Picked up a 1995 Park Tool manual and it changed how I true wheels

I always thought you had to crank down on the spoke nipple to get a wheel straight. Then I found a beat-up Park Tool manual from 1995 at a shop closing sale in Portland last month. It said most truing problems come from over-tightening, not under-tightening. I tried backing off the tension on a wobbly wheel I had and it straightened right up in 10 minutes. Has anyone else had luck with old manuals over new ones?

3 comments

3 Comments

torres.grant3d ago

Grabbed that old manual and honestly, the newer ones just tell you to buy their expensive truing stand. The 95 version basically said "stop being a gorilla with a spoke wrench" and it fixed all my dumb mistakes. I was cranking spokes like I was trying to close a jar of pickles. Backed everything off and the wheel settled down like a dog that finally stopped chasing its tail. Funny how old paper sometimes knows more than new plastic.

daniel_martin3d ago

Old manuals had that "tough love" thing going on. I had an 80s car repair book that said "if you can't feel the difference between a loose bolt and a stripped one, find a new hobby." Brutal but true. Made me slow down and actually pay attention to what my hands were doing instead of just brute forcing everything. Bet that 95 wheel manual was the same way - real talk instead of "buy this thing.

wendyg433d ago

stop being a gorilla with a spoke wrench" is comedy gold but also the best advice I've ever seen for wheels.