I'm checking my wheels spoke tension.
I'm using the "musical" method (ping them and tighten-loosen) to get the same sound all round the wheel.
Problemi is: I can't lift my wheels off the ground, so I have to do it while the wheels bear the load of the bike.
Will this put me much off?
Is it mandatory to do it with the wheel off the ground?

 

The wheel does need to be off the ground.

 

Off the ground. Good chance if you make them all sound the same the wheel won't be true after. Work slowly and carefully.
Ron

 

A laced spoke wheel can be checked with the wheel on the ground if just checking for loose spokes. You can just snug up the loose ones untill they sound similar to the rest. If you've got more than a few loose ones you may need to true the wheel with a dial indicator.

 

Just checking for loose spokes. Got 3-4 "BLONG" spokes among the "PING" spokes.

 

As noted you can just tighten up spokes while the wheel is on the ground, but do not over tighten.

Spokes hold the rim in a perfect circle. So if the rim is naturally not true, some spokes wil be tighter than others to force the rim to be true. To effectively true the wheel, the wheel must be unladen (off the ground) but not necessaraly off the bike.

There are several threads from various sources that show you exactly how to true a wheel. Just google it.

...gene

 

Based on this, what do you make of HD's recommended torque spec of 55in pds.?

 

just did mine, plucked them, and tightened the dead sounding ones to sound like the one on either side of it.. off the ground also.

 

Always learn someting here. Not my post but thanks.

 

It's best when the wheels are off the ground. That way it's easier to remove them and put on the new mag wheels that eliminate having to mess with spokes.