how to tie spokes

first off youre gonna need a small assortment of tools.

1. electrical pliers
2.gloves (optional but they protect your ands and let you pull tighter)
3. QUALITY 20 gauge steel wire (0.88mm)

[IMG][/IMG]

[IMG][/IMG]

next is cutting the wire

1 pull out approximately 2ft of wire


2 cut with the electrical pliers


3 bend approximately 1 inch into a hook

stating the tie

1 insert the hook where the spokes meet


2 pull both ends across each other


3 with your finger push the long end under the spokes


4 pull it through the other end and you have your first loop

more on tying

1 continue to make loops and pull them tight but not super tight because you will alter the point at which the spokes cross each other, we dont want that. once you have about 4 loops, cross the wire downwards (or upwards if you started tying down). the picture here is very blurry but its the best one I took.


2 once you cross push the wire under and continue to make loops until you only have about 8 inches left, these you can pull VERY tight (the tighter the better). then place the wire across again. it will look like this


3 push the wire under again and it will look like so


4 continue to make loops until you have about 1 inch left. again the tighter the better on these, and make sure they are next to each other with no gaps.

finishing the tie

1 pull whats left across and wrap around the middle


2 wrap the other end thats thats sticking out around the middle and were almost done


3 apply solder to the spoke ends or all over if you want. either with the soldering iron, or a torch if youre impatient


4 if you dont have these items then just use some jb weld. gorilla glue will do in a pinch.

the finished product

top view


side view


just for kicks so that you can see the difference between a wheel spoke tied for normal use. this was using copper wire then soldered....a lot smaller he?


finally some one wanted to see the picture of the bike "with small tires". well I dont have any other than the first one I took after I built it, and at this time I did not have the dropdown handlebars because I had not figured out how to mount the throttle yet. All I wanted to do at this time was get it installed and start riding it.....sorry.

That's hardcore....I just use heavy zip ties.

Haven't broke a spoke.

__________________
If it ain't broke, and you mess with it long enough, it will be.

Joe when you do that are you just tying the junction together a couple of turns to stiffen them.

__________________
visit my blog if you dare http://chinesekitmotorbike.blogspot.com/

Full novel on the blog in serial form.

Yeah. I use the biggest zip tie that will pull down around the cross in the spokes. I use a pair of pliers to pull 'em tight.

You can tell a difference when riding.

Light, quick, cheap.

__________________
If it ain't broke, and you mess with it long enough, it will be.

Im gonna remember that if I buy a light weight bike for the electric build I have in mind.

__________________
visit my blog if you dare http://chinesekitmotorbike.blogspot.com/

Full novel on the blog in serial form.