[DammitDan]

All this talk about manufacturing spoked rims has got me wondering...  Is it possible even make an effective one?  I've used bicycle stands before and they're not exactly a complicated tool, but it seems you have to have at least some degree of precision when manufacturing your own.

Unfortunately I've heard that even cheap shop stands start around $150.  I'm sure you could make something for a tenth the cost!

[eldar]

Well I am sure it would work for balancing but model r/c pilots use a stand with a leg on each side that has 2 small wheels each that ride on bearings. This is a very accurate system. it could be adapted to a motorcycle tire if done on a larger scale. You could then make sure it is very accurate and even mount a dial gauge on it for checking true and out of round states.

[paulages]

if you check the thread going right now about lacing a 19" wheel, you'll find pics of one i made out of an old swingarm. i happen to have access to a bicycle wheel truing stand which will accomodate a cb wheel, and my homemade version achieved the same accuracy. all of the wheels i've done this way ended up needing no further truing from the professionals. at one point i did mount my digital caliper to it just to see if i need that extra degree of accuracy, and found that as long as i had a point of reference in both measurements it was fine.

[eldar]

Do the bearings in the swingarm allow fine tune adjustments of balance?

[Hop on a Honda]

Hi That is a one hell of a mandrell.
The vibration from the rotation would be nill.
Well done .
All I used was a pair of plastic milk crates lashed them together with a gap for the wheel to rotate. then create and used a make shift DTI from a Wire coat hangar and its run out is within the thicknes of a bees dick.the origional axel from the front wheel was used again .
Dave