I'm new to fixing bikes and I'm trying to buy this bike. The owner told me that the rear wheel has an issue and he sent the following video. Do you guys think this can be repaired or the whole wheel has to be changed?
Amateur here: I don’t see anything that would make it not feasible for trying. Following see what experts say.
mmlow on
The tire doesn’t look like it’s seated correctly.
tsherrygeo on
Definitely! Back in the day I would use zip ties on the frame to dial in a wheel. It’s a good and cheap DIY method. You’ll need a spoke wrench of course.
AvocadoOfDeath on
Yeah you can true that. Get a spoke key, that’s the only tool you’ll need. You can even eyeball it using the brake pads as markers while the wheel is still in the frame (that’s what I do) as long as you have a bike stand to set it on. You should look up a video showing the correct direction to twist the spoke key based on what you’re trying to do, but essentially as you tighten a spoke, it pulls the wheel closer to the middle and closer to the side that the spoke is on, so you’re just playing a balancing game until the wheel is true side to side and top to bottom.
timute on
Side to side wobble is easily trued. The vertical hop appears to be the tire, seating the bead should resolve that.
Rippin_Fat_Farts on
Does the tin man have a sheet metal cock?
ClearRuby on
Is the tire inflated? That wobble on the tire can come from the tire itself if it is not inflated, or badly seated like others said. From here the lateral trueness seems fine. Radial trueness (roundness of the wheel) can´t be checked with the tire on. But I can hear a noise the second time he spins the wheel. Also doesnt spin freely as it should, or maybe thats just me or the quickrelease are too tight. Did he specifically said the problem is the wobble?
InfamousRelation9073 on
That’s barely wobbling at all. It absolutely could be trued up, hell I’d ride it as is.
53180083211 on
True story
Traditional_Bit7262 on
That’s not the best video as you really want to see the wheel rim and how the rim is, then can tell if it is the rim or the tire that is not round. As others have said it looks like the wheel is relatively true and the tire bead is not seated.
BUT – I see a lot of rust and that isn’t good!
Masteries on
That looks like a tire problem
remove the tire or look at the rim from the side to judge the trueness of the wheel
DataFreak58 on
watching the wheel in the brake blocks it’s not the wheel
13 Comments
Should be easily trueable.
Amateur here: I don’t see anything that would make it not feasible for trying. Following see what experts say.
The tire doesn’t look like it’s seated correctly.
Definitely! Back in the day I would use zip ties on the frame to dial in a wheel. It’s a good and cheap DIY method. You’ll need a spoke wrench of course.
Yeah you can true that. Get a spoke key, that’s the only tool you’ll need. You can even eyeball it using the brake pads as markers while the wheel is still in the frame (that’s what I do) as long as you have a bike stand to set it on. You should look up a video showing the correct direction to twist the spoke key based on what you’re trying to do, but essentially as you tighten a spoke, it pulls the wheel closer to the middle and closer to the side that the spoke is on, so you’re just playing a balancing game until the wheel is true side to side and top to bottom.
Side to side wobble is easily trued. The vertical hop appears to be the tire, seating the bead should resolve that.
Does the tin man have a sheet metal cock?
Is the tire inflated? That wobble on the tire can come from the tire itself if it is not inflated, or badly seated like others said. From here the lateral trueness seems fine. Radial trueness (roundness of the wheel) can´t be checked with the tire on. But I can hear a noise the second time he spins the wheel. Also doesnt spin freely as it should, or maybe thats just me or the quickrelease are too tight. Did he specifically said the problem is the wobble?
That’s barely wobbling at all. It absolutely could be trued up, hell I’d ride it as is.
True story
That’s not the best video as you really want to see the wheel rim and how the rim is, then can tell if it is the rim or the tire that is not round. As others have said it looks like the wheel is relatively true and the tire bead is not seated.
BUT – I see a lot of rust and that isn’t good!
That looks like a tire problem
remove the tire or look at the rim from the side to judge the trueness of the wheel
watching the wheel in the brake blocks it’s not the wheel