Great review. I've built fantastic wheels with it however in my opinion measurements provided are not repeatable enough to use with park tools own app.
excellent! and yes please to a video on crap overseas arms of bike companies! Consistently inconsistent is perfect for these, i do find that a consistent movement as you release your hand is a must, even then it can continually screw with you mentally.
I did build mine by playing it like a Harp. Took a bit longer though since it was also my first time but it was not that hard and a bit fun to do to. I even checked the dish by laying it flat on a floor tile and it worked perfectly. I then just bought a cheap china made tension meter and I only had very minor changes done. I managed to get an almost perfectly tensioned wheel I think hehe. My only problem was I messed up the spoke length from 289 to 292 that made it poke through the nipples by like 3mm or more haha. I already tested it roughly on some hard rides and it held up quite well. I oiled my Generic Brand "Anrancee" Tension meter on the overlapping parts/spring so it reads better. I also sometimes get inaccurate readings when positioned vertical/reverse compared to just flat horizontal. I was able to get it to function and read better by letting go of the handle and pulling it apart to spread more and get maximum tension numbers.
Anrancee spoke tension meter was just around 6 USD. Spring is shorter which I hope is durable. Parts are removable with allen wrench. It also has no adjustment bolt on the back.
I’ve been building and tensioning wheels for years and I’ve only had a tension meter for a few months. If you know what you’re doing, yeah, you can tension spokes without the meter. It’s more for showing customers variances, and almost none are interested.
Roger Musson has built thousands of wheels and always used tone to check tension. You can build wheels without a meter. I have built loads without one.
Owning a Unior Tool and also the TM-1 I came to find out why this one is superior while being in the same price range: - While the friction is a problem for the accuracy, the surface smothness in comparison is rather good on the TM-1 - The scale is easier to read and more durable (stamped in) - And KILLER feature for me: The vast conversion table plus online app of parktool, which allows you to measure all kinds of spokes. Keep in mind: The tool is almost useless, if you cant convert the reading to actual forces. Otherwise you just get relative measurements and that could have also been achived by tapping the spokes for pitch.
I don't agree that you can not really build wheels without this thing. In my country the old folks who built most of the bike wheels were not even using a tool to measure the tension and until now I'm still riding one of their built wheel.
Pay attention to that screw on it's hinge that holds the tool together. I have this same tool and that screw was coming lose. It seems like they have changed the spring to taller one(more coils). So they added spacers inside there. But the screw has same length as older version had.. You can see the screw not reaching all the way to the surface there.. If the plates start to rub each one more and more, then it means, that that screw is coming lose.. That happened with my tool. The thread locked part on screw did not reach deep enough into nut.. I fixed mine by my self, with threadlock, but now it's probably out of calibration.. since I did not secure the calibration screw while disassembling it.. That screw has more lose fit than I expecting, turning there extremely freely when not under tension from spring..
Re: idiosyncrasies - must say i never owned one but was tempted to get it. during my research i found out that sometimes bad machining of the hinges causes friction issues = inacurate readings. Cleaning, deburring and lubricating the steel parts would help with that, people said. Can't confirm on that but the wiggle lifeline-branded rip-off i got recently seems to have the same issues...
love the review as someone who comes back from every MTB ride with a new "click" from some spoke that loosens itself from my factory built wheels. I go over my wheels after every ride and get them back to what i can only perceive as similar tension to the surrounding ones and a dab of blue loctite, which i know is not the answer.. its a band aid and eventually bad things will happen... I am considering the purchase of the meter so I can stay on top of the maintenance since i have to dick around with the wheel continually anyway.... BTW the Japan Park Tool service commentary was hilarious
just Picked up a Chinese RED CLONE !!! DECKAS - Only $ 35 Bucks was binding by the Gauge Section took it appart and Removed the Steel Washers and installed 2 NYLON washers like Yours OEM Now WORKS AMAZING !!!!!!!!!!! i also agree with you READINGS are not Accurate when rechecking the same spoke
I would love a video on what you see as the essential things to learn as far as maintenance of a bike is concerned, and then maybe a long series of you actually doing these tasks over time to your own bike. Or maybe I should just buy a book or two on the subject and read up, since most of your viewers are probably experienced cyclists and might find basic advice boring...
It will never ever give you the same value because of the measurement uncertainty. If you have an OCD measure at least 10 times per each spoke at the same place and calculate average and standard deviation. Standard deviation will tell you how accurate the tool is.
4:30 and onwards: I am not sure you can be using a tool with an integer scale asking for decimal (or 0,01) precision. There are no ,01 or ,1 markings on the scale because the tool is not that precise. From what I was taught you should interpret everything from 14,51 to 15,50 as 15.
Awesome commentary - why not voice your opinion when you get rubbish service, brilliant ! wonder if the tension variances are due to slight positioning differences on the spoke.
Spring loaded measuring tools are always inconsistent, the mechanical nature itself, bits rubbing against against other bits means it will settle differently. How quickly you release the tension will change the result.
They are all not 100% accurate in this price class, but like he said you can work arround it. It is not necessary that it is 100% accurate, if you want to have something which gives you the accurate readins you can spend few thousands on those tools which would be a waste if you do not plan to build wheels on a daily base.
LOLOLOLOL. I love you so much. 6:35 onwards is pure excellence. That is some amazing swearing.
SimonGrowl ditto!!
perfect swearing! hi5
What a great presentation. Shame less than 4,000 subscribers. One of the best channels on youtube.
Great review. I've built fantastic wheels with it however in my opinion measurements provided are not repeatable enough to use with park tools own app.
excellent! and yes please to a video on crap overseas arms of bike companies! Consistently inconsistent is perfect for these, i do find that a consistent movement as you release your hand is a must, even then it can continually screw with you mentally.
I did build mine by playing it like a Harp. Took a bit longer though since it was also my first time but it was not that hard and a bit fun to do to. I even checked the dish by laying it flat on a floor tile and it worked perfectly. I then just bought a cheap china made tension meter and I only had very minor changes done. I managed to get an almost perfectly tensioned wheel I think hehe.
My only problem was I messed up the spoke length from 289 to 292 that made it poke through the nipples by like 3mm or more haha. I already tested it roughly on some hard rides and it held up quite well.
I oiled my Generic Brand "Anrancee" Tension meter on the overlapping parts/spring so it reads better. I also sometimes get inaccurate readings when positioned vertical/reverse compared to just flat horizontal. I was able to get it to function and read better by letting go of the handle and pulling it apart to spread more and get maximum tension numbers.
Anrancee spoke tension meter was just around 6 USD. Spring is shorter which I hope is durable. Parts are removable with allen wrench. It also has no adjustment bolt on the back.
I’ve been building and tensioning wheels for years and I’ve only had a tension meter for a few months.
If you know what you’re doing, yeah, you can tension spokes without the meter.
It’s more for showing customers variances, and almost none are interested.
Roger Musson has built thousands of wheels and always used tone to check tension.
You can build wheels without a meter.
I have built loads without one.
why not use a torque screwdriver to set tension on spokes ?
Have had one for about twelve years. Consistently inconsistent but still useful.
Agree with the crapicity of J reps. Garmin in particular.
Owning a Unior Tool and also the TM-1 I came to find out why this one is superior while being in the same price range:
- While the friction is a problem for the accuracy, the surface smothness in comparison is rather good on the TM-1
- The scale is easier to read and more durable (stamped in)
- And KILLER feature for me: The vast conversion table plus online app of parktool, which allows you to measure all kinds of spokes.
Keep in mind: The tool is almost useless, if you cant convert the reading to actual forces. Otherwise you just get relative measurements and that could have also been achived by tapping the spokes for pitch.
I don't agree that you can not really build wheels without this thing. In my country the old folks who built most of the bike wheels were not even using a tool to measure the tension and until now I'm still riding one of their built wheel.
Pay attention to that screw on it's hinge that holds the tool together. I have this same tool and that screw was coming lose. It seems like they have changed the spring to taller one(more coils). So they added spacers inside there. But the screw has same length as older version had.. You can see the screw not reaching all the way to the surface there.. If the plates start to rub each one more and more, then it means, that that screw is coming lose.. That happened with my tool. The thread locked part on screw did not reach deep enough into nut.. I fixed mine by my self, with threadlock, but now it's probably out of calibration.. since I did not secure the calibration screw while disassembling it.. That screw has more lose fit than I expecting, turning there extremely freely when not under tension from spring..
Re: idiosyncrasies - must say i never owned one but was tempted to get it. during my research i found out that sometimes bad machining of the hinges causes friction issues = inacurate readings. Cleaning, deburring and lubricating the steel parts would help with that, people said. Can't confirm on that but the wiggle lifeline-branded rip-off i got recently seems to have the same issues...
btw: do you have experience with their wheel tension app?
love the review as someone who comes back from every MTB ride with a new "click" from some spoke that loosens itself from my factory built wheels. I go over my wheels after every ride and get them back to what i can only perceive as similar tension to the surrounding ones and a dab of blue loctite, which i know is not the answer.. its a band aid and eventually bad things will happen... I am considering the purchase of the meter so I can stay on top of the maintenance since i have to dick around with the wheel continually anyway.... BTW the Japan Park Tool service commentary was hilarious
just Picked up a Chinese RED CLONE !!! DECKAS - Only $ 35 Bucks
was binding by the Gauge Section took it appart and Removed the Steel Washers and installed 2 NYLON washers like Yours OEM
Now WORKS AMAZING !!!!!!!!!!!
i also agree with you READINGS are not Accurate when rechecking the same spoke
I would love a video on what you see as the essential things to learn as far as maintenance of a bike is concerned, and then maybe a long series of you actually doing these tasks over time to your own bike. Or maybe I should just buy a book or two on the subject and read up, since most of your viewers are probably experienced cyclists and might find basic advice boring...
It will never ever give you the same value because of the measurement uncertainty. If you have an OCD measure at least 10 times per each spoke at the same place and calculate average and standard deviation. Standard deviation will tell you how accurate the tool is.
TLDR; not accurate
4:30 and onwards: I am not sure you can be using a tool with an integer scale asking for decimal (or 0,01) precision. There are no ,01 or ,1 markings on the scale because the tool is not that precise. From what I was taught you should interpret everything from 14,51 to 15,50 as 15.
Awesome commentary - why not voice your opinion when you get rubbish service, brilliant ! wonder if the tension variances are due to slight positioning differences on the spoke.
Spring loaded measuring tools are always inconsistent, the mechanical nature itself, bits rubbing against against other bits means it will settle differently. How quickly you release the tension will change the result.
nice review! love the commetary
Inconsistency in measurement is a deal breaker for me
They are all not 100% accurate in this price class, but like he said you can work arround it. It is not necessary that it is 100% accurate, if you want to have something which gives you the accurate readins you can spend few thousands on those tools which would be a waste if you do not plan to build wheels on a daily base.
Was looking around some webshops to buy me one of these and found that you can buy the spring separately for €3,95.
what is your opinion about companies claiming their rims or hubs must be built by experience wheel builders.
They are just trying to make themselves look exclusive and high end. Building a wheel is building a wheel.
I imagine all Chinese wheels are built by extremely experienced wheel builders. Do something 14 hours a day and you better be good at it.
Nice story
85 bucks for 2 aluminum plates, with plastic handles and a spring, uhm nope i would rather build one of these myself for that price
Silas gehteuchnixan I'll give you 1,000 bucks if you manage to do this, and have it accurately measure spoke tension.
what you are actually paying for is the tool calibrated with tension chart tested for multipe spoke sizes.
F💣
F💣
F💣
💩
👍😎
I’ll probably get a knock off🤷♂️
haha