How to true an electric bicycle hubmotor

How to true a bike wheel with an electric motor, all by yourself!
Here are sources for the parts I used in this video:
Set of spoke wrenches: goo.gl/1yywWl
Cable ties/zip ties: goo.gl/whSz0m
Thanks to Bensound for the music!

[@PatrickG4531]

Been working on bikes since before I was 10. (30ish years) Never trued a wheel. It was the one thing I was afraid to mess with. Been watching a lot of videos before, during, and after buying & installing e-bike kit. It was my non-motored wheel that needed adj. 20 year old bike. A week after watching this, went for it. Took like 10 minutes on a bike that was far enough out that brakes barely worked. Thank you for this video, it made this super easy. Didn't use cable ties, judged by brake pads. Would use ties on bike with disk brake.

[@jstar1000]

I always pluck every spoke and listen to the tone and all the ones that are low in tone or loose I tighten them up first, or if some are super high pitched or tight, I loosen them and get all the spokes sounding as close as possible to the same tone and tightness. I then proceed with trueing from there because sometimes there is one or two really loose or tight spokes that once evened out the same as the others the wheel will be much better at that point. To me it just makes sense to have all the spokes tension as even as possible before starting the truing process. Other then that great job!

[@5annent]

goodbike shops some times Can't Tru a wheel wobble) I was trying to use a guitar string Tuning App) to get All Spokes at the Same Tune) maybe year 2017) the app kept giving different readings 😭🧐

[@Tony0THUNDERCAT0Reynolds]

Great use of the cable clips great idea.

[@daztastic147]

Old but gold. Great video, so clearly explained and demonstrated, so useful 👍

[@ronbrown8611]

I appreciate the recent uploads keep up the good work! !!!

[@tenapier]

Great video, as always Micah! Will give this a try tomorrow on my proto-bike wheels, they really need some TLC!

[@glebshein3697]

hey there, great video, very easy to follow. Also, "professionals" also use their hands, eyes, and a basic spoke wrench just like yours, so they are not in any way more enlightened... just mere mortals like you and I. so I think your own teuing job on your wife's front wheel is a job well-done! thanks for the video and thanks for sharing!

[@crackerjack4833]

Thank You! This is something I need to do soon to my electric hubs.

[@hitlermobiel]

Always wondered how to do this!Thank you

[@bFlattheOriginal]

Terrific video, using zip ties is brilliant.

[@ivm1646]

2:58 finally someone pointed it out

[@joeennis2571]

brilliant information , brilliant demonstration

[@nickcoudounellis9668]

You are very clever. Keep up the good work

[@bagdadbob3391]

Nicely done 👍

[@eddiecarrico4309]

Thankyou for making the great video.

[@cjkenning]

Awesome! Thanks for posting!

[@slinkytreekreeper]

Brilliant, excellent stuff

[@XJohuX]

it looks like the spokes a extremely loose, because you can turn the wrench so easily. Great tutorial.

[@DiggingBuddy]

super helpful, thank you!

[@TheMarcball]

good stuff indeed. Thanks for the inspiration Keep on trucking (from France) !

[@EbikeSchool]

Thanks for the comment, glad to see my video is useful all the way over there in France!

[@TheMarcball]

oh yeah, thing is, we ride bicycles on the same side of the road as all y'all ! Cheers...

[@chrisackert8774]

You read my mind, I've been trying to do this for 2 weeks.

[@VinsPol247]

Thanks for this!

[@mrwhoo2006]

Great way to do it thanks 👍

[@maureenwhalen3505]

Very informative thank you

[@michaeldvorak8140]

I always wanted to know how that was done. Thanks.

[@Barrybados]

Good video thanks .

[@stevenbenavente1229]

Good job

[@ReklessMusik]

I dig your methods, think I already was subscribed gonna double check. Hey can you do a video on how to build an inexpensive or (least expensive)ebike beast. And hard plastic non fabric enclosures for the controller and batteries. Hit me with a shout out when you do. Your homie Rekless

[@simsneon2]

Thanks brother

[@peterwainwright5994]

Have trued an odd rim before but will try this on my 28 inch bafang 500w front hub drive, like the cable tie idea as I'll just flip my bike and check it in situ, as I'm not convinced it's my rim as my tyres take some hammer, so could just be a slightly wonky tyre?

[@alolkoydesigns]

Thanks!

[@smckinnon]

Why do you do that additional 1/4 tightening on all spokes at the end of the video?

[@codemiesterbeats]

yea that zip tie trick is the cats meow...ive straightened normal bike wheels before. I don't have an E-bike but I am about to get a spot welder for other battery projects so you never know lol

[@SolarSteve]

Great video! This is really helpful. So, do those end pieces of the spokes unscrew completely, and then the spoke is just loose and removable? I have an original 26" wheel that is blue like my bike that I'd like to use on the hub motor, so presumably I could switch it over...

[@EbikeSchool]

Yes, the nipples unscrew all the way, and can be removed through the other side of the rim when the tire is removed. Lacing a wheel from scratch is more difficult, but still doable. There are a lot of good videos and resources for wheel lacing.

[@jobmariano348]

Can i lace my 26 inch hub motor to 27.5 rim using the stock 26er spoke.

[@smartphonephone9675]

Oooo... The word "true" can be a verb.

[@47f0]

I never thought about truing the hub motor, I usually true the rim...

[@rollediaz1536]

Hello Mica, awesome video. I have a problem that I know you can help. I have a mountain bike with I believe are 28in rims and can't seem to find anyone who sells electric kits in that size. can I just buy the electric hub and take me bike to have it installed? Don't want to have to buy a new bike if I have one already. Thank you for all you have done and are doing in the E- Bike world. Can't wait till get mine done. Rolle.

[@EbikeSchool]

Yep, though most bike shops will charge a pretty penny to lace your motor into a wheel.

[@Instigator]

I have a question... I want to convert my 26 inch bike to electric, but I don't want to change wheels. My wheels are 140 fan spoke, could I drill the needed holes on the hub to accommodate for that many spokes?

[@347mrjnk]

Just use the brake pad as a guide you can also use a soft hammer to tap the rim to move it to the direction you need the rim to go

[@user-qc3zm6kf6p]

hi,i just wanna ask how many volts and watts of that hub motor pls thank you wacthing from phillipines

[@DubuqueSwineAttorney]

Wheel Hop, How would you fix wheel hop had it not been on the mating line? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

[@krash6098]

How do I respoke my rear wheel rim on my fat wheel ebike

[@1234567895182]

This is a good video but it's very annoying that I cannot find a single video showing how to do a rear hub wheel. I'm sure the steps are similar but I want to know if you can true it while it's still on the bike, or is it better to take off the whole rear wheel? Also how does the cassette and disc breaks play into it? Do they change the spoke lengths?

[@better.better]

This technique is only ok to get you home. Using cable ties because you don't have a stand is fine, but this technique doesn't address spoke tension at all, and you're just as likely to make it worse like this as you are to make it better (as I found out). My advice is to watch the video over on GCN where a pro wheel builder teaches Simon how to true a wheel. After that, what needs to be remembered through the entire process is: You're changing the position of the edge of the rim with respect to the hub with every turn of a nipple. AND you're changing the tension of the opposite (meaning left vs right & the opposite side of the wheel as well) spokes at the same time as you change the tension of the spoke you're working on. Theoretically, if you started with a trued wheel, and the hub was dead-center, then all of the spokes are evenly tensioned, except the one. but, usually what happens is a nipple cracks or spoke breaks, and and you don't notice for a while, but the over-all spoke tension is now uneven, and this allows other spokes to loosen, and eventually you notice the warped rim, or you hit an obstacle and because of the uneven tension one or two more spokes break. With a spoke tension meter you can see this: When you turn ONE nipple a quarter turn tighter, you're shortening the spoke, also pulling the hub closer to that side of the rim, and by extension, you're also adding tension to the spokes on the other side of the hub, as well as pulling the rim to one side. When you loosen a nipple, you're lengthening the spoke, PUSHING the hub away, and lowering the tension radially. So it's best to work in radial zones, and with a tension meter... well worth the money rather than paying a shop $100... and even with the tension meter, it takes some mental acrobatics to figure out exactly how best to proceed. So makes sure if you NEED the bike work, you give yourself lots of time, because you may need the entire day, may need to redo the whole wheel several times in fact. like I did. ;) Now, with heavier spokes like these, the spoke tension may not be so crucial because they probably are way stronger than required for the weight and shock stress of hitting a rough road at speed, but then, I'm no engineer, but I know with the spokes on my bike, I had one spoke broken, and couldn't fix it right away, and within a week, I had two more broken spokes. The ultimate goal of truing the wheel is to evenly tension the spokes, center the hub to the circumference of the rim, and center the rim horizontally along the axle ("dishing"... and yes there is also a dishing tool) Tip: it's best to true the wheel without the tire on. Tip: tires are inherently un-even because they're a flexible material. DO NOT true your wheel based on the shape of the tire. Only ever true the shape of the rim.

[@lalilal7563]

Yup those are the profession advice which kept me from trying it again like we use to do so back in the days of BMX in childhood... But guys, please understand that after I came out of these professional worries and opinions and gave myself courage to try to do so with hub motors as these are what we use nowadays for earning n leisure... And let me tell you guys that except the part where we install the spokes has to be in accordance with the inner side and all those helpful things there isn't much to worry about those sophisticated and super professional advice because eventually you will learn it and trust me I have been building wheels and trueing them whit zip tie trick in my back yard for 3 years or 4 now... And 90% of those wheels and hubs are still going strong... So guys please please try it if you know a little a out what your doing don't fall for those mr.perfectionist whom might have not yet built one themselves 🤭🤭🤭🤣🤣. Stop bringing people down with your over the roof sophisticated professional advice...🤭 and yea I use all basic tools nothing special...

[@lalilal7563]

@@FarmerFpv wonderful my friend these professionals are the reason why I kept myself away from doing so myself and worrying it might just be such a big deal after all 😑😑😑😑you will find these professionals all around KZbin whom might not have ever in their life got their hands dirty themselves 🤭🤭🤭

[@lalilal7563]

Guys do it and you will learn and eventually even after a few failures you will realise how much money and pain in the butthole you guys save yourself from by learning it yourself through trial and error...ignore those KZbin engineers for awhile

[@lalilal7563]

Just a side note I have built over 200 wheels during my lifespan until now and never ever did I used any tension gauge or meter...😑😑😑 3 fingers including my thumb are mine tensometers

[@marshapelo9830]

At the Chinese factories, do they true the wheels by hand or by machine?

[@myscreen2urs]

If I have a wheel hop, hope do I correct that? Wouldn't that just untrue the lateral work you do first?

[@better.better]

first, he's doing it wrong... this is only ok to get you home, I'll post a separate comment for everyone

[@jakcarn4184]

would it be ok and just tighten the spokes all the way round instead of using a zip tie?

[@EbikeSchool]

without using some type of gauge, you're just guessing. That'd be like pumping all the tires up on your car for about 30 seconds each. Who knows if one is under or overinflated if you don't use a gauge? The zip tie helps you measure the trueness of the rim.

[@nightmareinaction629]

nice lefty Moody righty tighty

[@YouTubeCommentator.]

Can i tru my scooter hub?

[@marciaz31]

I hope you own a bike store ....I never knew how to a just spokes ....

[@ranellacap8544]

bro what is your spoke length

[@paularmstrong1501]

I recently got into ebikes and so far your videos and site have been awesome. Not sure if anyone has mentioned this in other posts but Roger Mussons book on wheel truing is a great resource for wheel building on all wheel sizes although i'm not certain if he covers ebike hubs in his latest revision. I'm looking to put together my own bike and have a few bikes already to hand to put together, my question is can you recommend a good quality hub kit that i can get in the UK?

[@tenapier]

I highly recommend Grin Technology. They have excellent kits, and excellent teaching articles and videos. From my understanding Justin who heads Grin Tech developed the Cycle Analyst, and other equipment from there company. I believe the website is ebikes.ca. You can get cheaper, but you’ll probably get what you payed for.

[@beaterbikechannel2538]

Anything but one of these radial spoked pieces of shit unless you feel like dying when the wheel collapses. The grin guy knows his stuff too.

[@aklilubashe]

If you tight too much its become alitle bit oval shape .

[@observingrogue7652]

Of course, thank the dog for guarding you, while you do this important task.

[@Mishakol1290]

Is that even true? That you turn the tool left to tighten and right to loosen? I am confused. I snapped a spoke by loosening it or I thought I was loosening it, I thought I was turning it left to loosen. It just broke when I did. I am confused about this part.

[@daztastic147]

Imagine standing behind the rim and putting a nut onto a bolt, once you are 90° side-on it becomes what we perceive as an anti-clockwise rotation 👍

[@circletech7745]

You don't really need a spoke wrench to true your hub motor. I followed your instructions and used a pair of pliers and it worked just fine.

[@thedave7760]

Nipples are made of really soft aluminium normally and you will ruin them if you aren't super careful.

[@mickyb.8014]

Great informative video, ive learnt something new, thankyou but... Lose the annoying music, I'll never understand why people make a narrative video with music that interrupts and doesn't allow you to properly hear the spoken instructions...

[@iflrt63]

How to false?

[@jobmariano348]

I thought radial lacing is bad.

[@olivi3339]

That strait spoke job, I don't think is a good idea, because of the torque of the hub motor.. The spokes need some nail polish on them to hold.. Probably will loosen up again.

[@beaterbikechannel2538]

So it's only me and you smart enough to see this problem then. Radial spoke lacing should never be used to transmit torque.

[@47f0]

Back in the day, I built a few radial front wheels when that was supposedly the hot thing to do, but on the rear? Not even once. Even on the front, it makes for a harsh riding wheel that needs a lot of attention because those forces go straight from the rim to the hub with no angular vector.

[@eric_ad]

אחי אתה מישראל?

[@EbikeSchool]

כן

[@eric_ad]

EbikeSchool.com אחלה ערוץ בהצלחה

[@webchez69]

Your full-wheel tightening gave the wrong impression.. With all the tightening you did earlier, you needed to check the "evenness" of the tension of ALL the spokes in the wheel. Some spokes that you did not touch would be either TOO TIGHT or TOO LOOSE. I would have suggested to pluck all the spokes like a guitar string, and lightly tightened any that are REALLY LOOSE.

[@SierraHi89]

I agree that he doesn't squeeze 2 spokes together to check tightness, then the next two, then the next two. Great video and I'll try the method.

[@warlockboyburns]

a torque wrench would make this easy

[@neilmorris5794]

This is not truing a "hubmotor" It is truing a wheel with a hubmotor. You will notice that the spokes are connected at the rim on the wrong side.

[@jagirsinghsandhu220]

punjabi me boat karo

[@pff335]

This is so stupid thing to open up the brake and mount the plastic bulsit. The brakes is do the same fuktion like the plastic cable :).

[@dennissilva347]

Hi Micha. I just purchased a 5000w 72v ebike hub motor kit from calibikes.com. my question is that if I have an EZEE TORQ BIKE FRAME WILL 700C 29' WILL I HAVE A PROBLEM INSTALLING IT. THANKS. LOVE YOUR VIDEOS DUDE.

[@conversationswithme8601]

I'll bet anyone his wife has a real job.... Wanna bet?

[@hailbaphomet]

Owning a business isn't a real job? Ok bud, suuure.