Fasstco
Spoke Torque Wrench
Price
(msrp): $119.00
Optional heads: (5.0mm, 5.6mm, 6.0mm, 6.2mm, 6.3mm,
6.4mm, 6.7mm, 6.8mm, 7.1mm, and spline drive) $9.95
each
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Will Pattison's Review
Ok, let's get the disclaimer out there right from the
start - I am not a professional wheel builder. I've
been riding, racing, and wrenching on my own motorcycles
for 20 years, but it's not how I make my living. While
I've split my share of cases and done top ends by the
dozens, I only recently decided to tackle wheel building.
As a mechanical engineer, I can readily accept that
every spoke in a wheel should have the same torque,
and that there is in fact an ideal setting. I figured
that the Faast Co. Spoke Torque Wrench would put some
science into the art of determining exactly what that
value should be. I also imagined that it would turn
a newbie wheel lacer into a pro in short order.
In
a word, wrong. The first task I chose to try the wrench
was a rear wheel. I already had everything pretty snug,
and the rim had less than 0.025" of runnout or
wobble. I assumed at that point that I could simply
use the torque wrench to take them all to the 100 lbs.
mine is set at and be done with it. Big mistake. After
cinching up all 36 spokes I stepped back to admire my
handiwork and quickly saw that I was in trouble - the
wheel had a wobble I could measure with a yardstick!
At that point, I did a reset and finished the job by
feel. As I expected, the wheel loosened each time I
rode the bike (yz400) for the first 5-6 hours, but since
the spokes seated themselves, I've had no issues.
I
did give the wrench another chance, however, when I
built the front wheel in the set. Again, I found it
to be less than helpful. To be fair, though, I have
to say I'm not sure that the wrench is at fault. First,
I believe that the same torque value should probably
not be used for both a front and rear wheel. Not only
are the spokes different diameter and the rims of differing
strength, but the abuse one takes is clearly greater
than the other. Second, in my short wheel-truing career,
I've decided not to use the resistance at the nipple
to judge how tight the spoke is. It seems that even
with anti-seize on all the threads that some of them
want to gall a bit, which of course sets the torque
wrench off prematurely. That may be a manufacturing
issue with the spokes themselves (Buchanan in this case)
or it may be my choice of lubricant. I'm going to build
the next one using plain grease and see if it makes
a difference.
Either
way, I'd certainly like to hear the feedback of an experienced
wheel builder. I guess that until I did, it would be
difficult for me to recommend that any one else spend
the $119.95 Faast is asking for this tool. I still believe
that nipple torque is important, but until I can reconcile
that with actual practice, I'm going to continue tightening
them by feel and sound.
Contacts:
Fasstco: http://www.fasstco.com
