wheel problem?

[taylor p.]

my problem is that i cant aline my rear wheel evenly, its always to far to the left (non drive) side. i would like to know why this is, is it because of my frame? does it heave to do with me runing 8 speed(i know its my cassette thats taking up room)? is it even a problem? :confused:
thanks

[Heuy]

First off, its not your cassette or running 8 speed. 8 speed and 9 speed cassttes are the same width, its just that 9 speed uses a narrower chain and has the cogs closer together on the cassete. This makes 8 and 9 speed wheels completely intercangeable.

Most likely if you're seated into the dropouts correctly and the wheel is consistently off to the left as you turn the wheel its a wheel that is "out of dish". Was it a machine built wheel or a new wheel? I thought I got a deal on a wheelset off of the internet a few years ago, and it was built wrong, about 1/4 inch off to the left, made it a pain to run rim brakes.

[taylor p.]

i got the bike used so i don't know about the wheel but thats probly the problem and that would be why my rear brakes are always off a bit:D. so there is no way to fix it beside buy a new rear wheel?

[kidinthecorner]

Unless the wheel was built with spokes that were the wrong length, I would think that any shop should be able to fix the dish on the wheel.

[Heuy]

Naw,

I've never gone to wheel building school and would not be able to do it myself, but I believe a skilled mechanic with a good truing stand should be able to loosen the spokes on the left side and tighten the spokes on the right and pull the rim back over to the right.

I'd take it to a reputable bike shop and ask them what they can do, unless you know someone personally who would be in for a wheel truing/12 pack exchange program.:beer_yum:

Then of course if its not that good of wheel and you need an excuse to upgrade. There's lots of nice used rim brake only wheels that get put on the market as people upgrade to disk brakes. Watch the for sale forum, or put up a wanted to buy posting and see what happens.

[bigwheel]

Nearly all wheels (except wierdos like the Pugsley) are supposed to be build so that the rim is centered on the axle. If Matt is right, yours is dished off-center. Not sure, but you might be able to find this out easily by putting the wheel on backwards, and seeing if the wheel is now too far to the right.

If this is the case, it isn't very difficult to fix if the wheel was built with the correct spokes. Best bet is to bring the wheel over to a shop and have them dish and true it for you. (adjust the spokes) My guess is that this might cost you around 10~15 bucks.

[Kosk]

Um, you didn't really provide a lot of information in your first post as to the exact symptoms. Perhaps you can be a little more detailed about what is acutally happening?

Everybody jumped on the "dish" wagon, but with the little info you provided my first question would be; Does your rear brake need adjusting? If that's not the issue, then the next thing to check is the trueness and dish of the wheel.

Don't rely on how the wheel "looks" in the frame. I have a bike that a perfectly true and dished wheel looks way crooked in, but it's just from a slight variance in the stays and brake bosses. The dropouts and wheel alignment are all fine. Have your wheel checked out at you LBS with the proper tools.

[taylor p.]

Um, you didn't really provide a lot of information in your first post as to the exact symptoms. Perhaps you can be a little more detailed about what is acutally happening?

Everybody jumped on the "dish" wagon, but with the little info you provided my first question would be; Does your rear brake need adjusting? If that's not the issue, then the next thing to check is the trueness and dish of the wheel.

Don't rely on how the wheel "looks" in the frame. I have a bike that a perfectly true and dished wheel looks way crooked in, but it's just from a slight variance in the stays and brake bosses. The dropouts and wheel alignment are all fine. Have your wheel checked out at you LBS with the proper tools.
it is not the brakes becuase i took them off and sorry if i didnt provide all the info but i didnt know what you would need to know

[Tegra54]

it is not the brakes becuase i took them off and sorry if i didnt provide all the info but i didnt know what you would need to know

if you got a digital camera, snap a quick picture of it and post it up, like they say, a picture is worth a thousand words.

but like everyone else is saying, taking it into a shop is probably the best.

[bigwheel]

Not sure, but you might be able to find this out easily by putting the wheel on backwards, and seeing if the wheel is now too far to the right.

Sorry to repeat myself, but If you can do this, it'll tell you immediately if it is a wheel dish problem.

[crux]

Agreed that it is most likely a wheel dish issue.

This being said I have seen one case where the frame broke on a transition out on slickrock trail. It was a combo of things that caused the failure, but need less to say that one chainstay was shorter that the other when all was said and done. Felt sorry for the guy as he had quite a hike out and was on his maiden ride with the bike.

[taylor p.]

Sorry to repeat myself, but If you can do this, it'll tell you immediately if it is a wheel dish problem.
you are right i just went out and tried it

[bigwheel]

you are right i just went out and tried it

Good. It'll be easy to fix your wheel, compared to anything else that it might have been.

Pop your tire off, and take the wheel over to a bike shop. They probably only need to true it (adjust your spokes).

Good Luck!

[taylor p.]

dosn't truing a wheel make it so it is a even circle so i would still have the problem?

[Tex]

dosn't truing a wheel make it so it is a even circle so i would still have the problem?

Yes, that's technically true, so bring it into your local shop and tell them you need it "dished" correctly. If they dish it correctly, they should make sure it's true as well.

[badandyruh]

dosn't truing a wheel make it so it is a even circle so i would still have the problem?


Its should be a given that if you bring it into the shop and say I need my wheel "dished", that mechanic will true it as well. You can't do one without the other. Depending on the shop, you are looking at a $17-20 charge.

[turbo_kitty]

just as a note
if one or both of your qr springs is on backwards (cone shaped spring pointing out from the hub rather than in) it can bugger up the alignment of your wheel in the frame. i know its sounds stupid but you'd be suprised how much i see it happen